Home heating oil suppliers in Northern Ireland will be subject to a mandatory code of conduct under new regulations announced by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald. The measures stop short of price controls.

Archibald told the Assembly the changes follow a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the heating oil market across the UK. She said the CMA identified the need for stronger consumer protection, support for vulnerable households, and more formal dispute resolution arrangements.

The package includes a register of heating oil suppliers, work with the Trading Standards Service, and exploration of using HMRC's Registered Dealers in Controlled Oils scheme to improve transparency and oversight. A mandatory code of conduct will cover minimum order volumes, payment and delivery terms, charges and wider consumer protections.

The Consumer Council will lead the creation of an opt-in register for vulnerable consumers, and a Priority Service Programme will be developed to provide protections comparable to those in the gas and electricity sectors and to prioritise support during supply disruption or fuel shortages. The Consumer Council will also have an enhanced role in helping consumers resolve contract and service disputes.

Archibald said the interventions are proportionate and will enhance existing heating oil consumer protection at minimal additional cost. She noted many people have been affected by the rise in home heating oil prices caused by the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

About two thirds of Northern Ireland households use home heating oil, the highest proportion of any UK region. At the start of the Iran conflict in March, heating oil prices in Northern Ireland rose by a record monthly rate of 92%, compared to the previous largest spike of 59% in March 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The CMA found prices tended to be lower in Northern Ireland overall due to a competitive range of suppliers and a market large enough to minimise delivery costs. It said the spike largely reflected rising wholesale costs and did not recommend price controls, suggesting they could be counterproductive.

Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney welcomed the measures.