Stories

Mon, 12 Oct 2026

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 Why some have no choice but to pay costly oil prices

The rural communities vulnerable to heating oil prices rises as the weather gets colder.

* Peter Mason, a retired homeowner from Wiltshire, has spent £300 on heating oil last year but now expects to pay over £550 to fill his tank.
* Dylan Williams, owner of van-driving business Van & I, pays more for fuel than ever before and has increased prices to offset the cost.
* Yvette Farrell, volunteer director at Dean Forest Kitchen, fears they may need to increase prices due to rising fuel costs which will impact their not-for-profit business. Heating oil customers are being affected by price volatility with many relying on locally-run support schemes. The government is urged to provide specific targeted support for heating oil and LPG users, such as removing VAT on these fuels for six months in the upcoming budget. The Department for the Environment and Net Zero offers grants worth £9,000 to help households switch to clean heat alongside a dedicated resilience fund for areas with higher rates of oil heating. Fuel price concerns are further exacerbated by rising costs elsewhere, including petrol and diesel prices topping £2 per litre for the first time.