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Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 Do not turn your heating off, charities warn

Organisations say there is support available after heating oil doubled in price due to the war in Iran.
In Northumberland and Cumbria, around 30% of homes do not have mains gas, while in County Durham it's 20%, with some areas seeing fuel prices double in a month. Emma Spry from Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (UTASS) said: "It's so important people keep their homes warm" considering the region's cold spring weather. The government claims to have acted quickly and decisively to support households at risk, but people are already cutting back on heating hours due to rising costs. Those in rural areas face additional challenges, including higher food prices and longer travel times. UTASS offers an oil-buying scheme that helps customers get cheaper oil by ordering in bulk. Charities recommend keeping bedrooms and sitting rooms warm (at least 18C/64F) as low temperatures can impact health. The Community Action Northumberland charity suggests switching to electric heaters or radiators to reduce costs, while others offer energy vouchers through the Housing Support Fund or the Crisis and Resilience Fund (£53m allocated for April). The government's spokesperson stated that local authorities will design and implement schemes to support households at risk of losing access to heating.