MP Demands Action Over Heating Oil 'Profiteering' Claims
Conservative MP Harriet Cross has launched a fierce attack on home heating oil suppliers, accusing them of "blatant profiteering" by doubling prices for vulnerable households amid Middle East conflict disruption. The Gordon and Buchan representative has written urgent letters to both the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband demanding immediate intervention.
Rural Households Face Crippling Price Hikes
Approximately 1.5 million UK households rely on heating oil, with particular concentration in rural areas like Aberdeenshire where 45% of homes are off-grid. These customers fall outside Ofgem's energy price cap protections, leaving them exposed to market volatility. Ms Cross revealed constituents have seen prices jump from £500 for 700 litres in January to over £1,000 since conflict began, with some experiencing cancelled deliveries only to be offered the same oil at double the price the same day.
CMA Investigation Demanded
In her formal complaint to the CMA, Ms Cross stated: "I have been contacted by constituents who have experienced behaviour from suppliers that can only be described as blatant profiteering. These households are disproportionately rural, often elderly and vulnerable, and I believe there is evidence of long-standing consumer harm." She specifically referenced Section 131 of the Enterprise Act 2002 as grounds for investigation.
Government Pressure Mounts
The MP's separate letter to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband requests government intervention, asking whether ministers will "contact the chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority to request an investigation into pricing transparency within the heating oil and LPG market." This comes as Miliband and energy minister Michael Shanks have already written to fuel industry representatives, reminding them of their obligations under customer charters and warning that consumer protection laws remain fully enforceable.
Industry Under Scrutiny
The CMA responded on Monday, stating it "won't hesitate to take action" if consumer or competition law breaches are identified. Authorities emphasized that consumers who ordered heating oil should receive it at agreed prices, despite global market volatility caused by Middle East disruptions. Ms Cross is additionally calling for a mandatory price transparency scheme to help consumers identify the cheapest available options.
The situation highlights growing concerns about energy affordability for off-grid households during international crises, with particular focus on vulnerable rural populations who lack alternative heating options as prices continue to soar.
