Support Urged for Those Facing Rising Energy Costs
The Northern Ireland Executive is being called upon to implement a support package to assist individuals struggling with escalating energy expenses, according to the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).
Global oil prices have surged sharply following Iran's initiation of strikes across the Middle East, which were in response to attacks by the US and Israel.
In Northern Ireland, the average cost of 500 litres of home heating oil increased by 45% within a single week.
Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP and opposition at Stormont, emphasized that his party is not specifying the exact amount of financial aid but is urging the Executive to begin preparations to assist those affected.
"We are not being prescriptive about the amount of money people should receive, but we want to urge the executive to start planning now to help people," Eastwood said.
When questioned about the possibility of a universal single payment for households similar to the one provided by the Executive in January 2023, Eastwood acknowledged that such a measure might be challenging at this stage.
"I think it could be a limited payment - it could be allocated on the basis of pensioners in receipt of pension credit or households who get relief on their rates bills," he explained.
He further suggested that the Executive might consider allocating a portion of the additional £380 million granted during the recent Spring Statement towards relief for energy bills.
This development coincides with UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves' participation in an emergency meeting of G7 finance ministers scheduled for Monday to discuss oil price concerns.
How much is home heating oil in Northern Ireland?
The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland releases weekly average prices for home heating oil every Thursday.
On 5 March, the average price for 900 litres was reported at £948, a rise from £536 the previous week. The average price for 500 litres increased to £556 from £307, and for 300 litres, it rose to £347 from £202.
Nearly two-thirds of homes (62.5%) in Northern Ireland rely on oil for heating, representing the highest proportion among UK nations.
According to the Consumer Council, approximately 500,000 homes in Northern Ireland use heating oil, while about 284,000 use natural gas.
In contrast, only 3% of households in England and Wales reported oil as their sole source of central heating according to the 2021 census, with 5% of households in Scotland.
'Volatile fossil fuels'
Eastwood also stressed the need to prioritize the transition towards low-carbon and renewable heating sources.
"We need much more pace and priority to de-transition from volatile fossil fuels, which was supposed to be a priority for the executive," he stated.
An energy strategy for Northern Ireland was published by the Department for the Economy in 2021, setting a target for 70% of local electricity supplies to come from renewable sources by 2030.
However, a report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in October found "significant flaws" in the strategy's implementation and noted that progress against key targets was "lagging considerably."
