Rural households reliant on heating oil are facing a 'sudden and frightening' surge in bills, with prices nearly trebling since the start of the Iran war. The cost of heating oil, which is not covered by Ofgem's price cap, has risen from about 62p per litre before the conflict to around £1.73, according to examples seen by the Guardian.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has acknowledged the 'unique challenges' faced by these households and announced a meeting with rural and Northern Irish MPs to explore further action. However, critics argue that the government's response has been inadequate, with no concrete support yet offered to the estimated 1.7 million UK households that use heating oil.
In Northern Ireland, where two-thirds of homes rely on heating oil, the impact is particularly severe. Some customers have had orders cancelled by suppliers due to volatility, while others struggle to find companies willing to deliver. Emma Simpson, chief executive of Rural Action Derbyshire, noted that panic buying is exacerbating price pressures, with one supplier limiting orders to 500 litres per household.
Individual stories highlight the crisis. Jo Teather from Cornwall saw the cost of 500 litres jump from £340 to £858 within a week. Another user in Hampshire was unable to get a quote from online broker BoilerJuice due to high demand. The Competition and Markets Authority has warned suppliers to treat customers fairly, stating that orders should be honoured at agreed prices.
