Welcome
The mission of the Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community (MHFBC) is to offer discounted fuels, services, and equipment to its members. The MHFBC has been negotiating with local suppliers of propane, fuel oil and kerosene since 2013. We currently serve Ulster, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Greene, and Columbia counties in upstate New York State. Read more about us below…
Recent News
Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community
Spring 2025 Fuel Buying Update
Dear Fuel User,
As the sun's warmth chases away the remnants of winter's bitter weather, we are taking the opportunity to make some important announcements, and reflect on the 2024-2025 heating season.
Offers from Other Fuel Suppliers
Some of our members have recently received emails with heating oil offers from our previous supplier. While these prices appear to be reasonable, our goal is to work with Bottini to meet or improve pricing... both for the fuel itself, and also for service contracts and other optional add-on equipment and services. We have found Bottini to be both transparent, and willing to work with us. We see a benefit in working with a local, family-owned company.
Expanding Our Membership
We hope to increase our membership in order to increase our bargaining power. Please help us spread the word to friends and neighbors about our attractive pricing, through both social media and word of mouth.
Our Name Change
We have changed our name to the Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community (MHFBC). Our web address is now midhudsonfuelbuyers.org.
Reflections on the 2024-2025 Heating Season
This past winter had periods of unusually cold weather. Bottini tells us parts of the Hudson River froze, and blocked their riverside docks. Icebreakers were even required. Fortunately, this did not impair trucks from making home deliveries. However, the weather increased usage, and it might have caused some customers to run precariously low.
We have conducted a post-winter review, comparing of our negotiated prices with Bottini and Paraco against several indexes. These other pricing sources include those published by New York State Energy Research Division (NYSERDA), price reporting from the Oil Price Information Service ("OPIS", a Dow Jones service), New York Harbor (NYMEX), pricing reported by the US Energy Information Service (EIA), and occasionally the prices from other local fuel and propane distribution companies. Overall, we concluded that our pricing plans were fair and equitable, with discounts that we consider successful for our community. Members who bought heating oil saved between $0.58 and $0.69 per gallon. Propane users saved between $0.67 and $1.07 per gallon. Going forward, we will continue our efforts to use our collective buying power to obtain superior pricing and service.
Our Upcoming 2025-2026 Heating Season
Our negotiating team has started the process of working on heating oil prices with Bottini for the 2025-26 heating season. We expect to soon start negotiations with Paraco for propane. The price environment this year is lower as compared to last year, so we believe it will be better for us to conclude these negotiations soon. Since we're still in negotiations, we don't know yet when this year's membership application and supplier contract window will open. We'll be making an announcement when the application window is open.
We thank you for your membership.
Yours sincerely,
The team at MHFBC
Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community
Members Who Use Bottini Fixed Rate:
After you use up your estimated gallons, your price will revert to $0.70 above Bottini's variable rate.
Today (1/16/25) that rate is $3.41.
Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community
Paraco's Dec 29th Statement about Deliveries:
"The holidays and colder temperatures have led to a significant increase in delivery requests. Paraco understands the importance of timely service and is working diligently to fulfill every order as quickly as possible, with the primary goal of ensuring all customers have heat and hot water."
"Automatic delivery customers are prioritized and should not need to worry about their fuel levels. Auto customers should avoid calling unless their tank is 15% or below."
"Customers on Will-Call should regularly check their tank levels and request a delivery when it reaches approximately 35%, to allow enough time for routing and dispatch."
"To minimize wait times, customers are encouraged to place orders through Paraco's 'My Account' portal."
"Paraco greatly appreciates the patience and understanding of its customers and is committed to delivering fuel as swiftly as possible."
Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community
We've created the "Mid-Hudson Fuel Buyers Community" Facebook Page for official announcements.
Alternatively, if you'd like to participate in open group discussions, please visit our Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/groups/midhudsonfuelbuyerscommunity
More About Us
Each spring, the MHFBC negotiates discounted prices for fuel oil, propane, kerosene, and also service contracts for the upcoming season. Registered users must reapply for annual membership each summer, in order to qualify for the MHFBC pricing. Registered users will pay the annual non-refundable membership fee when the signup period opens. They then separately enter into a one-year contract directly with the supplier for fuel and other products and services. For 2024-25, the annual non-refundable membership fee is $15 per supplier.
The MHFBC is administered by a small group of unpaid volunteers, who have no connection to the industry, nor to any heating fuel company. A paid part-time contractor(s) responds to emails and telephone inquiries, and performs other administrative tasks. Members are invited to volunteer for these administrative tasks, which are necessary to keep the Buyers Community running.
Online registration is available at any time through this website. Creating an account ensures you will be sent ongoing information about the signup periods, and for the pricing offered each year. Once the new season’s prices and application period have been negotiated, they are posted on our site’s Prices page.
The MHFBC has a Facebook group, which is open to all. We encourage comments and posts related to heating and energy conservation issues. Please also read our Q&A page before joining the MHFBC, or asking questions of our volunteers.