Heating oil customers to get up to £350 compensation for cancelled orders

Price increases had largely reflected rising wholesale costs but stronger safeguards were needed for consumers, the regulator said. Photograph: Radharc Images/Alamy

Heating oil customers whose deliveries were cancelled when the war in the Middle East caused a price surge are to receive compensation of up to £350 each following an investigation by the UK competition watchdog.

As the crisis unfolded, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was investigating heating oil suppliers after complaints that existing orders were being scrapped, with customers offered new deliveries at a significantly higher price.