Q1. Why should I sign up for the oil contract offered to the BCA?
A1. There are approximately 1,100 houses in the East Birchwood area. Not all of them use oil for heat, or sign up with this contract. We have more than 500 houses taking advantage of this oil contract (see attachment to the right).
Due to the sheer volume of residents/members that sign up with Meenan Oil, Meenan offers the BCA members an excellent price per gallon alongside an unsurpassed coverage heard of exceptional white glove service. This service includes (but is not limited to):
- A dedicated BCA phone number, which routes you to the front of the queue when calling Meenan. There is minimal to no waiting time to speak with someone.
- A 2-hour service level agreement for emergency services, which is very valuable in extremely cold winters in case you have a problem with your heat. (Many of our members have taken advantage of this service and have exemplary reviews.)
- Full boiler replacement coverage, should the technicians not be able to repair your boiler.
- Full accessible oil tank replacement coverage (buried tanks have less coverage), should Meenan technicians not be able to repair the oil tank.
- Coverage of all boiler parts within 10 feet of the boiler.
- Free annual tune up of your boiler and oil tank, for optimal performance of your heating equipment.
- Meenan pays for your annual BCA membership of $45 automatically when you sign up with them. Sometime in December/January, you will receive your welcome letter for the BCA.
Q2. I paid lower rates last year. Why are the rates so high this year?
A2. Oil prices fluctuate by the day depending on many market, economical and geo-political conditions out of our control. For these reasons, we are seeing high rates right now. You may have noticed fuel prices have skyrocketed in the last month at gasoline stations. If you feel oil prices will go down in coming months, you could sign up for the CEILING plan. If you feel oil prices will go up in coming months, you could sign up for the FIXED plan. The choice is yours.
Q3. What do FIXED and CEILING prices mean?
A3. As the name suggests, FIXED means that you will pay the same rate of $3.63 per gallon of oil for the contract period of December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022.
The CEILING price means you cannot be charged more than $3.73 per gallon, no matter how high oil prices continue to go up. However, if the market price for that month drops below $3.73, you will be charged the lower oil price.
Q4. Why did the BCA not lock in prices earlier in 2021 when they were lower?
A4. No one has a crystal ball to know the best time to lock in prices. Throughout the year, the oil committee of the BCA follows the oil prices constantly and lock in when we feel it is best for the community. We also speak to other oil companies, and realized that Meenan offers a much better overall service for all of our members.
If you feel that oil prices will go down in the near future, then we recommend you sign up for the ceiling plan to take advantage of lower oil prices in the future.
Q5. I am finding lower oil prices at other competitors like Slomin, etc. Why are Meenan’s rates higher?
A5. The BCA views Meenan’s rates as part of the package of services, including their comprehensive service contract (see answer 1). We do not focus solely on the price per gallon.
Q6. Do I have to sign up with the BCA to subscribe to this offer?
A6. No, you can sign up directly with Meenan Oil by calling the dedicated BCA line at (516) 765-2950 or by emailing our dedicated Meenan contacts at lartale@meenanlp.com or dfaulkne@meenanlp.com.
Meenan will then pass along your information to the BCA along with your annual dues of $45. You will receive a welcome kit from the BCA in the mail for the 2022 year.
Q7. Is the white-glove service worth the price or should I take the chance and go with something cheaper?
A7. First, Meenan has an outstanding reputation for service. Their technicians are very knowledgeable and helpful. You do not want to find yourself without heat in the middle of winter. Having a 2-hour service level agreement with nearly everything covered brings you tremendous peace of mind. Some other competitors that the BCA spoke with could not even commit to having a technician show up on the same day (imagine waiting for an entire day for a technician to appear during extreme cold weather).
An average home in the Birchwood community consumes 1,000 gallons of oil. If you do not have an oil maintenance contract, one extensive repair could easily exceed the savings from an oil company that provides a cheaper per gallon rate. For example, from a financial standpoint, a 20 to 30 cents per gallon difference translates to a total of $200 to $300 difference annually, which is below the cost of an extensive oil burner repair.
Q8. How is the Cash on Delivery (COD) option different than signing up for the BCA annual contract?
A8. First, the COD option does not include any service plan. Without any service plan, when you have an emergency with your heat/boiler in the middle of winter, you may not be able to find any available technicians to help you. Meenan generally gives priority to those houses that have signed up with a service contract.
By way of background, the COD providers generally buy oil from the larger companies like Meenan. When there is an oil shortage (for example, Hurricane Sandy), the COD oil providers may out of oil.
Keep in mind that for COD, you pay the ongoing rate for oil. This rate may go higher (or lower) depending on market conditions. Sometimes locking in a certain price (or having a CEILING option) gives you peace of mind.
Lastly, if you sign up with Meenan Oil, they will pay for your BCA annual membership fee of $45.
Q9. How do I reply to Meenan Oil about which plan I want to pick?
A9. Please call Meenan Oil’s dedicated line for BCA members at (516) 765-2950 or by send an email to our Meenan contacts at lartale@meenanlp.com or dfaulkne@meenanlp.com.
