Around two-thirds of homes in Northern Ireland use home heating oil compared with the UK average of just more than 5%. He added: “The funding package, it is below par, significantly below par, there’s a need for proper funding to be brought forward. The UK Government said it also intends to introduce new consumer protections for heating oil customers (Andrew Milligan/PA)The UK Government said it also intends to introduce new consumer protections for heating oil customers and is “rapidly exploring new ways to step in and ensure households are better protected”. Facing a Stormont committee on Monday, Sinn Fein Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald accused the DUP of “peddling mistruth and misinformation” in relation to energy bill support funding. The Economy Minister further stated that “any deviation from the scheme in Britain would need to be agreed with the British Government”.

Source: The Herald March 16, 2026 20:42 UTC