Childminder facing 'severe financial burden' as heating oil costs rise

• Published

Many households across Northern Ireland continue to be hit with high prices for home heating oil, with one woman saying there is a "severe" financial burden on childminders.

The war in Iran is having a practical impact on people across the island as energy prices continue to climb.

On 24 September, the average price of 500 litres of home heating oil in Northern Ireland was £561.83, according to the Consumer Council NI (CCNI), external.

"It's a severe financial and operational burden on all registered childminders because as well as the prices of the oil, there's massive increases in the food bills, the insurance," Rachel Jeffers, from Stewartstown, County Tyrone said.

"That's all increased massively and a lot of the parents are saying if we're increasing our rates it's a financial burden on them."

Almost two-thirds of homes (62.5%) in Northern Ireland use oil for heating, the highest proportion of the UK nations.

Unlike gas or electricity the heating oil market is unregulated, so global price rises are rapidly passed through to consumers.

'You're sitting watching every penny'

Alongside her six-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son, Jeffers minds one child after school hours and three children under school age all day.

She told BBC News NI the cost of her home heating oil had "doubled" since last year.

Last week, she purchased 500 litres of oil for £560. Jeffers said her tank was "not even near filled", but the price is currently too high to fill it completely.

Jeffers said she had found herself turning off her heating sooner in the day than she usually would.

During the winter months, Jeffers said she had to run the heating all day to keep the house warm for the young children.

"Through the summer we were still using it because our hot water runs off our heating oil," she said.

Jeffers has not yet had to increase her childminding fees, but it is something she has been "discussing".

"The guilt is there also because whenever you start minding, the families nearly become an extension of your family, so you're feeling for them."

She said the cost of home heating was "always on the back of your mind".

In terms of the knock-on impact the high costs are having on her own family, Jeffers said she has had to rethink whether to send her children to after school activities.

"They do piano, they do football, and you're sitting and questioning is it worth going to these?

"And then that's impacting on them and they're out and they feel like they're missing out because they're seeing their friends still going to it, but you obviously then can't afford to do everything," she said.

How much in home heating oil in Northern Ireland?

The CCNI's weekly oil price checker, external shows typical oil prices for 300, 500 and 900 litres and is updated every Thursday.

Raymond Gormley, head of energy at the CCNI, told BBC News NI that the cost of home heating oil was "about 80% more expensive than it was just before the war with Iran started".

"At the minute, 300 litres is about £347 and before the war began it was £202. That just shows you, that's £146 of a difference for 300 litres," Gormley said.

"It's really hard for people to find that 80% increase in such a short space of time because, as we know, budgets are hard pressed as it is," he said.

What will happen to oil prices this winter?

In short, Gormley said it "all depends on what happens in the Middle East".

"If there is peace discussions and there is sort of a truce, you'll see prices coming down, slowly be that, but they'll come down. If not, if war continues, prices will only go one way," he said.

He added that the oil prices were "really headline driven".

He said prices had "come down slightly in a week". However, he added: "As you know, prices go up a lot quicker than they come down."

Gormley is suggesting that people keep an eye on the daily oil prices.

"If you're going to wait and see if your price is going to come down, well then keep an eye on the daily prices," he said.

"And then you get to a point where you think you're going to buy, price around a few oil suppliers because there is a bit of variancy on prices there."

What support is available for people?

Applications for a Stormont scheme to give eligible households a £100 voucher towards home heating oil costs opened on 9 September.

About 340,000 lower-income households were expected to qualify for the payment which was first announced in March.

As of midday on 23 September, a total of 123,987 applications had been received by the Department for Communities.

Successful applicants for the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme, external expected to receive a payment card within 10 working days of applying.

The scheme will be open for applications until 31 March 2027.

It is open to households with a combined income of £30,000 or less, or those on certain benefits including pension credit and PIP.

It is expected that 75% or more of applications will be processed automatically.

However, some people will have to provide additional information to show they qualify.

• Published9 September

• Published14 September