Celebrating securing Government action on heating oil

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

MONDAY 16^th MARCH 2026

Alistair Strathern, the MP for Hitchin, has celebrated helping to secure millions of pounds from Government for vulnerable households in rural communities exposed to high heating oil prices.

After Strathern joined with rural MPs to put the case for action to the Treasury, the Government has today announced £53m of funding for local authorities across the country to support low-income households exposed to surging heating oil prices.

Around 760,000 homes use heating oil in England, predominantly concentrated in rural areas. Unlike gas and electricity, it is not capped by Ofgem, meaning the volatility caused by the Middle East has caused serious tariff spikes.

As prices started to rise following events in the Middle East, Strathern was contacted by a number of constituents locally sharing their concerns about how they would afford to keep heating on following surging oil costs.

Strathern has engaged over the last week with Ministers and officials at the Treasury and Department for Energy and Net Zero to explain the impact this was having on rural communities, and to press for Government action and support.

Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire County Councils, as two rural local authorities, will now benefit from a share of this new funding which will be distributed in proportion to the number of households in each area reliant on heating oil. Strathern has today written to both authorities to urge them to move at speed in promoting the support to vulnerable households across Central Beds and Hertfordshire to ensure they can access funding as quickly as possible.

This comes alongside wider Government action with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review heating oil market movements. The Government has tasked the CMA with clamping down on any evidence of profiteering or breach of contract by heating oil suppliers, as well as considering what wider protections (such as a price cap) might be warranted.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“Having grown up in a home reliant on heating oil, I know how exposed rural communities can be to surging heating oil costs.

“While action on profiteering was welcome, faced with bills that were doubling I was clear with Ministers that vulnerable households in my constituency need support now.

“I am glad that the Government has listened and provided this crucial funding to support vulnerable households in rural communities like ours.

“I’m urging Central Beds and Herts Councils to now do all they can to promote this vital support to vulnerable households across our community.”

You can see more information about the announcement here