Households in Upper Teesdale are preparing for winter as heating oil costs have more than doubled compared to this time last year. Source: bbc.co.uk.
Heating Oil Prices Have Doubled
A 500-litre delivery of domestic heating oil now costs about £600—roughly £1.19 per litre. That’s more than double the price of 52p per litre in October 2025.
The sharp rise has raised alarms in communities where heating oil is the only option.
Residents Rely on Oil Due to No Mains Gas
Most homes in Middleton-in-Teesdale lack mains gas. Heating oil is the main source of warmth for residents.
This puts a heavy strain on household budgets, especially in winter.
Community Scheme Offers Price Relief
Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (UTASS) runs a heating oil buying group. It pools orders from residents across the area.
By making bulk purchases, the group cuts prices by about 3p per litre. This small saving helps many families manage their budgets.
Emma Spry, UTASS manager, says traditional discounts require over 1,000 litres. The group’s minimum is 500 litres—enough to spread the cost across users.
“To get a discount on oil you need to be buying more than 1,000 litres at a time,” she said. “With our scheme, the minimum order is 500 litres, so this can help to spread the cost a bit for people.”
Some Residents Can’t Afford Oil Heating
Pauline Thompson, a long-time resident, avoids oil heating entirely. She uses electric oil-filled radiators instead.
She lives on pension credits and says oil heating is simply too expensive. “When I moved in, I rang the electricity board and asked for the cheapest way to heat the house and they said oil radiators which use electricity to heat up so I use them instead,” she said. “I’m on pension credits, it’s just not affordable for me.”
Planning Ahead Helps, But Isn’t Always Enough
Many households try to fill tanks during warmer months when prices are lower. This helps reduce costs a bit.
But the current price surge has made this strategy less effective. Even with planning, some families face serious financial pressure.
Organisations Urge Community Action
As winter nears, UTASS is encouraging residents to join shared buying schemes.
These groups help lower prices and build community resilience during energy cost spikes.
UTASS says such schemes are vital for helping households manage budgets in high-cost periods.
For more on rural communities facing energy cost challenges, see Rural Communities Bear Brunt of Rising Heating Oil Costs.
For a broader look at rural UK energy struggles, visit Rural UK Communities Struggle with Soaring Heating Oil Prices.
For updates on how customers are coping amid regulatory promises, read Heating Oil Customers Face Tough Winter Amid Regulatory Promises.
For the latest updates on energy costs in the region, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Sources & further reading
Featured image: A woman with a black and white stripy top on is standing on the high street, she is wearing black rimmed glasses and has a silver necklace on. Behind her is a cafe and a row of stone cottages. She has fair shoulder length hair in a middle parting.. Via original publisher. Image source
