The Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC) and OFTEC have jointly written to the government to call for urgent policy action to support millions of off-grid households facing rising energy costs.
The organisations wrote a letter to Energy Consumers Minister Martin McCluskey at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. They cited the ongoing challenges for around four million UK homes that are not connected to the mains gas grid and instead rely on heating oil or LPG for their heating and hot water.
According to the HHIC and OFTEC, these households are particularly vulnerable during periods of global energy volatility, as heating oil and LPG are not covered by the energy price cap. Recent international events have driven sharp increases in fuel costs, they noted, leaving many consumers exposed to sudden and significant price rises.
While welcoming the government’s recently announced £53m support package for vulnerable off-grid households, HHIC and OFTEC stated that longer-term, structural solutions are needed to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
The organisations have urged ministers to prioritise hybrid heating systems as part of the UK’s wider energy and decarbonisation strategy. These systems combine a traditional oil or LPG boiler with an air source heat pump and smart controls.
Hybrid systems can be installed either as a full new system or by integrating a heat pump with an existing boiler.
HHIC and OFTEC added that if hybrid systems had been eligible for support under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), many households would already be benefiting from lower energy bills and reduced reliance on oil.
They have called on the government to include hybrid heating systems within the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, provide targeted support for off-grid households and adopt a more flexible, technology-inclusive approach to decarbonisation. The organisations said these measures would help cut consumer bills and reduce the need for costly emergency interventions in future.
In addition to hybrid systems, the letter highlighted the role of renewable liquid fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which are less exposed to global fossil fuel price shocks.
Stewart Clement, director of HHIC, said: “Members of both HHIC and OFTEC are standing ready to work with government to deliver practical, affordable and low-carbon heating solutions for off-grid homes.
“A balanced approach – combining hybrid systems, renewable fuels and targeted support – will be essential to protect consumers, strengthen energy security and meet the UK’s Net Zero goals.”