New Support for Rural Households Facing Rising Heating Oil Costs
A number of residents who heat their homes with oil have been in touch to raise the issue of a substantial increase in the price of kerosene.
Kerosene was around 60p per litre in the UK at the end of February but due to the war in the Middle East had more than doubled to 134p by 8 March.
I therefore welcome the Government’s announcement yesterday of £53 million in targeted financial support for households reliant on heating oil. This is particularly important given these households are more likely to be low-income and rural. The Government has also announced it will introduce new consumer protections for heating oil customers and is exploring new ways to step in to ensure households are better protected.
The Government has already secured an agreement with the heating oil industry on a strengthened Code of Practice, will support the Consumer and Market Authority’s investigation into the industry, and will also explore the creation of a new ombudsman or regulator for the industry.