Exbourne resident wins 500 litres of heating oil in Moorland Fuels prize draw

Mark Berry, who lives in the rural village near Okehampton, received the unexpected prize after joining the company's customer rewards scheme, which is available to customers who pay for their heating oil by monthly Direct Debit.

The timing of the win comes as many heating oil users continue to face uncertainty over fuel prices following recent increases linked to tensions in the Gulf, leaving households concerned about energy bills ahead of the colder months.

Commenting on his win, Mark said: "I knew about the free quarterly draw, but I never expected to be the winner, so getting the call was a really lovely surprise. I've only been a Moorland Fuels customer for a short while, which made it even more unexpected. I rang my wife straight away to tell her the good news – she works in Kuwait, so after everything we've experienced recently, it was something positive for us to celebrate together."

Like many homes across rural Devon, Mark's property relies on heating oil for both central heating and hot water. By paying through a monthly Direct Debit, he spreads the cost evenly throughout the year, helping to avoid larger seasonal bills.

He said the prize has provided welcome reassurance as heating costs remain unpredictable.

Mark explained: "Having been personally touched by the conflict in the Gulf, we've been very aware of the uncertainty that this has caused due to rises in heating oil prices. Paying monthly really helps in that respect, but it doesn't stop you worrying about the cost of keeping the house warm over the long winter months ahead.

"Having a full tank ready for the autumn gives us real peace of mind, especially with heating costs remaining so unpredictable. We use heating oil for both our heating and hot water, so it's reassuring to know we won't have to worry quite so much when the colder weather arrives. The money we've saved will certainly come in handy too – we're off on a cruise soon, so that should stretch to a few extra cocktails! I'd definitely recommend joining the Cosy Heating Club. It's great to know there are benefits like this just for paying by Direct Debit."

Mark also uses Moorland Fuels' Cosy Connect tank monitor, which automatically alerts the company when his oil tank needs refilling.

He added: "The Moorland Fuels team have been great, and their tank monitor is a real asset. Now, we never need to worry about running out of heating oil."

Since becoming an employee-owned business in 2022, Moorland Fuels has introduced a number of customer initiatives designed to reward and support households across Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West. Central to these is the free-to-join Cosy Heating Club, which aims to help customers manage the cost of heating their homes while offering a range of additional benefits.

Customers who set up a monthly Direct Debit automatically become members of the scheme and are entered into a quarterly draw to win 500 litres of heating oil.

Membership also includes priority five-day delivery, the option to order as little as 300 litres of heating oil, one free annual upgrade to premium heating oil, a complimentary tank sponge to help protect boilers from sludge, free tank inspections during deliveries, discounted oil tanks and access to eco-delivery options.

By allowing customers to spread heating costs over 12 months, the scheme is designed to help households budget more effectively and avoid unexpected winter fuel bills.

For more information about the Cosy Heating Club and Moorland Fuels' services, visit www.moorlandfuels.co.uk.