Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme extended into winter

The Scottish Government has extended the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme (SEHOS) beyond its initial six-month period, it announced on 25 September 2026. The scheme was introduced on 1 April to help low-income households cover higher heating oil and LPG prices, driven by ongoing instability in the Middle East¹. It is administered by Advice Direct Scotland, and applications can be made at homeheatingadvice.scot¹.

The Scottish Government said more than 6,700 payments have been made since the scheme launched¹. Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said:

"While prices have fallen since the peak in March, ongoing international uncertainty means further increases cannot be ruled out this winter. That is why we are extending the scheme so eligible households can still apply for support if prices remain high over the colder months to come."

SEHOS is targeted at low-income households, including those receiving means-tested benefits. It is also open to those in financial hardship and at risk of self-rationing fuel who have unavoidable heating needs¹. Payments are made directly to suppliers, where possible, to help qualifying households place an order¹.

Around 7% of households in Scotland rely on oil or LPG, with rural and island areas disproportionately affected. It is estimated that approximately 142,000 Scottish households use heating oil and around 27,000 use LPG¹. The BBC reported that average heating oil costs soared to 153.74 pence per litre in March and, after dropping over the summer, have risen to almost 121 pence per litre⁴. Scottish Government figures published last year found that a third of households in the Highlands were living in fuel poverty, and in the Western Isles the figure was 40%⁴.

Consumer Scotland welcomed the extension. Chief Executive Sam Ghibaldan said longer-term action is needed to reduce consumers' exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices, and that improving energy efficiency and supporting more heating oil and LPG households to move to low-carbon heating systems can help deliver warmer homes, lower energy bills and greater energy security in the years ahead³.

Why it matters for households

For homes off the gas grid, heating oil and LPG are bought in bulk, so a price rise lands as a single large bill rather than a monthly charge. The extension keeps a route to help with that bill open through the colder months for households on means-tested benefits or in financial hardship¹. Because payments go directly to suppliers where possible, the support is aimed at getting an order placed rather than reimbursing a cost already paid¹.

The wider point raised by both the Scottish Government and Consumer Scotland is that bill support addresses the immediate cost, while the underlying exposure to a volatile fuel price remains. Energy efficiency improvements and a move away from oil or LPG are described by both as the route to lower bills and greater energy security over time¹. Households using oil or LPG are encouraged to contact Home Energy Scotland for free and impartial advice on reducing energy bills, improving energy efficiency and exploring clean heating options¹.

What happens next

There is no fixed date for how long the extension will last, and the BBC reported it will be kept under review⁴. No further dates have been reported.

Households can apply through Advice Direct Scotland at homeheatingadvice.scot¹. Advice on grants, loans and support for home energy improvements is available through Home Energy Scotland, and the wider landscape of grants and schemes and nations support is set out in our guides. For homes weighing up a change of system, our pages on home heating and energy independence and boiler and heating grants in Scotland cover the options.

Sources5 cited

1. Support extended for households in fuel hardship - gov.scot, gov.scot
2. Support extended for households in fuel hardship - gov.scot, gov.scot
3. Extension to the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme | Consumer Scotland, consumer.scot
4. Scottish emergency heating oil fund extended into winter - BBC News, bbc.co.uk
5. Extension to the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme | Consumer Scotland, consumer.scot