Starmer announced £53m to help heating oil customers
Written by MartyM on 16 March 2026
By Jamie McDonald
The UK Government has announced £53 million in support for vulnerable households relying on heating oil.
It comes as the price of oil has spiked amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Some customers in Skye and Lochalsh have reported the cost of filling up an oil tank has doubled in recent weeks.
Unlike electricity and gas, heating oil is not subject to Ofgem’s price cap.
Of the total, Scotland will receive £4.6 million. It will be up to the Scottish Government to administer the support.
The Prime Minister made the announcement at a press conference in Downing Street on Monday morning.
Sir Keir Starmer also added that companies could be subject to legal action if they engage in what’s known as ‘price gouging’, the practice of artifically inflating the cost of a service to capitalise on demand.
He went on to say the UK Government will look into bolstering regulation of the heating oil market.
Have you been affected by this story? Get in touch with Jamie via news@radioskye.com
