Northern Ireland Wants A Fuel Tsar

There has been a request to establish a ‘fuel tsar’ to the Northern Ireland Minister For Energy Arlene Foster to help sort out the growing problem of fuel poverty. After the results of a poll in the Belfast Telegraph in which 83% of readers backed a call for a fuel tsar, the SDLP deputy leader Mr. Alasdair McDowell raised the question. Having someone in charge of regulating the oil industry would make readers feel that they were getting fair prices.

Mr. McDonnell asked the Energy Minister when the government is planning to do something to tackle fuel poverty. Suppliers of oil would have to operate fair pricing if there was a regulator in place and this would be beneficial to consumers. Ms. Foster’s department are expected to give a response this week.

The way that oil prices have been steadily increasing has caused concern in Northern Ireland with 70% of homes using oil as their main source of fuel. During the last month prices of oil rose by £25 per 900 litres and with the really bad weather that hit recently demand has increased. Although there are many who think that by having a fuel regulator there will be better protection for consumers.

However, the spokesman for the Northern Ireland Oil Federation Mr. David Blevings defended the industry by saying that it is already ‘open and transparent’. He blamed the increase in prices last month on the fact that there was an expected recovery in the global economy. Another factor for the increase was the recent freezing weather which sent demand for oil upwards. Unfortunately this all leads to an increase in the price of kerosene which in turn means an increase in the price of retail oil which must then be passed on to the consumer.

Heating ones home in the cold months of winter can cost a fair packet. Fuel such as electricity and gas show no signs of coming down in price. Many individuals are now changing over to cheaper home heating oil though. When they do they always need their tanks filled with cheap heating oil ensuring they can always heat their home in winter.