Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government has reassessed the factors that contribute to the use of a 500-litre minimum order for domestic heating oil deliveries; and what steps it is taking to ensure that rural households can access smaller delivery quantities where the upfront cost of larger orders presents financial difficulties.

The Government recognises the pressures faced by households that rely on heating oil. Minimum order volumes are commercial practices that can reflect the fixed costs of delivery and operational constraints, including tanker metering.

Following the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study, the Government has committed to review the rules and regulations that may constrain minimum order volumes.

The Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October. We will focus on a programme of reform to strengthening consumer protections.

A Written Ministerial Statement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

The full response can be found here: Government response to the CMA heating oil market study - GOV.UK"

We are engaging with industry and UKIFDA to consider practical options for smaller deliveries, while ensuring that any changes do not undermine security of supply or lead to disproportionate costs for consumers.

The Government has improved support for vulnerable customers with more than £50 million of targeted support for low-income households that heat their homes with oil.