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Over the past three weeks, TV news reporter Hank
Phillipi-Ryan with Boston’s Channel 7, aired two
separate reports which raised industry concerns. In
one report, Phillipi-Ryan set up an ambush-style
interview to try and snag an unlicensed oil burner
technician working on a heating system. MOC was
contacted to be part of the report and decided against
cooperating. “I have dealt with literally hundreds of
media requests in my 17 years with MOC, and this is
the only time I refused to the cooperate with a reporter.
It was a weak story concept to begin with and I felt our
industry was best served by avoiding the request.”
In another report on heating oil deliveries made by a
retailer to non-customers, Phillipi-Ryan interviewed
Charles Carroll from the state’s Division of Standards
He is quoted as saying that under state law, “The rule
is that if you receive something that you did not order,
you can consider it a gift." MOC is well aware of the
statute – Chapter 93: Section 43 Unsolicited
Merchandise – and two years ago the Council
distributed a legal opinion on the law to all dealers in
MOC’s comprehensive Oilheat Industry Guidebook.
The entire Guidebook is also available on-line at
www.massoilheat.org.
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After a week of busy foot traffic, the New England
Home Show in Boston came to a close this past
weekend. MOC would like to thank all the vendors
and volunteers who participated and helped make this
years’ show successful. The bright orange and blue
NORA-funded booth contrasted nicely with the
equipment from Buderus, Smith, Weil-McLain, Energy
Kinetics, Roth, Therma- Flow and Emerson Swan. As
a reminder, all contact information for MOC’S
Preferred Vendors can be found on the Members Only
page of the website.
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National Grid is being put under the spot light by New
York utility regulators who oppose their $7.3 billion
plan to takeover KeySpan Corp. According to the Wall
Street Journal last week, the regulatory staff may force
National Grid to withdraw its offer unless they give
90% of its merger savings to customers and sell
KeySpan’s power plant in New York City.
By purchasing KeySpan, National Grid would be
increasing their dept to $11.4 billion, lowering their
credit rating, which in turn raises questions about
rising rates for customers and investors.
The Journal reported that officials with the New York
State Public Service Commission testified that
National Grid’s proposal to buy KeySpan “creates an
unreasonably high number of risks and uncertainties
for New York ratepayers.”
National Grid is a London based company, and
KeySpan has a total customer base of 2.6 million
including customers in Boston, Lowell, on Cape Cod
and in Essex County.
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Saying he is seeking to “modernize” and “increase
efficiency and accountability in government”, Governor
Patrick has filed a bill to reorganize his Cabinet
positions relating to energy, the environment,
telecommunications and labor.
The bill would create 3 new divisions from 5. One, the
Executive Office of Energy and Environment, would
combine the Division of Energy Resources (DOER)
and Department of Public Utilities, including the
energy-related functions of the former Department of
Telecommunications and Energy.
MOC will continue to track this bill along with a slew of
others just filed. Many impact the Oilheat industry
including a bill to control credit card fraud.
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Although the waiver has now expired, MOC last week
secured a waiver extension from the Massachusetts
Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) on the U.S.
DOT hours of service rules for both heating oil and
propane delivery drivers. The extension was granted
primarily because of propane supply shortages in
New England due to a rail strike in Canada. MOC is
now regularly lobbying on issues related to both
heating oil and propane since many MOC members
market both home heating fuels. MOC recently joined
the Propane Gas Association of New England
(PGANE).
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Applications are now being accepted for MOC’s 2007
NORA Oil Burner Technician Scholarship program at
the New England Fuel Institute (NEFI). The official
application can be accessed through our web site link
below, or by calling MOC. In addition, MOC is offering
a small number of full scholarships to the Oilheat
Masters program at NEFI. Please call MOC for
details.
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NORA/NAOHSM Tank Certification seminars will be
held in April and June in 4 locations across
Massachusetts. To register, please click the link
below.
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email:
zahra@massoilheat.org
phone:
781-237-0730
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