Stories

Sat, 18 Jul 2026

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 Rural residents back heating oil protection plan

Households reliant on heating oil as a fuel source say better regulation of pricing is needed.

* Nick Weaver's fuel supplier delivered only half of his order after the Middle East conflict, and he was offered to buy the remaining 500 litres at a higher price.
* Families living in rural parts of the West Midlands have welcomed a recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to bring protections for heating oil customers in line with those connected to the grid.
* The CMA report found that governments should bolster the rights of 1.5 million households reliant on heating oil, which has seen prices almost double due to the conflict.
* Improved protections would cover how prices are quoted, cancellations are handled, and support for vulnerable consumers.
* 1,700 people whose existing orders were cancelled after the conflict began may be refunded any extra money they had to pay.
* The CMA is considering legal action against suppliers who have refused to compensate those affected.
* Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she will look seriously at what can be done to protect households reliant on heating oil.
* Families like Jemma McCarron's, who live in rural areas and rely on heating oil, are taking steps to reduce their fuel consumption and prepare for fluctuating costs.
* Improved protections for heating oil customers are "so important", but some people also want a push towards renewable sources of energy.