New Hampshire

Municipal trio tries to get break on fuel costs

By Jarret Bencks
Staff writer
Published: August 22, 2008

NEWTON, N.H. — Three towns are looking to lower their winter heating costs by working together.

Newton, Sandown and Danville have agreed to explore the possibility of purchasing their heating oil and propane in bulk to lower winter heating costs.

Now they have to decide if they will take one of the four bids offered to them, according to Newton Selectman Robert Donovan.

Newton paid $2.399 per gallon for heating oil from Palmer Oil last year, more than a dollar less per gallon than any bid they received this year. Newton spent $20,400 on heating oil last winter; the lowest bid for this year would cost the town more than $32,000.

The towns received offers from four companies: Irving Oil, Palmer Oil, Mike Murphy Oil and Fred Fuller Oil. All of the companies offered a flat rate for all the towns, except Irving, which offered higher rates for Danville.

Irving proposed a $3.795 rate for heating oil and $2.497 rate for propane for Sandown and Newton, and $3.846 for heating oil and $2.497 for propane for Danville.

Palmer offered a flat rate of $4.149 for heating oil and $2.65 for propane. Mike Murphy proposed $4.30 for heating oil and Fred Fuller offered $4.175 for heating oil and no rate for propane.

To accept one of the proposals, all three towns would have to agree to the bid, Donovan said. The proposals have been reviewed by Newton selectmen, but they have not made any decision on them.

Danville selectmen will review the bids at their meeting Monday. Sandown officials are waiting to receive the details of the bids from Newton and will discuss them in the coming weeks.