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Sat, 07 Mar 2026

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 'Most of my pension has gone on home heating oil'

Rising heating oil prices are hitting Northern Ireland harder than the rest of the UK - here's everything you need to know.

* Many households are struggling to afford heating, with some pensioners having to choose between heating and eating.
* Almost two-thirds (62.5%) of homes in Northern Ireland use oil for heating, the highest proportion in the UK.
* Some oil companies are offering help to elderly customers who have been caught out by the price hike.
* The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has suspended its oil savings network due to volatile prices and increased demand.
* Experts say that the rural-urban split in Northern Ireland means that many people rely on home heating oil, making them vulnerable to price increases.
* Regulation of the home heating oil market is not currently an option for the Utility Regulator, but politicians could decide to introduce regulation if they choose to do so.