Exclusive:Labour minister urges Scots heating oil users to switch to solar and heat pumps

Writing in The Scotsman, Martin McCluskey said that “clean power” would “shield households in Scotland from price spikes and fossil fuel volatility”.

It comes after a report from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) this week recommended stronger protections for the 1.5 million households across the UK who rely on heating oil.

Approximately 142,000 households in Scotland rely on heating oil, as they are not connected to the mains gas grid.

With the conflict in Iran seeing average prices for heating oil soar 92 per cent higher at their peak, some customers had their contracts cancelled and were forced to reorder at much higher costs.

Inverclyde and West Renfrewshire MP Mr McCluskey said the UK Government wanted more people to taking up heat pumps and solar panels to protect from further price spikes.

He wrote: “It is our responsibility to shield households in Scotland from price spikes and fossil fuel volatility, and it is clean power that will help us do this.

“We will soon be rolling out low and no interest loans for families to fund upgrades such as solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps.

“And we expect plug-in solar panels to be available to buy this summer, helping families save significant amounts on their bills by taking advantage of the good weather. We are taking important steps to ensure households on heating oil are thoroughly supported both now and in the future.

“But it is electrifying our homes that will lay the foundations for Britain as a clean energy superpower, keeping the country powered and running for generations to come.”

Mr McCluskey told journalists on Thursday that he believed there was “no reason” why UK Government under incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham would not implement the CMA’s recommended protections for heating oil.

The CMA recommended that governments should require suppliers to register and meet minimum standards, which would cover how prices are quoted, how cancellations are managed and access to independent dispute resolution.

Suppliers should also make clear the payment plans that are available, and create a register for vulnerable households, making it easier to help them.

Read more: Scotland to receive £4.6m from UK Government in heating oil support

The CMA also called for a review of the rules and regulations around minimum order volumes to allow people to buy smaller amounts of heating oil.

Mr McCluskey told journalists: “This is going to be an issue for the next government, once the changeover happens on Monday.

“I see no reason why the government would not take forward these recommendations, given what has been very clearly stated by myself, the Prime Minister and others, about the need for regulation in this sector.

“The CMA have made an incredibly strong case in their report for regulation for heating oil.”

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said this week around 1,700 heating oil customers across the UK “were left in limbo by some suppliers after orders were cancelled as the crisis was unfolding”.

She added while some suppliers had already agreed to compensate customers, “a number of firms still have not” – with the CMA prepared to take enforcement action against these companies.

Read more: Solar panels and heat pumps are the future for people who use heating oil

But Mr McCluskey told journalists on Thursday: “It is not possible to provide compensation to everyone, in some cases these price increases were within contract.”