MENUFuel Buyers Group
Coming soon - NYPIRG member discounts on heat pump installation in select parts of the state! Email fbg@nypirg.org to find out more.
NYPIRG’s Fuel Buyers Group brings a collaborative, non-profit perspective to the home energy marketplace — helping consumers to save money while simultaneously helping to improve the environment. The Fuel Buyers Group negotiates with home heating providers using the combined purchasing power of our members to get a lower price. At the same time, your membership and participation in the Fuel Buyers Group contributes to NYPIRG’s advocacy work. In an era of climate change, it’s important to do all we can to reduce the release of greenhouse gases — like those resulting from the burning of oil, gas, and coal. But we all know that’s easier said than done.
Helping You Meet Your Energy Needs Renewably
Reducing your home energy carbon footprint is not always easy to do. For New Yorkers who heat their homes with oil or gas, there may be barriers — like time, cost, or expertise — that make it difficult to switch to another source of power at this time.
The Fuel Buyers Group is here to help: We can help point you in the green direction by offering information on how to reduce your carbon footprint through do-it-yourself approaches, as well as locally-available programs and technologies. We can refer you to trusted local providers who can recommend and install energy efficiency products, and we’ll help you find information on programs and technologies that can help you make the switch to green heating sources. We only work with reputable local energy companies that offer high quality products and services at discounted NYPIRG member prices, and that have courteous and knowledgeable staff members in every department.
At the same time, your participation in FBG helps us push New York State to a greener future by underwriting NYPIRG’s advocacy for stronger solar, wind, geothermal, and energy efficiency programs in the state. Saving New Yorkers Money on Their Energy Bills for Almost 40 Years
The Fuel Buyers Group brings the power of group buying and a non-profit perspective to the home energy marketplace — helping consumers save money while simultaneously working to improve the environment. The Fuel Buyers Group negotiates with home heating providers leveraging the combined purchasing power of our members to get a lower price and ensure quality service. At the same time, membership and participation in the Fuel Buyers Group contributes to NYPIRG’s advocacy work. We can help you save money now. We use collective buying power to lower your energy costs. With thousands of participants statewide and close to 40 years of experience, we negotiate with local energy providers to get our members deeply discounted rates on home heating products and services. Strength in Numbers
New participants make us even stronger. Homeowners are our most typical program participants, but we can work with accounts of any size — from studio apartments to hospitals — and we'd be happy to come speak to your local association or organization about the benefits of participating in the Group.
Current Prices by Service Area
The Fuel Buyers Group is excited to announce a major geographic expansion! Our areas of service now include the Capital District, Central New York, Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York. For specific daily pricing, or to find out what products and services are available where you live, call us at (800) 695-4645 or send an email to fbg@nypirg.org that includes your ZIP code and the fuel you use to heat your home. Thanks and welcome to the Fuel Buyers family!
Products & Services
Home Heating Oil & Kerosene
In the decades that the NYPIRG Fuel Buyers Group has been working in the public interest — we have saved thousands of consumers millions of dollars on their heating bills! The Group contracts only with reputable local oil companies that offer comprehensive service contracts and budget plans as well as convenient automatic deliveries. And the average price per gallon for a Fuel Buyers Group member is 20 — 40 cents below full retail prices! In many areas of the state we also offer capped prices to help protect our members against rising costs. Member prices are tied directly to the wholesale market so they rise and fall automatically — not when the delivery company wants them to — and at the Fuel Buyers Group we track prices independently to make sure you always get the right price. To find more detailed pricing information by region — please click HERE.
Propane
As New Yorkers face numerous, daily threats to their health, safety, and economic wellbeing, the Fuel Buyers Group offers significant cost savings to those who need it most. In areas of the state that lack access to piped natural gas, propane is one of the most widely used heating sources. While it is often cleaner burning than oil or kerosene, it can be significantly more expensive as well. Whether you own your own propane tank or need one from a supplier, the Fuel Buyers group negotiates deeply discounted rates at all usage levels with trusted local suppliers. Participants can save hundreds of dollars a year while at the same time helping to underwrite NYPIRG's important environmental work.
Natural Gas & Electricity
New Yorkers have grown increasingly dependent on natural gas for heat, and we are using more and more electricity every day as our reliance on the devices that power our lives grows. At the same time, the gas and electric marketplace has grown more complicated. With the deregulation of the natural gas and electricity industries, the actual cost of the products has been separated from the cost of its delivery, allowing consumers the opportunity to shop around for a better price. As the market has grown, the number of energy service companies — and often their aggressive sales tactics — have become overwhelming for many consumers. The Fuel Buyers Group helps to alleviate the situation by recommending suppliers with great customer service, fair prices, and a variety of pricing plans to help members save money while working with a company they can trust. Unfortunately, due to recent changes in regulation by the Public Service Commission, we are unable to add new gas and electric accounts at this time. We hope to be able to do so in the near future and encourage you to fill out our online information request form so that we can notify you when this valuable program reopens.How to Join
To join, please complete and return your application to NYPIRG along with the annual, tax-deductible membership contribution of $40 ($20 for senior citizens). Active duty military and members of participating unions are free.
To speed the process, you can call NYPIRG directly to fill out an application via fax or email and charge your contribution to a credit card. If you are already a member of NYPIRG, just complete the application. Also, if you refer a friend to us and they join, your next year’s membership will be waived. For more information on our referral program, please email us at fbg@nypirg.orgOnce NYPIRG receives the application, you will be assigned to a participating local energy company (note: you can only remain with your present company if it is one of the companies with which we contract). Please allow 3 to 5 business days from our receipt of your application for NYPIRG Fuel Buyers Group and the oil company to set up your account. If you need an immediate delivery, please call us at (800) 695-4645 to find out how soon you could receive one. Please contact us by email at fbg@nypirg.org or call us at (800) 695-4645 with any questions about the application process.
Click HERE to fill out our online application.
Or, download a printable application here:
Did You Know?
- If you refer someone to the Fuel Buyers Group and they join — you get the next year’s contribution waived! This offer is unlimited so send us 10 people and get 10 free years. Some energy companies we work with provide further incentives for referrals as well.
- One membership in the Fuel Buyers Group allows you to list as many properties and products as you like, as long as you own them. Want to participate with an oil account in Brooklyn and a propane account in the Hudson Valley? No problem — your tax deductible $40 donation covers it all!
- You can sign up for more than one product for your home. For example, if you’re already a participant in the kerosene program, why not add your cooking propane to the account? It’s still one membership contribution and you can save even more.
- When you participate with a Group provider we will act as your advocate in the rare case any billing or service problems arise with the company we refer you to. We can also help you select a service contract, change your delivery schedule, or set up a budget plan.
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Tuition Assistance Program set to increase as budget deal nears (Albany Times-Union, April 16, 2024)
Handing Taxpayers The Climate Cleanup Bill (The Lever, April 16, 2024)
Coming down the home stretch for a higher education budget deal (WAMC, April 15, 2024)
Exclusive: Environmental, labor groups call for more climate funding in city budget (City & State, April 15, 2024)
Coalition Of 115 Organizations Urges Governor Hochul To Approve The Fracking Ban (Harlem World Magazine, April 15, 2024)
Columbia and City College hold second environmental justice summit (Columbia Spectator, April 14, 2024)
State lawmakers pay suspended as budget talks extend (Fingerlakes 1, April 13, 2024)
Report: Disadvantaged communities could see millions from proposed Climate Change Superfund Act (Spectrum News, April 12, 2024)
Budget extenders keep New York's government running; lawmakers' pay on hold (Spectrum News, April 12, 2024)
Debate on housing causes budget delay (ABC News 10, April 12, 2024)
NY Legislature approves fourth budget extender (City & State, April 11, 2024)
Letter: Higher education needs more state funding (Hudson Valley One, April 10, 2024)
329 New York political candidates are certified for matching public campaign funds (Spectrum News, April 9, 2024)
With the passage of April 11 extender, solar eclipse triumphs over state budget (City & State, April 8, 2024)
Will Governor Hochul make the climate polluters pay? (WAMC, April 8, 2024)
N.Y. lawmakers celebrate eclipse as darkness mars late state budget (Spectrum News, April 8, 2024)
Capital Region advocates urge passage of Climate Change Superfund Act (The Daily Gazette, April 3, 2024)
Climate Change Superfund Act: How would it help NY communities dealing with flooding? (Fingerlakes 1, April 2, 2024)
Another late state budget (WAMC, April 1, 2024)
Release: County & Local Elected Officials Join 180+ Organizations to Urge Governor Hochul & Assembly Speaker Heastie to End $265M of Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the Final NYS Budget
Bill to Gut NYC’s Landmark Climate and Jobs Law Slammed as Real Estate Lobby Attack Begins.
Proposed Linda Lee bill would eviscerate Local Law 97, which is creating thousands of local jobs, cutting utility bills, and reducing pollution.
Report and Release: Climate Change Superfund Environmental Justice. $1 Billion Potential Scenario of Annual Allocations by Region and County
Report from NYPIRG and NY Renews – On the Backs of New York State Households: The Extreme Costs of Climate Change Impacts Families in Every Region of the State
NYPIRG and Other Transparency Advocates Urge Legislature and Governor to Strengthen Freedom of Information Law for Sunshine Week
Release: Assembly One-House Budget Bill Shows House Rejected Inclusion of Popular “Make Polluters Pay” Climate Change Superfund Act. Organizations Ask: Why Are the Assembly and Governor Shielding Big Oil Climate Polluters Instead of Protecting NYS Taxpayers?
News Release: Youth, Faith & Environmental Groups Join with Legislators to Call for “Make Polluters Pay” Bill Requiring Big Oil to Fund Climate Crisis
Costs to be Included in Senate and Assembly One-House Budgets
Also: Check out NYPIRG's New Video Illustrating the Need to Make Corporate Polluters Pay
Video Release: Make Polluters Pay!
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A NYPIRG report documenting a survey of litigants who participated in cases in the City of Albany Small Claims Court in 2021 shows the challenges facing consumers using the system.
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG Reacts to Governor Hochul's Budget Plan
Over 300 Business, Civic, Environmental, and Youth Groups Call on Governor Hochul to Modernize State Returnable Container Law (“Bottle Bill”)
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NYPIRG Statement on the Passing of Sidney Wolfe, MD, Founder of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group
Today, a coalition of elected officials, youth leaders, and community organizations led by NYPIRG called on Governor Hochul to include the Climate Change Superfund Act in her upcoming budget. The Climate Superfund assesses the largest oil companies for the state's mounting climate-related expenses and does so in a way that protects the public from increased costs.
RELEASE: Another Storm, More Costs to NY Taxpayers: Will Governor Hochul Make Big Oil Pay? A coalition of groups today called on Governor Hochul to make the oil companies pick up the tab for the costs of NY's climate damages after another deadly storm that caused widespread damage to New York State.
NYPIRG and a coalition of environmental organizations and local elected officials today released a review of the climate costs facing New York City and called on Governor Hochul to make the biggest oil companies – not local taxpayers – pay to cover climate damages
NYPIRG Celebrated Its Five Decades of Victories and College Student
Empowerment
Author and Activist Jane Fonda, Community Service Society’s David
Jones, State Senator Liz Krueger, U.S. Sen. Schumer’s State Director
Martin Brennan, and New Deal Strategies’ Camille Rivera
Received NYPIRG's “changemaker” Awards
Climate Superfund News Conferences: Taxpayer Tally of Climate Costs Since 8/2022 is $2.7 Billion
NYPIRG Statement on the Death of Ryan Thoresen Carson
The biblical rains that are devastating parts of the state are fresh evidence that the costs of adapting New York's infrastructure to the world climate’s "new abnormal" will be staggering. Legislation -- approved by the Senate (S.2129A) -- would require the largest oil companies to help pick up the tab and do it in a manner that will stop them from passing the costs on to consumers. Read NYPIRG's statement on downstate's devastating floods.
