Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress her Department has made on developing policies offering rural residents who are off the gas grid similar levels of protection from energy price rises to those available to households on the gas grid.

This government is determined to ensure consumers reliant on heating oil are treated fairly and better protected, including during times of international volatility.

The CMA found that recent increases in heating oil prices were largely driven by higher wholesale costs rather than a lack of competition or excessive profits.

The government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, confirming it will taking forward proposals to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time, and agreeing with the CMA that we will not be replicating the gas and electricity price cap. Instead, we will focus on a programme of reform to strengthening consumer protections.

However, this government does recognise the impact that heating oil price increases has had on households, which is why we took action to introduce over £50m of support to help with costs. Households in England can access immediate support from their local authority through the Crisis & Resilience Fund.