The government “will act” against home heating oil companies that “hike their prices without justification”, British prime minister Keir Starmer has said in advance of a visit to Northern Ireland. On average, 900 litres of home heating oil cost £536.72 (€622.11) on February 26th, but had risen to £948.41 (€1,099.30) by March 5th. Northern Ireland has been the most exposed region in the UK and Ireland to the rising price of home heating oil. MPs from Northern Ireland met British treasury minister Lord Spencer Livermore on Wednesday amid calls for London to provide financial support following the sharp price increase. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked by the British government to look “urgently” at complaints of price gouging by some home heating oil companies.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2026 06:00 UTC