Winter Heating Oil Spot Checks Yield Fines
Stats Validate Most Costly Heating Oil Season on Record
The state randomly checks heating oil delivery tickets to ensure that the price per gallon printed on tickets match the number of gallons registered on a truck's meter. Inspectors actively look for fraudulent delivery practices in which pre-printed delivery tickets reflect greater amounts of heating oil delivered than was actually received by the customer. All delivery truck-metering systems are tested and certified annually for accuracy. Once tested, security seals are affixed to meters to prevent tampering. The largest fine issued in this season's sweep was $500.00 to Star Oil of New Bedford after inspectors confiscated a pre-printed delivery ticket in a delivery driver's possession (see page 2).
"This was the most expensive winter to date for heating oil, making it all the more critical for our inspectors to spot check throughout the season to ensure consumers are getting exactly what they pay for," said Consumer Affairs Director Beth Lindstrom.
Consumers with reason to believe they received a short-measured heating oil delivery should contact the Division of Standards at (617) 727-3480.
The Division of Energy Resources will summarize heating oil and propane prices for the 2004-2005 heating season in a report to be issued in May. As of March 25 th, the final weekly survey for the winter season, the statewide average price for home heating oil was a record $2.14 per gallon. For the season, the average price per gallon was $1.97, approximately fifty cents higher per gallon than the previous winter. The record price of $2.14 per gallon has since been eclipsed in the first bi-weekly survey for the spring, reaching $2.22 per gallon for the current week of April 3-9.
Company | City/Town | Fine Amt | Violation |
Sav-Mor Oil Company | Pittsfield | Improperly Sealed Meter (Warning) | |
H.L. Fuel Company, Inc. | West Lebanon | $ 35.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Country Oil | Bernardston | No Price per Gallon (Warning) | |
Marr Oil Heat Co., Inc. | Worcester | Out of Date Seal (Warning) | |
Arrow Oil | Southwick | $ 50.00 | Broken Seal |
Frasco Fuel Oil | W. Springfield | $ 100.00 | Broken Seal |
Arrow Oil Inc. | Southwick | $ 100.00 | Broken Seal |
Jeff's Oil | Wakefield | $ 100.00 | Not Sealed |
Cox Oil | Lowell | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Ginn Oil Co./Gain Oil (Reading) | Woburn | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Bob's Oil Co. | Melrose | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Lyon's Fuel | Arlington | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Lyon's Fuel | Chelsea | $ 375.00 | Unsealed Meter |
DeBross | New Bedford | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Viking Oil | Winthrop | $ 450.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Genove Oil Co., Inc. | Waltham | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Petro-Atlas | Westwood | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Zamagni Oil Co. | Quincy | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
G.W. Condon | Randolph | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Energy USA | Taunton | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Ferri Oil Service | Walpole | $ 187.50 | No Price per Gallon on 5 tickets |
Ruggiero Bros. Heating Oil | Stoughton | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Cleveland Fuel Co., Inc. | Walpole | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Koczera Oil | Rochester | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
A1 Discount Oil | N. Dartmouth | No Price per Gallon (Warning) | |
Star Oil | New Bedford | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Sinclaire Heating Oil | Walpole | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Cronin Oil | Norfolk | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Debross Oil Company | New Bedford | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Star Oil | New Bedford | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Pintos Fuel | Milford | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Trautwein Oil | Milford | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Star Oil | New Bedford | $ 500.00 | Fraudulent Delivery Ticket |
American Discount Fuel | Holliston | No Price per Gallon (Warning) | |
Holliston Oil | Holliston | No Price per Gallon (Warning) | |
Petro | Woonsocket | $ 100.00 | No Current Seal |
Superior Oil | Millbury | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
Goulart Oil | Dighton | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Arrow Oil | Taunton | $ 100.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Scudder Fuel | Brockton | $ 375.00 | Unsealed Meter |
Admiral Oil | Lynnfield | No Current Seal (Warning) | |
$3,372.50 |