East Sussex resident takes on additional winter work to afford doubled heating oil bills

Sheila Williams from Golden Cross stated that her oil bill has doubled since the start of 2026, pushing her to take on winter employment as a waitress to keep up with the expenses. Thousands of homes across Sussex rely on heating oil because they lack access to the gas mains, and filling a standard 1,000-litre tank can now cost upwards of £970. The soaring prices have severely impacted suppliers and consumers alike, with many delaying orders for as long as possible. The issue was recently debated in Westminster, where energy minister Polly Billington noted that the government is working to regulate the heating oil sector, hold suppliers accountable, and ensure consumers receive fair treatment.