The competition regulator has called on heating oil suppliers to compensate some of their customers following an investigation into possible profiteering.
The Competition and Markets Authority launched a probe into the heating oil market after the Middle East conflict pushed prices higher, with some customers facing a near tripling of their usual bill.
In some cases, customers reported having had their orders cancelled before being offered a new quote at a higher price.
Heating oil users are mainly in rural areas which cannot be connected to the gas grid. Instead of gas coming through pipes, their boilers are fuelled by kerosene oil which is stored in a tank on their property.
The CMA found that around 1,700 customers were affected by possible breaches by their supplier, which saw them pay between £150 and £350 more for their heating oil.
