Low Sulfur Heating Oil: Evaluating the Impacts
on Consumers

Davis Bookhart and Katherine Zien

SEPTEMBER 2003

Executive Summary

The Consumer Energy Council of America (CECA) has prepared this examination of low sulfur heating oil to demonstrate the benefits of low sulfur heating oil fuel to heating oil customers. CECA finds that a low sulfur fuel is superior to traditional heating oil, and will contribute to significant environmental and consumer benefits-both directly and indirectly. CECA's research indicates that the slight fuel price premium is more than compensated by cost savings associated with longer equipment life, greater fuel stability, and reduced maintenance and cleanings of the heating equipment. CECA also finds that the environmental benefits of low sulfur fuel are considerable; emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are reduced up to 70 percent compared to traditional heating oil. Finally the report provides a brief overview of what the findings mean on a practical level, highlighting a number of real-life examples.

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