Home heating oil and LPG crisis: £50m in support pledged by the Government – here's what's happening

In addition, the Government has confirmed that it intends to regulate the heating oil sector and introduce new consumer protections in future.

The announcements come after we published a dossier on Thursday 12 March, based on 1,000s of your responses to the heating oil and LPG crisis after MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis asked for your feedback. We also shared this with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Here's what we know so far

A total of £27 million will go to England, £4.6 million to Scotland, £3.8 million to Wales, and £17 million to Northern Ireland, where a greater proportion of homes rely on heating oil.

In England:

• Funding will be available to low-income families, targeting areas with higher rates of oil heating.

• It will be distributed by local authorities via the 'Crisis and Resilience Fund', which comes into force from 1 April.

• The Crisis and Resilience Fund had already been due to replace the existing Household Support Fund from this date.

Currently, there's no set criteria for Household Support Fund eligibility – it's up to each council to decide. But generally, the grant is for those in most need of financial help. At present, you have to contact your council to find out what it offers, whether you're eligible for help, and how to apply.

Struggling now? Check what help may be available

If you are facing immediate financial difficulties as a result of the rise in heating oil prices, contact your local authority to find out what support may be available to you now. You can also check our Struggling with energy bills and Housing and Energy grants guides for further information on the support available.

The heating oil sector has come under pressure to be regulated

Unlike gas and electricity consumers, who are protected by the Energy Price Cap, those who use heating oil and LPG to heat their homes and water have to buy their fuel in an unregulated market, meaning they are often subjected to unfair prices and poor customer service.

In response to the crisis, the CMA has already said it will investigate whether heating oil retailers' practices raise consumer protection law concerns. If they have been breached, it can take enforcement action.

The Chancellor also wrote to the CMA on Friday 13 March on the heating oil crisis, stating that "it is vital that we ensure that customers – particularly consumers and small businesses – are not hit by undue increases in prices at this challenging time". She added: "I will not tolerate any company exploiting the current crisis to make excess profits at customers' expense."