Welcoming Heating Oil and Gas Regulator Review

Dame Harriett Baldwin MP has welcomed confirmation that the competition regulator is carrying out a full review of companies supplying heating oil and LPG to rural homes. She wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority last month sharing local people’s concerns about profiteering as fuel prices rocketed during the conflict across the Middle East. The CMA has confirmed that it is carrying out an investigation into the companies distributing oil as well as the wholesalers. Dame Harriett has received reports of companies cancelling pre-booked deliveries and then re-booking them at inflated prices.

The Government has pledged a £50 million package to help people who have been hit with higher-than-expected heating costs, running in parallel with the Crisis and Resilience Fund which helps people who are experiencing significant challenges coping with the cost of living. Worcestershire County Council has been allocated just under £500,000 to help local people with spikes in the costs of heating oil and LPG, which disproportionately impact people living in rural areas who are not able to connect to a mains gas supply. The support will be confirmed in the middle of next month and Age UK will be involved in identifying properties which could qualify for help.

Dame Harriett said: “I wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority sharing local evidence of significant shifts in supplier behaviour and I welcome the commitment that it is taking this evidence seriously. Local people are seeing major increases in their heating bills and although we are now heading into warmer weather, this is usually the time when people re-fill their tanks. After I raised concerns with the Chancellor, some money will be added to the Crisis and Resilience Fund  to help people struggling with the costs of heating oil or LPG and I have asked Worcestershire County Council to make sure that rural constituents are properly supported and money handed out as quickly as possible to those who are seriously affected. A formal investigation into the market could take a long time and local people want action now to help with their spiralling costs of heating oil and LPG.”