The cold weather has come rolling in and now is the time to get those heating systems up and running. Our technicians and our delivery crew are ready to get the products to you when you need them.

Oil prices have begun to rise as the cold weather has settled in. October last year was a month of steep declines in oil prices. So far this year, we have seen some price increases, however we are still over sixty cents below this same time last year.

Why is the price rising? We have record inventories of heating oil and propane gas and the consumer demand is down. One of the major factors of the increased price right now is the weakness of the dollar against the other currencies.

Holden Oil personel recently hosted the Essex Fire Department at our Propane Gas storage facility for a tour of the operation and an exercise of our on site safety equipment. It is always a pleasure to work with this professional and enthusiastic group.

It is back to school season for Holden Oil as well as the kids. Holden Oil employees have been busy keeping up to date on the latest changes and developments to better serve our customers here on the Northshore. We pride ourselves in keeping our employees educated in the latest developments in the Heating, Fuel oil, BioHeat and Propane fields. In the past month, employees have attended seminars on subjects including the handling and servicing of BioHeat systems, updates on the latest law changes on fuel oil lines, accident prevention and best practices in both the heating oil and the propane fields.

We have embarked on a televison advertising campaign to help spread our message of "treating you like a neighbor." Be sure you mention that you have seen our adds when you call.

Remember that you have the option of receiving regular heating oil or a B5 Bioheat blend at the same cost. Call the office to request the B5 bioheat for your next delivery.

It is back to school season in the Holden Oil delivery area. Cool fall weather is already beginning to move into the Northshore area. With the cool weather comes the need to make sure your heating system is ready for the season- heating oil or propane systems all require periodic maintenance to insure safety and efficiency.

Holden Oil has a number of products available for delivery everyday to your business or construction site.

• Off Road Diesel for construction vehicles and generators
• Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel for on road vehicles

Diesel products are available in bulk deliveries or vehicle deliveries.

• Propane Fork lift cylinder deliveries
• Small propane cylinder delivery for caterers and industrial users
• Propane Bulk and cylinder deliveries for temporary heating projects

Call Holden Oil for any of your Oil, Propane or Bio Fuel needs. Be sure to call us if we can help you in any way.

EZ PAY program

The summer heat is here in force but the cold winter weather is coming soon. August is the month to get on Holden Oil's EZ PAY program to even out the cost of heating oil or propane gas to heat your home or business. Holden Oil can set up a payment plan so that you make even payments from August until June. Payments can be set up to be drafted from a bank account, charged to a credit card or you can pay by check. You receive the same prompt pay discount for the EZPAY program as you would by paying for each delivery within 10 days.

It is important to make sure your heating oil or propane gas system is tuned up and ready to provide you with safe efficient heat this winter. Our technicians are ready to meet your heating equipment needs.

New Oil Line laws

The Massachusetts legislature recently passed a new law (Chapter 453) which requires upgrades to heating oil lines in residential heating systems. This law requires that all heating oil lines must be upgraded before July 1, 2010 if they are in direct contact with a floor surface and do not meet certain specifications. The law requires:1. the line be encased in a continuous non-metalic sleeve; or 2. an oil safety valve be installed to manufacturers specifications; or 3. employ other release prevention measures approved by the state's Board of Fire Prevention Regulations. The law also requires insurance companies to offer pollution liability coverage to homeowners in case of a leak.

Many homes are already in compliance but a great deal are not. It is very important that your heating oil line be upgraded if it is not in compliance. Our heating oil Technicians have been providing information to customers for several years now and recommending upgrades but now it has become law. Through the Tanksure program that we participate in, your oil tank and line are thoroughly inspected and evaluated during your annual maintenance visit and you are informed of needed work.

Contact Holden Oil for any information you may need on Heating oil, propane gas, bio heat.

Heating Oil and Bioheat

Heating oil prices are now more than 50% less than last year at this time- what a difference a year makes. Did the wild prices of last year help pull down the economy or did the slumping economy help pull down the prices? Probably both.

Holden Oil is looking closely at the different alternatives for those who want some type of price protection plan for this coming winter. There has not been much interest expressed so far after the success of not having a price protection plan last year. I would welcome any views that you may have.

Bioheat- a blend of heating oil and biodiesel made from waste vegetable oils and animal fats- is available and being delivered by Holden Oil on a daily basis throughout the Northshore and Essex county. Bioheat is compatible with your existing heating equipment, burns cleaner and costs no more than regular heating oil. Call today to get set up with clean, renewable bioheat by Holden Oil

Fourth of July celebrations are over and we are still waiting for the first extended blast of warm weather and sunshine. Don’t let the chill stop you from swimming- heat your pool! The pool heating experts at Holden Oil can help you enjoy your pool despite the dreary weather by installing a propane pool heater.

Have you ever run out of propane gas while grilling a meal? Holden Oil can supply you with a number of solutions to keep the cookout a success. Our propane refill station is open everyday during the cookout season to provide quick and convenient refills. We stock propane gas cylinders at very competitive prices so you can always have a spare propane cylinder on hand. If you have a propane gas system on your house or pool, we can install a “grill box” to just plug in a special hose and eliminate the trip to visit us. Let Holden’s keep your grill cooking.

Holden Oil Improvements

Even with the economy in the doldrums, we at Holden Oil are investing in the future to better serve you- our customers. If you are reading this, you are seeing the first of our new online blogs on our updated web site. We welcome any comments you may have.

We just completed upgrading our underground gasoline tanks at our Peabody, Mass. gasoline station. This project was done proactively- the tanks were changed before we had any problems and before we were legally required to do so in order to insure that we are operating in the best manner possible.

Holden Oil is also finishing up construction of our expanded facility in Essex, MA. We have added both indoor and outdoor work space to our existing 90,000 gallon propane storage facility located on Scot’s Way. The new facility will greatly enhance our propane gas operation capabilities.

First Post

Holden Oil is a provider of quality fuel and service. We supply propane gas, heating oil, diesel fuel, equipment, and also serve as a gas station. Since our beginnings in 1924 as Holden's Filling Station, things have certainly changed. But one thing that hasn't changed, at Holden Oil we still treat you as a neighbor. We strive to provide a personal approach to business that seems to have gotten lost in this age of consolidation. We are always available to answer any question and will always do our best to meet your needs.