Shock £284 rise in oil quotes sparks call from UUP leaders for regulator action over profiteering

Energy costs in Northern Ireland are surging again — and political pressure is mounting for urgent scrutiny.

The Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, has written to the Utility Regulator seeking assurances that energy providers will not use escalating international tensions as justification for what he describes as unjustified or excessive price increases.

His intervention comes as households across Northern Ireland face sharp rises in home heating oil costs, with some constituents reporting increases of hundreds of pounds within days.

In a letter to the Utility Regulator’s chief executive, Mr Burrows said:

“As you will be aware, energy prices have risen sharply in recent days as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf.

“I am writing to ask that the Utility Regulator take all appropriate steps to protect consumers in Northern Ireland and to ensure that energy providers do not seek to profiteer from what may ultimately prove to be a short-term disruption to supply.

“Households are already under considerable financial pressure, and I am sure you will agree that any unnecessary or opportunistic increase in costs would place an unacceptable burden on consumers.”

Concerns over price hiking were also raised by UUP Economy spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA, who said global instability is now having a direct and immediate impact on local families.

She said:

“The escalating conflict in the Middle East is once again demonstrating how events thousands of miles away can have direct and immediate consequences for households here in Northern Ireland.

“I’m concerned by the sharp increase in home heating oil prices across Northern Ireland, evidently triggered by ongoing uncertainty of supply oil through the strait of Hormuz.

“Suppliers have already hiked prices, with some of my constituents quoted £636 for 1100 litres last Thursday, now facing £920 today, a shocking rise in just days. This is pushing the average cost of 500 litres of kerosene above £400 and continuing to rise.

“This represents a staggering £100+ increase compared to last week.

“Northern Ireland is disproportionately affected, as so many of our households rely on home heating oil for warmth, particularly during these challenging times.

“This surge will place immense pressure on families already struggling with the cost of living.

“My party has written to the regulator, calling for a thorough investigation to ensure there is no profiteering by suppliers amid this global volatility. We must protect consumers and hold the industry accountable.”

Northern Ireland’s reliance on home heating oil leaves many households exposed to rapid global price shifts, particularly during periods of geopolitical instability.

With prices climbing sharply in a matter of days, the UUP’s call centres on regulatory oversight and consumer protection — and whether safeguards are robust enough to prevent short-term global disruption from translating into long-term financial strain for local families.

The response from the Utility Regulator is now awaited as pressure grows to ensure transparency and accountability within the energy market.