Buy now or wait and hope? Families face gamble on heating oil

About 1.5 million UK households use heating oil, typically in rural areas. This includes more than 40% of homes in some parts of Lincolnshire, including Wainfleet All Saints, Wragby, Roughton and Ludford, according to Census data.

Unlike gas and electricity customers, they are not covered by the energy price cap, leaving them more exposed to sudden increases. They also have to pay a lump sum in advance for their fuel, with domestic tanks typically holding between 1,000 and 2,000 litres.

On Wednesday, the average price was 97.05p per litre, according to the comparison website boilerjuice.com, external, which measures the cost for purchases of 1,000 litres.

That figure is up by 85% since 9 September 2025, when it stood at 52.8p, and while it has dropped significantly from a high of 134p in March, prices have been climbing again in recent weeks after renewed fighting between the US and Iran.

It means a household wanting to fill a 1,000-litre tank could be facing a bill of more than £970.

In March, the government announced a support package worth £53m, external for low-income families who use heating oil after prices surged due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The funding is distributed by local authorities, which set their own criteria for eligibility.

John Craggs says he inquired about help, but found he did not qualify.