'I would rather sit in the cold'- Irish people outraged as price in oil soars overnight

The prices of heating oil in Ireland has been on the rise recently but most recently many people in Ireland have seen a large jump in prices in recent days due to conflicts in the Middle East.

As of the latest updates, the price of 1000 litres of kerosene has increased by €148.58, bringing the total cost to €1,206.19, according to www.oilprices.ie.

On a recent segment of Liveline, host Kieran Kuddihy spoke to a number of Irish people who are baffled and outraged by the sudden surge in prices of oil.

A woman named Orla told Kieran on Liveline that she was looking at the price of her oil yesterday and it was at around €959 for 1000 litres of kerosene.

Not even twenty four hours later, this figure jumped to over €1,100 when she checked again the next morning.

"I can't understand how the prices have risen that high over less than twenty four hours," Orla said. "It's just unbelievable and it is outrageous as far as I'm concerned."

"We are just being ripped off right left, right and centre. It's infuriating and I feel like we are totally and utterly being ripped off.

Orla said that the oil companies have the oil in storage and bought it at a much lower price.

"They are now ripping off the Irish people for their own gain....people are really suffering paying their electricity, paying for food and this is the last straw as far as I'm concerned," Orla said on Liveline.

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The frustrated woman said that she "would rather sit in the cold" than fill up her tank and pay the €1100 bill on oil.

Kieran also spoke to a man named Joe who found himself in exactly the same situation as Orla.

He said that "I suppose it's a combination of people panic buying....but what baffles me is that the experts are talking about the increase in price of a barrel of Brent Crude. 

When Joe checked his oil this morning, he saw a 20% increase in his price of oil.

"It just baffles me," Joe said. "I have enough to do me three or possibly four weeks and then I intend to sit it out. I'm not going to pay the inflated prices".

A man named John was also on the line with Kieran to discuss the surge in oil prices. He said that he too saw a massive jump in the price of what he'd normally pai for his oil.

While checking the price of how much his oil would be, within a five minute time period John noticed the jump in prices.

John saw an increase of just under ten percent within the five minute time period.

John said that he will have to use what oil he has now sparingly and said he will have to go without heating his home for a few days.

He said on Liveline that he knew prices would go up but "the fact it's gone up now so quick, it sounds incredibly dodgy".

According to www.oilprices.ie, over 1.5 million households in the Republic of Ireland are heated with heating oil (kerosene).

Household heating oil usage varies from around 1300 litres a year in a 3 bedroom house to 2600 litres for a 5 bedroom house.

To keep your heating efficient, it is recommended to:

• Service your boiler once a year.
• Turn your thermostat down just 1 degree.
• Keep furniture away from your radiators.
• Turn off radiators in rooms you don't use.
• Make sure your hot water tank and attic are well insulated.