Publication

This note discusses the findings of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into rising UK oil prices during the winter of 2010/2011 in the off-grid energy market. Thea authors argue that four million UK households are off the mains gas grid, and use a range of other fuels to heat their homes including heating oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), solid fuels, mains electricity, and microgeneration. The UK average cost of heating a typical three bedroom house is around 50% higher with heating oil and 100% higher with LPG than with mains gas but there is limited opportunity for such consumers to switch fuel source.