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‘I’ve taken an extra job to pay for heating oil’
Sheila Williams, who lives alone in a park home in Golden Cross, East Sussex, has taken a winter waitress job to help pay for heating oil. She says her oil bill has doubled since the start of 2026, illustrating the pressure on households outside the gas network as winter approaches.
A 1,000-litre tank can cost more than £970 to fill, and supplier Jon Reardon said average oil prices had doubled since the war began in the Middle East. Another resident, Nigel Wanstall, said he could not afford to refill his tank and was relying on an open fire and an electric blanket. The government says it has pledged £53m for vulnerable households, removed a 4% tariff on home heating oil and is working to regulate suppliers.
In short
- East Sussex resident takes a second job to afford heating oil.
- Filling a 1,000-litre tank can cost more than £970.
- Government says it is offering support and reforming the sector.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
People who rely on heating oil can face sharp costs and have limited alternatives, especially in rural homes outside the gas network. The government should act to protect vulnerable households and ensure suppliers are treated fairly, while targeted support can help people keep warm through winter.
The case against
Public funds and regulation must be used carefully: broad support for oil bills could be costly, benefit households that do not need help and weaken incentives to reduce reliance on a volatile fuel. A stronger case can be made for targeted assistance and longer-term measures that expand affordable alternatives, while avoiding rules that unnecessarily burden suppliers or raise prices.