A number of constituents have contacted me about the sharp rise in heating oil prices. While developments in Iran will inevitably influence global energy markets, many of these increases appear to go well beyond normal market pressures.
Some families have reported that previously booked deliveries have been cancelled by their supplier, only to be contacted later and offered delivery of the same oil, to the same address, on the same day, at a much higher price. Reports like this are deeply concerning and risk amounting to price gouging.
In response, I have joined Kemi Badenoch, Claire Coutinho and a number of fellow Conservative MPs in writing to the Competition and Markets Authority to request an urgent investigation into the heating oil supply market (You can find a copy of the letter, in PDF format, below).
Many households across Bexhill and Battle rely on heating oil because they are not connected to the mains gas grid. These homes are often in rural areas, and residents frequently have little choice but to depend on heating oil to heat their homes. Unlike gas and electricity customers, households using heating oil are not protected by the energy price cap.
It is vital that customers are protected and that the market operates fairly, with proper transparency and competition.
To support this work, I am asking residents who use heating oil to share their experiences. Your responses will help me build a clearer picture of how heating oil prices are affecting households locally and strengthen the case for action.