Why UK households with heating oil are getting help from the government

LocalBusiness & Finance
16 Mar 2026 • 5:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • UK ministers are preparing a £50 million package to assist households facing spiralling energy costs.
  • The intervention is a direct response to the Iran war, which has significantly impacted energy prices.
  • The funding is primarily aimed at approximately one million homes in rural Northern Ireland that rely on heating oil.
  • Heating oil prices have doubled as it is not covered by the energy price cap, exacerbated by disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
  • Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband recently met with oil firm executives and forecourt operators to caution them against profiteering.

IN FULL