CONCERNS have been raised that home heating oil prices in the north are failing to fall in line with the plunging global cost of oil.
The price of crude oil has fallen by almost 20 per cent since the summer amid market concerns of oversupply as output increases and demand wanes.
However, over the same period the cost of home heating oil in Northern Ireland has decreased by only seven per cent.
The average price of oil for householders in the north dropped from about £478 for 900 litres in mid-June to £442 earlier this month.
Campaigners last night called on suppliers to pass on home heating oil savings to consumers as soon as possible as the winter months approach.
Richard Williams, head of energy at the Consumer Council in Northern Ireland, urged families to shop around for the best deals.
"The Consumer Council is concerned that the price of home heating oil (HHO) has not fallen as quickly as that of crude oil and we would call on HHO suppliers to ensure they pass onto consumers as quickly as possible any reductions in the price they pay for oil," he said.
Around 68 per cent of households in the north use oil to heat their properties, according to figures from the Consumer Council.
The north's home heating oil industry is not regulated and there are no statutory powers to oversee and influence the price that consumers pay.
It means HHO prices vary depending on market conditions including the global price of crude oil, distribution costs and the profits of refiners and wholesalers.
Since February 2012 the price of crude oil has dropped by about 29 per cent while home heating oil has fallen by 19 per cent.
There are around 270 suppliers in Northern Ireland but two thirds of households still consistently buy from the same supplier rather than shopping around, according to Consumer Council research.
Age NI chief executive Linda Robinson said more work was needed to "protect vulnerable customers for whom fuel poverty is an increasing concern".
She said older people in Northern Ireland do not have the same level of energy pricing protection as those in Britain and the Republic, despite higher levels of fuel poverty than Britain.
"Energy pricing is one of three issues that contribute to fuel poverty, in addition to energy efficiency and income levels. Action is needed on all three fronts," she said.
"Social price support is offered in the rest of the UK by law, but is not required in Northern Ireland."
She urged the Stormont executive to develop an "effective" fuel poverty strategy to address the issue in the longer term.
David Blevings of the Northern Ireland Oil Federation said oil prices were not determined solely by the price of crude oil.
"One of the reasons we have not seen a greater reduction in retail prices is that we have a shortage of refineries in Europe and this is having an impact on refined fuel prices in general," he said.