News

Oct 17, 2016, 11:59 AM by OFTEC

As the price of heating oil tumbles further, falling a staggering 10 per cent since the beginning of the year, the UK’s 1.4 million rural households on oil heating are continuing to benefit. However, with over 4.5 million people in the UK still living in fuel poverty - and many of these in rural areas - government needs to urgently address its current heat policy to help these homes become more energy efficient and cut fuel bills further.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:56 AM by OFTEC

In the wake of the biggest increase in excess winter deaths for 15 years, OFTEC is calling for a fairer deal for the 4.5 million UK households currently living in fuel poverty to help them keep warm and well.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:50 AM by OFTEC

In the wake of recent criticism over the value of some apprenticeships, OFTEC continues to champion the on-the-job training scheme saying that, if worked effectively, apprenticeships can provide school leavers with an excellent career start and help to combat the UK’s growing skills shortage.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:49 AM by OFTEC

New government statistics* have revealed there were 43,900 excess winter deaths in England and Wales last winter with the high number of people living in cold, poorly insulated homes a strong contributing factor. Excess winter deaths are largely a result of people living in cold houses over the winter months with those living in rural areas disproportionally affected because homes are typically older with poorer insulation.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:46 AM by OFTEC

Latest industry figures show oil prices have fallen a further 10.5% with consumers reaping the benefits because the drop in wholesale costs are being passed directly on – unlike the picture for households on mains gas and electricity. According to the Sutherland Tables, a recognised independent source of data on comparative UK domestic heating prices, oil continues to trump competitor fuels on price.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:44 AM by OFTEC

OFTEC has submitted recommendations to the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, calling for a total re-think on the UK’s low carbon heat strategy to instead focus on incentivising solutions that are simple, affordable to install, impose limited disruption on the home owner and offer competitive running costs.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:43 AM by OFTEC

Commenting on the Comprehensive Spending Review, OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley says: “OFTEC welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement today that reforms will be made to the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme to deliver better value for money.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:42 AM by OFTEC

With oil boiler sales reaching a five year high and oil prices dropping to a six year low, 2015 is proving a winning year for the oil heating industry and consumers alike.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:41 AM by OFTEC

In support of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2015 (16-20 November), OFTEC is urging all households using oil heating to install carbon monoxide detectors and ensure their boiler is regularly serviced and inspected by a registered technician, to reduce any risk of poisoning.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:37 AM by OFTEC

OFTEC is urging all installers to ensure their work is correctly notified as failing to do so could be a breach of their duty of care - and leave customers in hot water as a result.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:36 AM by OFTEC

Cowboy technicians are putting lives at risk by failing to perform basic safety checks when servicing boilers, leaving households with ineffective and potentially dangerous heating systems in the run up to winter.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:35 AM by OFTEC

Homes that use oil heating are set for a warmer winter this year as the latest data shows households are taking advantage of low oil prices and keeping their heating on for longer*.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:33 AM by OFTEC

Households on oil heating could be missing out on savings of almost £200 a year by not upgrading the old, inefficient boilers installed in their homes, according to the latest industry data*.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:32 AM by OFTEC

Following consultation with industry members, OFTEC have designed a re-certification package for oil assessments to enable technicians renewing their qualifications to spend less time off the job.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:30 AM by OFTEC

With thousands of pupils receiving their A-Level and GCSE results, OFTEC is urging school leavers to consider an apprenticeship or vocational training as the first step to as successful career.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:29 AM by OFTEC

In response to the recent conviction of a part time plumber in North Devon who has been jailed for two years for carrying out dangerous installation work and vastly overcharging customers, OFTEC stresses the importance of checking the credentials of tradespeople before employing them.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:27 AM by OFTEC

On the back of government plans to reduce ‘out of control’ green energy costs, OFTEC says it’s time to look at more pragmatic and affordable ways to reduce carbon emissions and heating bills. Last week DECC announced there will be no further funding available for the Green Deal and Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) schemes, alongside sweeping cuts to subsidies for the renewable energy sector.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:26 AM by OFTEC

Almost three quarters of heating industry professionals think the government’s Heat Strategy is unrealistic and will fall far short of its target to achieve an 80% reduction in UK carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2050, according to the results of a poll held at OFTEC’s annual conference last month.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:24 AM by OFTEC

OFTEC, the UK trade body for oil heating, is urging local MPs to support oil using households and help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes to cut fuel bills and reduce CO2 emissions.

Oct 17, 2016, 11:21 AM by OFTEC

After two years at the helm of OFTEC’s board, Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester Bosch, is standing down as chair with Nick Hawkins, general manager of Deso – part of the Kingspan Group – taking up the reins.