Impact of heating oil prices on rural areas: Alliance briefs MPs

Ahead of a debate in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 4 November, the Countryside Alliance has shared a briefing note about the impact heating oil prices have on rural areas. 

The full briefing note can be downloaded here, with the key points summarised below.

• The Countryside Alliance supports a fair transition to affordable and sustainable
  energy, but rural households must not face unfair costs because of where they live
  or government policy.
• Around 1.5-1.7 million households remain reliant on heating oil due to not being
  connected to the mains gas grid, many of them in rural areas with limited
  alternatives.
• Unlike households using mains gas and electricity, heating oil users are not
  protected by the energy price cap and are therefore exposed to global energy
  shocks and market volatility.
• Rising international tensions and disruption to oil markets have significantly
  increased costs for rural households and businesses dependent on heating oil.
  Sudden price rises can leave vulnerable households struggling to afford heating.
• Heating oil users face additional risks from fuel theft, which can leave households
  without heating and create costly replacement bills. The Countryside Alliance has
  published guidance intended to help householders prevent fuel theft.
• The government has introduced targeted financial support and committed to
  strengthening consumer protections, but questions remain about affordability and
  the protection available to households facing future price shocks.
• The Countryside Alliance is calling for VAT on domestic heating oil to be reduced
  to zero and for a reduction in VAT on non-domestic heating oil used by rural
  businesses.
• Further measures to support consumers with their energy bills must recognise the
  needs of off-grid homes reliant on heating oil or other alternative fuels such as LPG.

Read the full Briefing Note

Download now