CMA Launches UK Heating Oil Market Study

UK CMA Publications

Published March 20th, 2026

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a market study into the retail supply of heating oil for domestic use. The CMA is inviting views from interested parties by April 8, 2026, with a final report expected by June 2026.

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What changed

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated a market study focusing on the retail supply of heating oil for domestic consumers in the UK. This study, launched on March 20, 2026, aims to assess the market dynamics and identify any potential competition or consumer welfare concerns. The CMA has published a Statement of Scope and an administrative timetable, with a statutory deadline of March 19, 2027, for the completion of its work.

Interested parties, including consumers and industry stakeholders, are invited to submit their views by April 8, 2026. The CMA plans to publish its final report by June 2026. This market study is a non-binding assessment, but its findings could lead to future regulatory interventions or policy recommendations. Companies involved in the retail supply of heating oil should review the Statement of Scope and consider submitting relevant information to the CMA.

What to do next

Review the CMA's Statement of Scope for the heating oil market study.
Submit views and relevant information to the CMA by April 8, 2026.
Monitor CMA communications for updates and the final report.

Source document (simplified)

Heating oil market study

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a market study into the retail supply of heating oil for domestic use in the UK.

From: Competition and Markets Authority Published 20 March 2026 Case type: Markets Case state: Open Market sector: Utilities Opened: 20 March 2026

Administrative timetable

| Date | Action |
| --- | --- |
| 19 March 2027 | Statutory deadline |
| June 2026 | Publication of final report |
| 20 March 2026 | Launch of market study |

Launch of market study

20 March 2026: The CMA launched a market study into the retail supply of heating oil for domestic use in the UK.

We invite views by 8 April 2026 from all interested parties on the areas covered in the Statement of Scope.

We aim to complete the market study and publish our final report within 3 months of launch.

Market study notice (PDF, 101KB) (20.3.26)
Statement of Scope (PDF, 203KB) (20.3.26)
Roadmap (PDF, 269KB) (20.3.26)

Contact

heatingoil@cma.gov.uk

Privacy notice

The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its market studies under the Enterprise Act 2002. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

For more information about how the CMA handles personal data, visit the CMA’s personal information charter.