PM urged to act as rural organisations call

for urgent help for heating oil users

That is the message being sent to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is being urged to use the upcoming Autumn Budget to offer help to some of the families hardest hit by the ongoing energy crisis.

A coalition of bodies, representing more than 4,500 member organisations, is calling on the government not to forget off-grid households who rely on heating oil and LPG, most of which are located in rural areas.

Action with Communities in Rural England, the ACRE Network of 37 independent county-based charities, the Rural Services Network and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations have come together to highlight the urgent situation facing rural families this winter.

Significant price increases

A single litre of heating oil cost 60 pence on average in late February, before the conflict in the Middle East.

On 20 October, a litre is now around 85 per cent higher at £1.11, meaning the current cost of a standard 1,000-litre delivery of heating oil is well over £1,100.

Heating oil and LPG are not covered by the energy price cap, which applies only to electricity and gas.

With no protection against further price rises, nor any sign the price is going to drop, many rural families will be forced to do whatever they can to make their current supply last and to avoid running out.

“Feels like playing Russian roulette”

Forty-five-year-old Rachel Ryan is a single parent of two whose home can only be kept warm with heating oil.

She said: “Buying heating oil in one lump sum is really tricky, especially when you’re on a low income, as it feels like playing Russian roulette.

“Families who pay their energy bills through a direct debit can spread the cost throughout the year, but we have to pay whatever the price is on the day that the tank needs filling.

“Although our family has oil in the tank, we know the next refill will come in at almost £800, so we’re being very careful and trying to make what we have last until after Christmas.”

When Rachel filled her heating oil tank at the beginning of 2026, the cost was £408.

She said: “Having help from the government would really make a difference.

“I know that Christmas will look different this year, as savings need to be made from somewhere, which as a parent is really hard to say.

“A £50 reduction on our heating oil bill would help me to treat the children and do some of the nice things, even just a hot chocolate after an autumn walk, that we’ve been having to cut back on recently.”

The calls for change

The coalition is calling for three urgent actions that will make an immediate difference to heating oil users.

Firstly, a six-month VAT holiday for heating oil and LPG purchases to mirror the similar action already taken to help with the rising cost of domestic electricity bills.

This would help to save around £50 on the price of a standard 1,000-litre order of oil.

Secondly, end the postcode lottery of support across England by standardising the eligibility criteria used to allocate support to the most vulnerable under the Crisis and Resilience Fund supplement, which was announced in March after the initial spike in heating oil prices.

Thirdly, provide additional support to lower-income off-grid households.

The support provided through the Crisis and Resilience Fund was very limited, poorly advertised and should be extended to lower income families, as well as the most vulnerable, to help those most affected by high prices.

Corinne Pluchino, Chief Executive, Action with Communities in Rural England, said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to create more breathing space for families this winter, and urge it to take action quickly to support the 1.5 million off grid households that have experienced much bigger price increases this year than those whose energy is protected by Ofgem’s price cap.

“Many of these families need to top up their heating oil now and are facing additional costs of hundreds of pounds.

“The actions we are calling for are simple, effective and can be implemented immediately, which we know will make a real difference to those who currently face this winter not knowing if they will be able to afford to keep their homes warm.”

“We urge the Prime Minister to take action”

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network, said: “No-one should have to choose between heating their home and meeting other essential costs simply because of where they live.

“Rural communities already face additional costs for fuel because public transport is not always available, and wages earned within rural communities are lower than the national average.

“We urge the Prime Minister to take action to support rural residents.”

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “The high cost of heating oil is a huge issue in Scotland, affecting individual households and the places where they come together.

“Village halls, for example, play a central role in rural and island life by offering warm places where people can hold community events.

“They rely on oil for heating, already pay a premium because of the cost of transportation, particularly to Scotland’s 93 inhabited islands, and are struggling to pay the bills, just as demand for warm spaces is going up.”

The full open letter to the Prime Minister, along with further information about how ACRE and its network supports rural communities to thrive, can be viewed online at www.acre.org.uk.

Information about the RSN can be found at www.rsnonline.org.uk, while details about SCVO are available at www.scvo.scot.