NH House Kills Home Heating Date Change Bill

New Hampshire House Kills Home Heating Bill That Shortened Time For Pre-buy Contracts

(AP)  CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire's House has killed a bill that would have shortened the time fuel dealers have to offer pre-buy contracts.

The bill would have amended a two-year-old law meant to protect consumers who buy their heating fuel early. The law requires dealers to demonstrate they can fulfill their pre-buy contracts and prohibits dealers from offering the contracts before Jan. 1 for the 12-month heating season beginning May 1.

The bill would have prohibited dealers from offering the contracts before May 1.

Gov. John Lynch vetoed the bill last spring. The House voted Wednesday to let it die. He questioned whether the shorter window would affect dealers' ability to get the best price.