{"id":125451,"date":"2026-09-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=125451"},"modified":"2026-09-13T10:54:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:54:19","slug":"households-could-pay-hundreds-more-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/households-could-pay-hundreds-more-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Households Could Pay Hundreds More This Winter as Oil Prices Continue to Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The issue has affected households, farmers and businesses that rely on oil-fired heating and fuel-powered equipment. Local representatives have warned that sudden price changes <\/strong>are creating uncertainty for people who have limited alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising Fuel Costs Put Pressure on Rural Households<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council\u2019s cabinet member for rural affairs and broadband, said rising oil prices were causing concern among residents across rural areas. She said 41,000 households <\/strong>in Devon relied on heating oil as their main source of heating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to price comparison website Boiler Juice<\/a>, heating oil prices increased from around 60p per litre before the Iran conflict to about 97p per litre<\/strong>. Cottle-Hunkin said the increases represented a significant financial challenge for households that needed to refill their tanks before colder weather arrived. \u201cThe price can double overnight<\/em>,\u201d she said, adding that heating oil does not have an equivalent price cap to the system applied to some other energy markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The councillor, who is also a fifth-generation farmer near Great Torrington, said the higher costs were affecting agricultural businesses as well. Fuel is used by farming vehicles and heavier machinery, creating additional expenses for farms that depend on regular fuel supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said some households could face difficult choices when trying to pay for heating. Filling an oil tank could require hundreds of pounds more than expected, she told the BBC. Across Cornwall, more than 34,500 households are thought to use oil<\/a> for central heating. Mark Clews<\/strong>, who lives near Callington, said his household paid 55p per litre for delivery at the same time the previous year. He said prices had since risen above \u00a31 per litre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

In March I modelled what a Gulf shock would do to energy prices in Ireland and the UK. Six months on, I have checked it against what happened. The mechanism held.

Pump and heating oil prices came within 4% on average. Duration was my miss. Winter rerun in the last image.

Per\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/EefTbQ5HRz<\/a><\/p>— Prof Aoife M. Foley (@AoifeMFoley) September 11, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>