New research has found that the spot price for heating oil has risen by 95.3% compared with the same day last year.
Data from Oil Compare revealed that the current price stands at 102.3p per litre, compared to the 12-month average of 77.8p per litre. While prices remain below the March 2026 peak of 134.2p per litre, the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) stated that the scale of the year-on-year increase will cause real concern for rural and off-grid homes as autumn begins.
Autumn is traditionally the period when many households fill their tanks ahead of winter. With many suppliers requiring a minimum delivery of around 500 litres, the association said families can face a significant upfront bill at precisely the point when wider household costs are also rising.
Mike Foster, chief executive of the EUA, said: “These figures should ring alarm bells in Whitehall. Heating oil customers are seeing a sharp spot year-on-year rise just as many are preparing to fill their tanks for winter. For off-grid households, this is not a marginal increase on a monthly direct debit; it can mean finding hundreds of pounds upfront simply to make sure the heating is available when temperatures fall.
“The government recognised these pressures before and provided support to households using alternative fuels. That support was welcome, but the latest price movement suggests it is time to look again at whether vulnerable and off-grid households have adequate protection going into winter.”
EUA has urged ministers to monitor the market closely and consider whether targeted help is needed if prices remain elevated through the autumn and winter period.