Calls For Northern Ireland Fuel Regulatory Body

Ms. Arlene Foster the Energy Minister in Northern Ireland has been asked to tackle the fuel poverty issue by establishing a 'fuel tsar'. The SDLP deputy leader Mr. Alasdair McDowell raised the issue after 83% of readers polled in the Belfast Telegraph were found to be in favour of it. Having someone in charge of regulating the oil industry would make readers feel that they were getting fair prices.The question was put to the Energy Minister by Mr. McDonnell who wanted to know what plans the government has to implement these demands. Consumers could only benefit from having a fuel regulator in place as there would be an onus on suppliers to operate fair pricing. Ms. Foster's department are expected to give a response this week.The oil industry is said to service 70 percent of the homes in Northern Ireland and there have been many concerns raised over the constantly increasing prices of heating oil. There has been a need for higher consumption of oil because of the recent freez
ing weather conditions that were experienced and this was worrying especially as the cost of 900 litres of oil increased by £25 in one month. Mr. McDonnell has stated that he feels that by regulating the industry it will give consumers better protection.However, the spokesman for the Northern Ireland Oil Federation Mr. David Blevings defended the industry by saying that it is already 'open and transparent'. The expected global economic recovery was blamed for the recent price increase. Add to that the fact that demand for oil increased with the cold weather that was widespread across the northern hemisphere. The price of kerosene rose because of this and that led to retail oil prices being increased too which unfortunately affects the consumer as the price increase has to be passed on by the supplier.Some people spend a lot of money heating their homes in the winter. Gas and electricity are very expensive today, with no signs of prices coming down. Savvy people are cha
nging over to oil as a home fuel though. And when this happens they have to ensure the tanks re always full of Boilerjuice to ensure they never run out.

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