New regulations regarding prepaid contracts for home heating fuel are set to go into effect.
Governor Maggie Hassan signed a bill into law Friday that limits when oil companies can advertise for prepaid contracts and increases the penalties for failing to deliver fuel.
The bill was in response to the controversy this past winter when Fred Fuller Oil customers complained about not getting their heating oil tanks refilled on time.
The law makes failure to deliver fuel a violation under the state’s Consumer Protection Act.
Companies can also now face misdemeanor charges for not delivering fuel on time.
Governor Hassan called the bill an important step toward protecting residents who have pre-buy contracts.
The law takes effect January 1.