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A preliminary look at the results of a recent
member satisfaction survey indicate that
MOC gets high marks for representing the
industry on Beacon Hill, working with NEFI
on addressing regional and federal matters,
dealing with the media and being responsive
to members' needs and concerns. However,
MOC members say the Council should do
more about gas utility competition and
changing fuel assistance programs. The
survey results also indicated a possible lack
of understanding by members about MOC's
NORA programs and their impact on the
industry nationally and locally. "This is the
kind of feedback we hoped for," said MOC's
Michael Ferrante. "We need to continually
improve our performance and provide value
to our members." The survey was created
and tabulated by Bill McDonough with
Scribendi Advertising and Public Relations.
Bill will be providing a complete analysis of
the results to MOC's Board of Directors.
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MOC has received several calls over the
past week regarding temperature
compensation for the sale of heating oil and
other distillate products. Based on a 1982
ruling by the Massachusetts Attorney
General, temperature compensation is not
allowed at the retail level in the
Commonwealth, but is allowed at the
wholesale level. Charles Carrol with the
state's Division of Inspection confirmed the
ruling last week for MOC. Although the state
of Connecticut recently announced an
emergency regulation temporarily banning
the sale of home heating fuels (except
propane) and motor fuels by net gallons at
the wholesale and retail level for a period of
at least 120 days, no such action is
imminent in Massachusetts.
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As key legislative leaders study Governor
Patrick's biofuel mandate bill, they have
reached out to MOC for advice. The bill -HB-
4364 - went before the Joint Committee on
Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
two weeks ago and MOC's Michael Ferrante
and Board member Paul Nazzaro offered
verbal and written testimony. The Committee
has asked both men to meet with
legislative leaders after the holidays to
discuss the economics of biofuel, its
availability and infrastructure impediments
that may be barriers to implementing a 2%
blend of biofuel with fuel oil by 2010.
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New bioheat marketing and education tools
will soon be available for you and your
customers. The National Biodiesel Board
has
developed flyers, pamphlets and bill inserts
promoting bioheat. All MOC members will
soon be provided with these consumer
materials as well as a PowerPoint
presentation exclusively designed for
dealers, that answers frequently asked
questions about selling bioheat. Whether or
not your company already sells biofuel or you
are thinking of selling it, each packet will
have choices for customer communication
pieces to fit your
needs. MOC will keep members posted as
to when these materials will be available for
distribution.
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The Massachusetts Senate has taken
favorable action on SB-2404 in an effort to
provide broader homeowner insurance
coverage for heating oil releases, and
mandate the upgrade of unprotected oil lines
with protective sleeves or oil safely valves.
MOC supports the bill but will offer
amendments soon to strengthen and clarify
the methodology for line upgrades. Attorney
Barry Fogel with Keegan, Werlin is working
with MOC on to draft the amendments.
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Due to some very cold weather, degree days
in the month of November averaged 35%
higher from last year across all of
Massachusetts, which is the highest they
have been in the past 5 years. So far in
December degree days are an average of
24% higher than last year, making the
season total an average of 5% higher across
Massachusetts since September.
To view a degree day chart comparing this season to last season in Boston, Chicopee, Hyannis, Pittsfield and Worcester, follow the link below. |
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MOC would like to welcome Sean Flynn and
his company, Al's Oil Service out of
Shrewsbury, as a new retail member to the
Council.
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This week's vendor spotlight is Conifer
Energy, a division of Conifer
Insurance, Inc. Conifer,
out of Peabody, is a leading provider of risk
management and insurance services to the
Energy Industry. They
provide comprehensive insurance
programs to fuel oil dealers throughout New
England and have been instrumental in the
development of insurance provider
programs, from coverage forms to effective
loss prevention programs. Conifer has
developed exclusive relationships with many
insurance companies to provide Property
and Excess Liability coverage for fuel oil
dealers. In addition, the Company has
developed a proprietary safety and loss
prevention program, SafetyPLUS that
is
provided to clients either by a member of the
Conifer team or by an independent
contractor selected by the Company.
For more information, visit their
website, www.coniferenergy.com or call,
Rick
Metivier at 800-370-5446.
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email:
zahra@massoilheat.org
phone:
781-237-0730
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