The outbreak of the US-Iran war has caused kerosene costs to more than double, escalating from £549 to £1,219 for 1,000 litres. This purchased volume offers only temporary relief, typically lasting a household between 10 and 12 weeks. The crisis has reopened historical local wounds concerning heating access, recalling an 1840 dispute when King’s College, Cambridge enclosed common land and subsequently evicted five tenant families into a snowstorm.
Key points
Rural households reliant on heating oil lack the formal consumer protections afforded to…: Rural households reliant on heating oil lack the formal consumer protections afforded to mainline gas customers.
Volatile fuel prices are forcing off-grid residents to monitor market shifts closely and…: Volatile fuel prices are forcing off-grid residents to monitor market shifts closely and utilize seasoned firewood for warmth.
Modern energy struggles parallel local nineteenth-century conflicts where impoverished vi…: Modern energy struggles parallel local nineteenth-century conflicts where impoverished villagers fought landed estates over basic firewood gathering rights.
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Beyond the reach of the gas mains, there is tension about the coming winter. Many rural homes have an open fire or wood burner, but most rely on kerosene oil for hot water and heating. Since the US-Iran war began, its cost has more than doubled. Currently, 1,000 litres (lasting 10-12 weeks) is £1,219. A year ago, it was £549. Seasoned wood is in demand.
We watch the oil price rise, with none of the consumer protections afforded to gas customers. If the price per litre drops, as during the June ceasefire, the village WhatsApp group lights up.
Some residents still have a back boiler system: a water tank tucked behind a fireplace that heats and circulates hot water to taps and through radiators. It is possible, if you have access to firewood, to heat your home for nothing. Until recently we supplemented our oil heating with wood we could take from the estate, until that “right” was rescinded by the gamekeeper we fell out with. But this isn’t the first time a villager has had a run-in about collecting…
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