Fuel Oil Oilheat Fuel Industry Regulations

About NEFI Advocacy

The New England Fuel Institute’s (NEFI) public policy agenda is determined by its Board of Directors. NEFI’s work in advocating for policy changes that protect the interests of its members is directed by its Government Affairs Committee (GAC). The Board of Directors meets on a quarterly basis and the GAC meets on a monthly basis to review and, on occasion, modify and update this agenda. NEFI and its Board of Directors, Committees and staff are always eager to receive input from members on issues facing them and their consumers. As a NEFI supporter, not only are you a part of the cause, but you are on the frontlines in a national dialogue on the future of our nation’s energy policies.

Your generous contributions to the NEFI Action Center Fund make our work on the below issues possible. You can make a donation online now by clicking here or by calling 617-923-5022 or e-mail dave@nefi.com.

Energy Commodity Market Reform

The commodity futures markets were created as a risk management tool for commodity producers, refiners, distributors, transporters, storage companies, retailers and end-users, and as a mechanism for setting futures prices that are based on real-world supply and demand indicators. However, in recent years, fuel dealers and their consumers have witnessed unprecedented volatility, uncertainty and speculation in these markets.

Thanks largely to deregulation of energy trading markets by federal regulators in the 1990s and the U.S. Congress in 2000, energy products – including heating oil, gasoline and propane – have been turned from vital consumer commodities into financial assets for Wall Street investors. Economic fundamentals of supply and demand seem to have become unhinged and these markets more volatile as speculative capital flows in and out of unregulated or under-regulated markets at home and overseas.

NEFI seeks to bring greater confidence and stability to the commodities trading markets by advocating for full transparency and accountability, and empowering federal regulators with the tools they need to prevent fraud, manipulation and excessive speculation. NEFI supports measures in the U.S. Congress and at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that would accomplish these goals.

In 2007, NEFI helped found a national coalition of like-minded groups, the Commodity Markets Oversight Coalition, in support of these goals. Visit the coalition website here.

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Climate Change & Greenhouse Gas Reduction

The national debate over man-made climate change (also known as global warming) and the formulation of policy to address these issues is well underway. Policy and law makers in the region and in Washington, DC are considering an array of legislative and regulatory proposals designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), the perceived cause of our planet’s warming climate and ocean waters. They have proposed a number of means of reducing industrial, commercial, residential and transportation GHGs, including carbon taxes, a national cap-and-trade program, and low carbon fuel standards.

NEFI believes that policy and law makers should work with our nation’s largely small business retail fuel industry in addressing global climate change. This includes improving on an already outstanding record of efficiency, conservation and consumer education, as well as bringing to market environmentally secure and renewable fuels and cutting edge technology. These solutions should be fair and equitable for fuel dealers and consumers, and should not “play favorites” or “pick winners and losers.”

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Home Heating Efficiency, Research & Education

As is described above, the New England Fuel Institute supports policies that seek and support equitable solutions that will bring about greater efficiency and promote cleaner, more environmentally secure fuels and home energy. This includes research and development in fuel quality, alternatives, and ultra-efficient home heating equipment.

NEFI supports legislation that would reauthorize and strengthen the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) and provide a long-term reauthorization. In the oilheat industry, the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) is the vehicle for research & development, industry technical training and safety, and consumer education. With support from the industry and lawmakers from oilheat states, NORA was established under federal law in 2000 and is funded through a small fraction-of-a-percent charge on home heating oil. NORA currently requires reauthorization every five years, and its last reauthorization was in 2005.

Further, we support fuel-neutral tax credits and other incentives to promote energy efficiency audits, weatherization of homes, and the installation of efficient space and water heating equipment. However, NEFI opposes any policy that would give preference to any one energy source, promote fuel switching, or otherwise disadvantage certain qualified home energy companies or professionals.

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Home Heating Assistance Programs

NEFI members support policies that help poor, elderly or disadvantaged residents meet their home energy needs and pay their home heating bills. This includes support for the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal block grant program created in 1981 that allocates money to states to assist low income households in meeting their home energy needs. Eligibility and benefits under the LIHEAP program vary from state-to-state, and most state governments commit supplemental state funds over and above those provided by the federal government. Many NEFI members are LIHEAP participating dealers, and partner with state and local governments, state industry associations, fuel funds, charity and community groups to help those in need.

NEFI supports full federal funding for LIHEAP and is an active member of the National Fuel Funds Network and the National LIHEAP Coalition, the leading national advocates for home energy assistance programs. While NEFI is a strong proponent of government fuel assistance programs, such programs should be fuel neutral and continue to see fuel dealers as a partner in the cause. Therefore, NEFI opposes efforts that would encourage fuel switching or fuel leveraging programs that would set prices or reduce market competitiveness and financial viability.

Reduced Dependence On Foreign Energy

For too long, our nation has been held hostage to foreign sources of energy. In pursuit of greater energy security for our nation and market stability for consumers, America must develop and bring to market its own natural energy resources and innovative energy technologies.

NEFI supports an “all of the above” approach to energy that is heavy on research, development and production of energy sources right here at home. We support federal policies that seek to explore and recover U.S. oil from conventional and unconventional sources. NEFI is a member of the Consumer Energy Alliance, a national coalition of like-minded groups in pursuit of this goal.

NEFI also supports policies that encourage and promote residential biofuels and solar energy. For this reason, NEFI supports policies that will help expedite newer, cleaner bio-blended home heating fuels to market. When combined with carbon-free solar technologies, a homeowner will benefit from a substantial increase in efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Promoting A Small Business Industry

More than 75 percent of NEFI members are classified as small businesses under federal law. Furthermore, the fuel industry is very competitive by nature, especially the home energy industry, where not only are companies competing with other dealers and service companies, but they are also competing with large utilities, some of which are foreign owned.

NEFI supports policies that create a level playing field for small business fuel dealers, including relief from burdensome regulations and unfair taxes and fees. NEFI monitors and comments on federal regulation and legislation that would impact small business fuel dealers and/or reduce the competitiveness of the industry and advantage large businesses, such as big-business utilities.