Author Archive

WINTER 2011-2012

As I write this on December 22, it is a balmy 53 degrees in Marshfield.  The low temperature today is expected to be around 40 degrees.  Needless to say, the Winter has not started out with any great strength.  From the beginning of the heating season, September 1, 2011, the degree day numbers are about 21% off normal.  That means the average temperature between 9/1/11 and now, has been about 21% warmer than normal.  What this means for you, our customers, is that your usage will reflect the same percentage in oil consumption- all other factors remaining the same.

We recently celebrated the Holidays here at Rand-Handy with a bowling party for all employees and families.  What a great night!  Turns out we have quite a few good bowlers in the group- me not included.  There was even some talk of a bowling league, but we shall see about that.  A thank you for all of the hard work that Rand-Handy employees do to keep you and your family comfortable, year round. 

Our annual coloring contest was a lot of fun again this year also.  We had several kids submit their artwork for show in our office.  10 winners were chosen from various age groups and all of them received a prize.  We also donated $20 in each of their names to the Marshfield Community Christmas. http://www.marshfieldcommunitychristmas.com  -One of several organizations we are happy to support.  Thanks to all who participated this year and be sure to look for it again next year.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to thank you all for your continued patronage.  We are all fortunate to have customers like you to service year after year.  We know you have choices, and we thank you for choosing us.  Best wishes to you and yours over the holidays, and for a happy and healthy new year.

Sincerely,  Kyle

Fall is here once again and winter is soon to follow.  It proved to be another great summer with only a couple short heat waves.  We have seen many of you over the summer with air-conditioning service, and we thank you for your business.  It is another service that we offer to keep you and your home comfortable.

With the colder weather comes an increase in Degree Days.  Our heating degree day season starts on September 1^st.  We are off to a warmer than normal start to the season with the end of September and Columbus day weekend being like mid-summer days.  This years forecast from the Farmers Almanac is for warmer than normal temperatures through the coming winter with wet and stormy conditions.  We will have to wait and see.

Our monthly payment plan, or Budget Plan, began August 1^st.  Most of you take advantage of this payment method, but for those who don’t, it is an easy way to help spread out the bills during the winter months when your fuel consumption is greater.  Please call us if you would like more information on this and we can estimate a monthly amount for your home.

I feel the need to comment on the advertising “explosion” that the Natural Gas industry has blasted across the Northeast.  National Grid, the area’s largest gas provider, has been running a campaign to smear the reputation of oilheat in an effort to get customers to convert.  Much of their advertising has been deceptive by stating incorrect facts about oilheat, and the hundreds of small businesses in the area that provide the service for almost 1 million homes across the state.  What they don’t say is more important to us and it should be to you:

• They don’t say how they spend rate payers’ (their customers) money to run this campaign in an effort to shut down the oil dealers’ small businesses who employ thousands of hard working people in Massachusetts.
• They don’t say that while they are spending over $700,000 in advertising for this campaign, there are an estimated 30,000 natural gas leaks all across the state that they are aware of and are not repairing.  Many of these known leaks are serious and put local residents and businesses in danger, and nothing is being done about it.  My feeling is that this industry could better spend their money upgrading the aging infrastructure of natural gas lines where you and I live and make us all a little safer. ( I know of one leak on a street very close to mine, and I smell it every time I go out for a jog)
• They don’t say that all of these gas leaks put off a methane gas which is a greenhouse gas and is more harmful to the environment and ozone layer than anything an oilheated system could produce.  This gas is known to kill trees and vegetations by the hundreds of thousands and one large city near Boston, currently has a lawsuit against the gas industry making those claims. 
• They don’t talk about gas explosions and the deaths that they cause every year.  You can read more about that on this website http://www.naturalgaswatch.org/

Presently, the cost of Natural Gas is less than oil to heat your home. This has not always been the case and it is not as great as it sounds either.  Natural Gas is measured in therms, and heating oil in gallons.  However, one gallon of heating oil will provide 25% more btu output than 1 therm of gas.  Be sure to get all the numbers before making any decisions on Natural Gas conversions.  There are many hidden costs such as lining your chimney, paying to have a gas line run, and removal and disposal of your oil tank.  Modern Oilheat systems are highly efficient and compete with those fueled by Natural Gas.  For more information, you can visit The American Energy Coalition website at http://www.americanenergycoalition.org/index.php.  Or visit The Massachusetts Oilheat Council, representing oilheat and its dealers throughout the commonwealth. http://www.massoilheat.org/

 As always, we appreciate the confidence you place in us as your oil and service provider.  We know you have choices and we thank you for choosing us. 

Thank you for your business and see you around town.

-Kyle