West of England Oil Buying Scheme closes after helping rural households save over £175,000
The West of England Rural Network (WERN) has announced the closure of its long-running community oil buying scheme, which has supported rural households for over a decade.
Since its launch in 2014, the charity has used collective purchasing to supply heating oil at reduced rates for members. 2.7 million litres of fuel have been delivered to homes across the region saving households over £175,000.
However, volatility in global energy markets have made it difficult to reliably pass on bulk discounts to consumers. Recent geopolitical tensions, including conflict in the Middle East, have further driven erratic price fluctuations, ultimately leading to the decision to close the scheme.
WERN’s Chief Executive, Phillip Vincent, said: “It’s a real shame we’ve had to draw our long-running oil buying scheme to a close. I know this will come as a disappointment to the members we’ve supported over the years. But with market conditions as they are, there’s just no way we can continue to run a service that guarantees savings.
We also have to look to the future and consider how we can best support rural communities in responding to the climate emergency. We are actively engaging with local partners and funders to explore how we can help households transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels, notwithstanding the fact that many older, rural properties are hard to heat and retrofit.”
Many rural homes across the West of England region are not connected to the gas grid. The community oil buying scheme provided targeted assistance for these households, many of whom are vulnerable to fuel poverty.
Over time, the scheme evolved significantly. After initially being managed externally, it moved in-house in 2019, more than doubling the average savings achieved for members—from around 3.85 pence per litre to 7.91 pence per litre on a typical delivery.
In a message to members, Kaz Adams, the scheme’s manager said it had been “an absolute pleasure” to provide the service over the past decade, but confirmed that current conditions meant it could no longer operate in a way that benefits customers.
Practical support and advice for households
For those struggling with energy bills, financial help may be available through Crisis and Resilience Support Grants being manged by local authorities. More information can be found here:
WERN’s Village Agents are also available to help residents access support, including assistance with applications and gathering necessary evidence. Please call 01275 333700 and leave a message including your name, contact number and place of residence. A Village Agent will aim to respond within two working days.