Cost of Northern Ireland home heating oil: here are the current average prices where you live
With the countdown to Christmas well underway, the Consumer Council has issued a timely update on the cost of home heating oil.
The Consumer Council’s latest figures indicate that home heating oil prices are down today (Thursday, December 4), with the average cost of 500 litres at £299.59, which around £11.30 cheaper than last week, but around £12.45 more expensive than last month.
This, the consumer body notes, illustrates the price volatility of heating oil with prices changing daily, so it can be difficult to know when the best time is to place your oil order.
Many factors affect the price of oil, including supply and demand, the strength of the pound against the US dollar, refinery prices, events in oil-producing countries and global political unrest.
Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council said: “With the countdown to Christmas now in full swing, oil distributors will start to get very busy with increased demand putting a bit more strain on supply, meaning that delivery slots will start to fill up.
"Our advice is to check your home heating oil tank to see how much oil you have. If you are running low and you can afford to do so, order oil sooner rather than later to avoid any last-minute emergency deliveries, unexpected costs, and added stress in the run up to Christmas.”
The Consumer Council runs a weekly oil price checker and here are the current average prices for each of Northern Ireland’s council areas for 300, 500 and 900 litres of oil, based on this week’s figures:
- Antrim & Newtownabbey – £194.99, £298.34, £524.32.
- Ards & North Down – £195.33, £298.84, £524.80.
- Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon – £193.4, £296.44, £518.77.
- Belfast – £195.16, £298.71, £522.96.
- Causeway Coast & Glens – £196.52, £302.38, £530.22.
- Derry City & Strabane – £193.39, £299.74, £527.30.
- Fermanagh & Omagh – £196.66, £301.69, £526.32.
- Lisburn & Castlereagh – £194.69, £298.71, £522.72.
- Mid & East Antrim – £194.11, £298.37, £525.34.
- Mid Ulster – £196.40, £301.67, £527.14.
- Newry City, Mourne & Down – £194.40, £301.86, £524.86 .