The ECO scheme
You might get a grant for a new boiler through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. ECO is a government scheme started in 2013 to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions, thereby promoting energy-efficiency.
The scheme targets low-income households. It intends that homes should minimise their carbon footprint and achieve lower heating costs. Since the ECO scheme started, customers across Great Britain have benefited from increased energy-efficiency at home, and sometimes lower energy bills. Free, and laboriously subsidized replacement boilers are accessible via ECO, a Government Scheme which has been build up to aid low-income household’s ingress home efficiency betterments to alleviate the charge of heating their homes, and to lessen their carbon footprints. If you meet the advantages connected criteria, and your present boiler is at least 5 years old (not condensing), you could qualify. It’s as easy as that.
Under ECO in 2018, qualifying private tenants and homeowners can have their inefficient old boilers either replaced at no charge, or significantly subsidised. Energy-efficient products also made available free via the ECO scheme include loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.
Conditions of ECO
Your current boiler must be five years old or more to be eligible (condensing boilers do not qualify). If you meet the criteria for a free boiler grant, you can have a boiler installed together with new heating controls. You will get an energy assessment free of charge, since the amount of funding you get is dictated by how efficient your home is. Sometimes a small contribution by you may be required.
If you are seeking a Gloucester boiler service, you may employ firms such as HPR.
Ofgem has further information about the ECO scheme here – https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/eco/about-eco-scheme.
Supplier obligations
The Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) means that suppliers must provide information to low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households about how they can improve the way they heat their homes. Suppliers are obliged to replace a broken boiler or upgrade a poorly functioning heating system. Suppliers must also deliver a Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation (CERO). Through CERO, households can qualify for subsidised loft and cavity wall insulation.
Ofgem oversees the ECO scheme for the Department for Energy, Business & Industrial Strategy. They can:
– allocate targets to suppliers
– monitor supplier progress
– report to the Secretary of State
– audit, ensure compliance and prevent fraud.
Ofgem reports every month on how well energy suppliers are meeting their targets.
How to qualify for the ECO scheme
Depending on your property type and whether someone in the house receives benefits, you might qualify for subsidised or free home improvements. This may involve filling in a form from your energy supplier.
Boiler Grants are does not need to be repaid; this means you do not have to pay any money back at any time. There are no complex terms and conditions. If you eligible for a free boiler grant, you can have one set up along with new heating controls (where essential). The amount of funding you acquire is decided by the efficiency of your home, so an energy evaluation will be carried out free of charge. In some cases a small contribution may be needed.
