Northern Ireland Executive

11/10/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/10/2026 07:07

Archibald to strengthen home heating oil protections

Archibald to strengthen home heating oil protections

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Date published: 10 November 2026

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has set out plans to strengthen protections for people who rely on home heating oil here.

Speaking in the Assembly today the Minister outlined a package of measures aimed at enhancing consumer protections while ensuring any intervention remains proportionate, practical and cost-effective.

They include:

  1. Establishing a comprehensive register of heating oil suppliers, working with Trading Standards Service and exploring the use of HMRC's Registered Dealers in Controlled Oils scheme to improve transparency and oversight of the market.
  2. Creating an opt-in register for vulnerable consumers, led by the Consumer Council, to help identify those most in need and enable support to be targeted effectively.
  3. Developing a Priority Service Programme for vulnerable consumers, providing protections comparable to those in the gas and electricity sectors and prioritising support during supply disruption or fuel shortages.
  4. Introducing a mandatory code of conduct for heating oil suppliers, strengthening transparency around minimum order volumes, payment and delivery terms, charges and wider consumer protections.
  5. Strengthening consumer redress arrangements, giving the Consumer Council an enhanced role in helping consumers resolve contract and service disputes and providing a clearer route to resolution.

The proposals respond to areas identified by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) where targeted action could further strengthen consumer protections, dispute resolution arrangements and support for vulnerable households.

Minister Archibald said:

"Many people here have been affected by the rise in home heating oil prices, caused by the US/Israeli attacks on Iran. The measures I am announcing today will strengthen protections for local consumers and make it easier to support vulnerable households who rely on home heating oil."

Notes to editors:

  1. The Minister's oral statement to the Assembly.
  2. The CMA published its final report on its market study into home heating oil on 15 July 2026
  3. The market study carried out by the CMA into the retail supply of heating oil for domestic use in the UK found that inflationary spike was primarily due to international wholesale prices and not local factors.
  4. The report found that our local heating oil market is highly competitive, with the lowest prices across Britain and Ireland. It also identified a need for stronger consumer protections, dispute resolution arrangements, and support for vulnerable households.
  5. Following the CMA's report, the Minister established a Home Heating Oil Working Group comprising officials from the Department for the Economy, the Consumer Council, and the Trading Standards Service.
  6. The UK Government response to the CMA market study into the retail supply of heating oil for domestic use in the UK, published on 13 October 2026 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heating-oil-government-response-to-cma-market-study/government-response-to-the-cma-heating-oil-market-study
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Northern Ireland Executive published this content on November 10, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 10, 2026 at 13:07 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]