# New regulation for heating oil market, but no price controls

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/new-regulation-for-heating-oil-market-but-no-price-controls/
- Published: 2026-11-10T13:42:29+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T21:53:35+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Business (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv70p0d3d686o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Business, Markets, UK, World

## Key points

- Heating oil suppliers in Northern Ireland will face a mandatory conduct code.
- The Consumer Council will help resolve disputes and identify vulnerable consumers.
- The CMA rejected price controls despite a record 92% monthly price rise.

## Summary

Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald says heating oil suppliers will face tighter regulation, following a UK Competition and Markets Authority inquiry. The measures aim to strengthen consumer protection, help vulnerable households and improve dispute resolution, but will not introduce price controls.

Suppliers will have to follow a mandatory code of conduct, while the Consumer Council will take a larger role in resolving disputes and creating an opt-in register for vulnerable consumers. Around two thirds of Northern Ireland households use heating oil. Prices there rose by a record 92% in one month at the start of the Iran conflict, compared with a previous peak of 59% in March 2022; the CMA said the latest surge largely reflected higher wholesale costs and warned price controls could be counterproductive.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.