The sale of heating oil for the winter of 2026–2027 begins on Wednesday 15 October and will run until 30 April 2027. Without state intervention, the price is estimated at 2.00–2.05 euros per litre, according to an ERT report dated 24 September. Last year, on 15 October 2025, heating oil had started at €1.09–1.10.
The reason is the price of crude oil: Brent is trading at around 102 dollars a barrel. Added to the price per litre are the Special Consumption Tax, at 280 euros per kilolitre (28 cents per litre), and VAT at 24 per cent. By way of comparison, diesel was selling on Monday 5 October in the Attica region at an average of 2.140 euros per litre, according to the daily bulletin from the Liquid Fuels Price Observatory.
What the government has said
The government has not yet announced the amount of the subsidy. On 30 September, it increased the subsidy on diesel at the pump from 10 to 15 lepta for the first fortnight of October. In the same announcement, it stated:
“Due to the particularly high volatility of international prices, combined with the start of the heating oil sales season on 15 October, it has been decided to announce the level of the subsidy for the next fortnight, whilst further announcements will follow by 14 October.”
The government’s stated aim is for the price at the pump to start below 1.75 euros per litre. According to ERT, a subsidy of up to 40 lepta per litre, paid directly at the pump, is being considered for all consumers, with no means-testing. Each purchase will be recorded electronically by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), using a special code for the consumer. With the maximum subsidy, the price would fall to between 1.60 and 1.65 euros. The subsidy may apply for a specific period rather than for the whole of the winter. None of this is yet finalised.
What does this mean for a home?
For a house that uses 1,000 litres of heating oil in winter:
- last year, with a starting price of 1.10: approximately 1,100 euros
- this year without support, at 2.00–2.05: 2,000–2,050 euros
- this year at the 1.75 threshold: 1,750 euros
- this year with a 40-lept subsidy, at 1.60–1.65: 1,600–1,650 euros
Even in the best-case scenario, the same household will pay 500–550 euros more than last year. For 500 litres, the amounts are half that.
What to do by 15 October
Heating oil will not be delivered before 15 October, so there is no point in ordering any earlier.
Look out for the announcements on 14 October. These will clarify three things: the amount of the subsidy, whether it is applied automatically by the supplier or requires a code, and how long it is valid for. If it is only valid for a few weeks, it depends on when you fill up your tank. The same applies to block of flats managers who place a large order for the whole building.
Keep all your purchase receipts. The heat pump subsidy is separate from the heating allowance, which will continue to be paid subject to income and asset tests. The details of the allowance for 2026–2027 have not yet been announced.
We will update the article as soon as the announcements are made.
Source: Government press release, 30 September 2026; ERT, 24 September 2026; Ministry of Development, daily report on liquid fuel prices by prefecture, 5 October 2026.
