SOMERSET MPs are rallying in a bid to support people who are facing soaring bills for heating oil amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.

As US/Israeli strikes continue in the Middle East, oil prices have soared, with those using heating oil facing a steep rise in prices.

Data shows the estimated price of heating oil has risen from around 59p to 66p per litre in February, to more than £1 per litre in March.

As a result, households in Somerset and other rural communities are facing sky-high bills as they fill up their tanks for spring and summer.

In response, MPs have called for action to protect households, including Sarah Dyke (Lib Dem, Glastonbury & Somerton) and Sir Ashley Fox (Con, Bridgwater).

Ms Dyke, who is the Lib Dems’ Rural Affairs Spokesperson, has written to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, while Sir Ashley has signed a letter calling for the government to step in to protect customers from price gouging and a lack of transparency over price.

A graph of approximate heating oil prices since May 2025 to March 2026 shows the spike following military action in the Middle East

Ms Dyke said: “People living in rural areas already face the unfair rural premium, paying more for everyday essentials than those in towns and cities. Now families who rely on heating oil are seeing prices spiral beyond what many can afford.

“Unlike gas and electricity customers, households using heating oil have no protection from price spikes. That leaves many rural families dangerously exposed whenever global oil markets become volatile.

“One constituent recently told me the price of 500 litres of heating oil had jumped by more than £100 in just a week. For households already struggling with the cost of living, that kind of increase is simply unsustainable.

“Ministers must step in urgently with targeted support for off grid homes, including cutting VAT on heating oil and introducing stronger protections for rural consumers.

“In the long term we also need to help rural households upgrade their homes and access cleaner heating that is cheaper to run. Without that, families across Somerset will continue to be hit hardest whenever global fuel prices surge.”

Sir Ashley said households relying on heating oil are being “ripped off”.

“Families are facing bills of hundreds of pounds just to keep their homes warm,” he said.

The letter he signed called for an “urgent investigation to protect consumers and ensure there is proper competition in the market”.

A simple glance at the average prices of heating oil in recent months shows an upward trend, with a huge spike following the outbreak of military action in the Middle East.

READ MORE: Somerset MP raises ‘difficult positions’ of households relying on heating oil