The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), a trade body, reported on 14 September 2026 that the heating oil spot price stood at 102.3p per litre, 95.3 per cent higher than on the same day last year1. The figure is well above the 12-month average of 77.8p per litre, though below the March 2026 peak of 134.2p per litre1. The data was obtained online from OilCompare.co.uk, which EUA lists as its source1.
EUA said the increase arrives as households typically fill their tanks before winter, and that many suppliers require a minimum delivery of around 500 litres1. At the reported price, a 500-litre order would cost more than £500 before any additional charges1. EUA described the resulting upfront cost as cashflow pressure on households that cannot spread the cost of heating in the same way as those paying monthly gas or electricity bills1.
"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."
Foster added that the Government had previously provided support to households using alternative fuels, that the support was welcome, and that the latest price movement suggests it is time to look again at whether vulnerable and off-grid households have adequate protection going into winter1. EUA said it is urging ministers to monitor the market closely and consider whether targeted help is needed if prices remain elevated through autumn and winter1.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Spot price, 14 September 2026 | 102.3p per litre |
| Year-on-year change | +95.3 per cent |
| 12-month average | 77.8p per litre |
| March 2026 peak | 134.2p per litre |
| Typical minimum delivery | around 500 litres |
| Cost of a 500-litre order at the reported price | more than £500 before additional charges |
Why it matters for households
Heating oil is bought in bulk rather than billed monthly, so a price rise of this size lands as a single payment at the point in the year when tanks are usually filled1. For a home off the gas grid, that payment is the cost of having heat available at all, not a variable line on a monthly statement1. The reported price remains below the March 2026 peak, so the year-on-year comparison reflects how far the market has moved over twelve months rather than a new high1. Households tracking their own exposure can compare the current figure against the heating oil and LPG price data series and against longer-run movements in UK domestic energy prices over time, while average spending on heating oil and solid fuel sets the annual outlay in context. For homes weighing how oil compares with other options, home heating running costs by fuel sets out the alternatives, and households in Northern Ireland can check whether a daily price checker exists for their market here.
What happens next
EUA said it is urging ministers to monitor the market closely and to consider whether targeted help is needed if prices remain elevated through the autumn and winter period1. No decision, timetable or further announcement has been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- EUA | Energy and Utilities Alliance, eua.org.uk