WCF has become the latest distributor to publicly urge rural off-grid households to respond to the consultation – a message that applies just as strongly to fuel distributors themselves. As decisions made through this process will shape policy, investment and future fuel choices, engagement from all those involved in the liquid fuel sector is critical.
Why this matters
- The consultation will influence the future regulatory and policy framework for off-grid heating
- Outcomes will shape the role of renewable liquid fuels, including availability and affordability
- Distributor and customer responses help highlight real-world cost and infrastructure considerations
- The significant customer response will have a greater impact when backed by industry engagement
Rural households urged to speak up on the future of off-grid heating
Home heating fuel supplier WCF is calling on rural households to have their say on the future of heating for off-grid homes.
The call comes as the Government’s Alternative Clean Heating consultation enters its final stages, with its conclusions aiming to reduce carbon emissions and guide the UK’s long-term home heating strategy.
With the consultation closing on February 10, households are being urged to share their views now to ensure rural needs and challenges are fully understood before decisions are made.
Around 1.7 million homes in the UK currently rely on kerosene heating oil, with the majority located in rural areas and off the gas grid.
Phil Murray, Chief Executive Officer of WCF, said: “This is a real opportunity for people to influence future heating solutions so they reflect the reality of life in rural communities.
“By taking just a few minutes to respond, they can help ensure home heating options remain practical, affordable and genuinely flexible.”
With the consultation including proposals to shift many oil-heated homes towards technologies such as heat pumps or heat networks, he said it was vital that alternatives such as renewable liquid fuels were included as part of a low-carbon solution.
“All viable options need to be considered, or we risk limiting choice and leaving households facing high upfront costs or disruptive changes, especially in older or hard-to-heat rural properties,” he said.
“The inclusion of renewable liquid fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the consultation is a major step forward. HVO offers a proven, low-carbon solution that can be adopted now with minimal cost and little disruption for households.”
Phil is also President of the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA), which is campaigning for renewable liquid fuels to be recognised within Government policy as a credible and practical alternative for off-grid homes.
WCF operates one of the UK’s leading independent oil distribution networks and is a member of UKIFDA.
A call to action for the distributor community
While the consultation is open to households, responses from fuel distributors are equally important. Industry participation will help ensure that future policy reflects sector realities, infrastructure readiness and the practical delivery of low-carbon solutions.
Fuel distributors are encouraged to submit their own responses and actively promote the consultation to off-grid customers ahead of the 10 February deadline.
Responses can be submitted at: https://futurereadyfuel.info/consultation-response/
The photo, provided by WCF, is of CEO Phil Murray, who is also President of UKIFDA.