Just when you thought it was safe to fill up the tank, home heating oil prices have decided to go on a bender again. According to the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CCNI), the average cost of 500 litres of home heating oil has jumped from £346.59 to £445.37 in just three weeks - an increase of £98.78, or 29% for those keeping score at home.

Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the CCNI, pins the blame on the escalating hostilities between the US and Iran, because nothing says 'stable energy market' like geopolitical conflict. About two-thirds of Northern Ireland households rely on home heating oil, making this a rather personal problem for a lot of people.

To put this in perspective, prices peaked at £612.37 for 500 litres back in April, then dropped to a low of £346.59 earlier this month. Ah, the good old days - two weeks ago. Now, 300 litres will set you back £276.23, up from £216.44 on 2 July, and a 900-litre delivery averages £789.07 - an increase of £173.84 since the same date.

Agnes Jackson, a Belfast resident, expressed concern for 'wee families,' noting she switched from oil to gas because it was cheaper, but 'now it's on par.' She recalled the days when buying oil meant forking out hundreds at once, unlike gas which you could buy in manageable £40 increments. Rosie and Patrick McGivern, who bought oil before May's peak, are worried about the coming winter. 'The weather's been good, people don't need to put on heating, but in two or three months' time things will change,' Patrick said, adding that the only direction for oil prices appears to be up.

Emma Rose Creaner, whose rent includes heating oil, called the increase 'completely ridiculous.' Retiree Hugh O'Donnell, who is 'totally dependent' on heating oil, noted that his generation's pensions cushion the blow, but he understands the struggle for others.

Gormley predicts oil prices will stay high until US-Iran peace talks resume. Brent crude rose over 6% on Thursday as US military strikes against Iran intensified, following Houthi attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea. Overall, Northern Ireland has seen a 42.86% increase (£152.82) across typical oil orders since 26 February. Gormley explained that prices spiked in March, peaked on 9 April, trended down until end of June, then started creeping up again in July. 'With oil supply under pressure and increasing uncertainty, the cost of heating oil is likely to continue to remain high until peace negotiations resume,' he said. So, bundle up and maybe invest in a good sweater.