A recent increase in the minimum delivery for heating oil is proving to be too much for some Prince Edward Islanders, and is putting a strain on the local Salvation Army.

Colm Magner regularly bought smaller quantities of heating oil last year.
(CBC)

Colm Magner, a sessional English professor at UPEI, was surprised last week when he went to his regular supplier of heating oil and was told he would have to order a minimum of $400 worth of oil in order for a delivery to be made.

Magner didn't have $400, and now he's doing without.

"What struck me was the arrogance about it and the dictatorial behaviour. It's almost an essential service isn't it?" Magner told CBC News Monday.

"If I was to go to Sobeys and say, 'Well, I want $250 worth of food,' and they said, 'Well, you have to buy $400' — well, I can't do that. I don't have $400 right now."

Magner said last year he was regularly buying $200 to $250 worth of oil. It is not a question of credit, he said, because he always paid cash.

Magner is trying to heat his duplex with space heaters, but his inability to buy oil could put him into deeper financial trouble. If the pipes freeze, he would have to pay his landlord for the damage.

"The policy itself is detrimental to a lot of people and particularly because they haven't made people aware of a change in policy," he said.

The Salvation Army in Charlottetown has also noticed an increase in requests for heating oil. Maj. Derrick Barrow said the problem is acute in the country, because oil companies typically charge about $65 for deliveries outside of the capital.

"People are out of fuel, and they've got kids. Their homes are cold and they're in a predicament. They don't have any money to buy right now," said Barrow.

Barrow said he has nine requests for help to buy heating oil.

Even those who can scrape up the $400 for a delivery are getting a lot less for their money these days. In 2004, home heating oil cost about 47 cents a litre, but the price has since almost doubled, and is currently 89 cents.

Heating oil companies contacted by CBC would not comment on the issue.