Local authorities across Berkshire are developing policies to allocate government funding for households struggling with soaring heating oil costs, a process expected to take time despite the urgent need for support.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced last month that £53 million would be distributed nationwide to assist those reliant on heating oil, following price spikes linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. However, councils must first create and approve detailed distribution plans before any funds reach residents.
Stuart McKellar, Bracknell Forest Council's executive director of resources, explained: "As it is a new scheme, the details on how and where the funding will be used is still being determined."
Approximately 30,000 Berkshire households use heating oil, representing 3.6% of households nationally. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil prices are not regulated by Ofgem, leaving consumers vulnerable to market fluctuations.
Jonathan Pinnock, director at Thatcham-based JPS Fuels, reported that prices doubled within a week after the conflict began in February. "Obviously, we are a business, we had to pass the costs on," he said. "At the moment we can't offer fixed pricing because the oil market is just so volatile."
The funding comes from the government's £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund, launched on April 1st to replace previous temporary support programs. The government states this new fund will "provide a single, streamlined grant cutting red tape for councils and making it easier for families to access help when they need it."
Councils including the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest, Slough, West Berkshire, and Wokingham have confirmed they will soon determine how to implement the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Reading Council, however, will not receive additional heating oil funding due to minimal demand in its predominantly urban area.
Nicola Miller, chief executive of Citizens Advice East Berkshire, advised residents: "The key thing is to understand what your energy needs are and to get that advice sooner rather than later. Go to your supplier and have that conversation rather than getting into any energy debt."