21/09/2023
News Update
Oil Boiler Ban: Positive news for off-grid households
Having reported in August that MPs were lobbying the Government to drop the oil boiler ban in 2026, it appears the calls were listened to and it’s good news for those on heating oil.
Written by Shaun Curtis on 08 Aug 2023 and updated on 20 Sep 2023 Categorised in News
20th September 2023 update
Today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s plans to delay the ban on oil boilers to 2035, a 9-year extension on the original plans. Households won't need to make the switch until they're replacing their boiler after 2035, with some households being completely exempt. As soon as more details are released we will update you.
Originally, the Government set out to ban off-grid oil boilers in 2026, a date met with fierce criticism from fellow Conservatives, especially George Eustice. In August, Eustice compared the impending switch to expensive heat pumps to the London ULEZ scheme, effectively forcing households to spend thousands on upgrading their heating system.
What does the delay mean for me?
Essentially this delay until 2035 buys heating oil households (and the Government) time to both reduce the cost of heat pump conversions and explore other sustainable options, such as renewable liquid fuel alternatives like HVO.
We’re working with our supplier network to ensure that as soon HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) becomes affordable, you’ll be able to order it just as you order heating oil now.
Find out more about HVO.
Orginial story - 8th August 2023
Former Environment Secretary George Eustice has written in the Telegraph (not a Telegraph subscriber? The Independent have covered the Telegraph front-page follow-up) calling for the government to drop its 2026 ban on new oil boilers in rural areas.
Eustice argues that the ban is unfair to rural communities, who often do not have access to mains gas and would be forced to switch to expensive heat pumps and compares it to the London ULEZ scheme. He also points out that renewable liquid fuels are a viable alternative to oil, and that they can be converted to run on waste cooking oil or vegetable waste.
Eustice's call has been echoed by a number of Conservative MPs, including Sir Geoffrey Cox, David Jones, and Greg Smith. These MPs argue that the ban is premature and will disproportionately affect rural communities. They also point out that heat pumps are not yet a viable option for many rural homes, and that the government needs to provide more support for renewable liquid fuels.
The government has defended its 2026 ban on new oil boilers, arguing that it is necessary to meet its net zero emissions target. However, the growing opposition to the ban suggests that the government may be forced to reconsider its position.
In a separate development, the UK heating oil industry has reported an unprecedented level of support from distributors for its campaign to overturn the ban. Over 50% of all UK distributors have sent multiple letters to MPs, and the campaign has been backed up by consumers, with over 1000 MP letters downloaded from the Future Ready Fuel website. UKIFDA, the UK and Ireland Fuel Distribution Association have released a statement, urging Government to support changes to the Energy Bill proposed my MP George Eustice.
The Future Ready Fuel campaign is calling for the government to:
Drop the ban on new oil boilers in rural areas
Provide more support for renewable liquid fuels
Make it easier for homeowners to switch to renewable heating
The campaign is gaining momentum, and it is likely that the government will face increasing pressure to reconsider its position on the ban on new oil boilers.
