North Devon MP demands 'immediate action' on soaring heating oil prices

The Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, has called for urgent government intervention to protect rural households from what he described as "skyrocketing" heating oil prices.

Mr Roome has launched a local survey to gather evidence on the impact of rising costs and supply issues, which he intends to present directly to the Energy Minister.

The move comes as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on 11 March 2026 that it is examining concerns regarding retail practices in the heating oil market. 

The watchdog confirmed it has received “troubling reports” from consumers following the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up wholesale fuel costs.

The CMA is specifically investigating two main issues:

• Existing orders for heating oil being cancelled, with customers subsequently offered new quotes at significantly higher prices.
• Sudden price increases for automated deliveries, which are triggered when fuel levels in a tank fall below a certain threshold.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “It’s inevitable that some prices will rise, but they should reflect genuine cost pressures. We've heard troubling reports from heating oil customers about cancelled orders and sudden price increases, and are moving quickly to get to the bottom of these concerns. As always, we stand by consumers and will make sure they are treated fairly.”

The CMA is writing to suppliers and intermediaries as a matter of urgency to gather evidence and determine if consumer protection laws are being breached. 

The regulator stressed that it is at the initial stage of its review, and it should not be assumed that any businesses have broken the law.

Official data from the House of Commons Library shows that nearly 30 per cent of households in North Devon are off the gas grid.

Unlike households connected to the mains, these residents are currently excluded from the Ofgem energy price cap, leaving them fully exposed to market volatility.

“This conflict has stressed again that there are many rural homes and businesses that are completely at the mercy of the oil and gas markets, and now families in North Devon who rely on heating oil are being left to bear the brunt of shocks to the global market in their bills, with some unable to access heating oil at all and orders being cancelled and then re-quoted at a vastly higher price,” the MP said.

The Chancellor has previously acknowledged evidence of “price gouging” in the market, with some firms allegedly using the international crisis to inflate costs for consumers.

In addition to the CMA investigation, the Liberal Democrats are calling for an initial three-month zero-rating for VAT on heating oil for all residential homes to provide immediate relief.

Beyond short-term relief, the party is urging the government to:

• Develop a mechanism to shield off-grid families from sudden price surges, similar to the existing energy price cap.
• Prioritise home energy efficiency by providing free insulation to low-income households.
• Ensure all new homes are built to zero-carbon standards.

“The Minister and the Competition & Markets Authority wanted evidence to help the government understand the scale of the problem and how to respond, so I’m now gathering evidence through my local survey,” Mr Roome added.

“The Government must provide immediate relief for households who are grappling with rocketing oil and gas prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. We Liberal Democrats are calling for an immediate three-month zero-rating for VAT on heating oil for all residential homes to protect rural households from global price shocks.”