Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 4
ECO 4 is the fourth stage of the governments Energy Company Obligation scheme which runs until 2026. The primary goal of the grant is to support low-income households who are unable to upgrade their homes and heating systems.
The scheme takes a fabric first approach through focusing on the building itself before installing new heating systems. ECO 4 framework actually shows a specific interest in insulating solid walls, aiming to carry out up to 22,000 solid wall insulation installations each year.
Applications for this scheme can be made directly through one of the following energy companies who will determine a households eligibility for fully funded improvements. These include:
- British Gas
- E.ON
- Ecotricity
- EDF
- ESB Energy
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox The Market
- OVO Energy
- Scottish Power
- Shell Energy
- SO Energy
- The Co-Operative Energy
- The Utility Warehouse
- Utilita Energy
Typically a household will be eligible for improvements if they are in receipt of benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit etc…
More information on ECO 4 can be found through the following links:
FAQs for domestic consumers and landlords | Ofgem
Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Flexible Eligibility
ECO 4 has enabled the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk to identify the most vulnerable households who could benefit from energy efficiency improvements. This scheme is called ECO Flexible Eligibility and is outlined in the following Statement of Intent – https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/5197/eco_flexibility_eligibility_statement_of_intent.pdf
The four routes of qualification outlined in the Statement of Intent are as follows:
- Collective household income below £31,000 per annum
- Households in receipt of certain benefits/proxies
- NHS professional & GP referrals (following the council identifying a link between certain health conditions and cold homes)
- Bespoke Targeting
*These routes are detailed further within the Statement of Intent.
If an application is successful, a declaration of eligibility will be issued to the dwelling or chosen retrofit installer which will enable the release of funding to accommodate these works.
Further information will be provided to the household upon the declaration be issued.
Please contact [email protected] for further information.
Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) 2
HUG 2 funds energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating systems in low-income households. The scheme targets the worst quality (EPC band D-G), off-gas grid homes in England, to tackle fuel poverty and progress towards the UK’s 2050 Net Zero commitment through the implementation of full house retrofits.
King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Broadland & South Norfolk and Breckland councils are implementing HUG 2 through Norfolk Warm Homes.
Households sitting within Income Deciles 1-3 in Indices of Multiple Deprivation are automatically eligible for this scheme, along with households that are in receipt of certain benefits and those that have a collective income of under £31,000 per annum.
This scheme runs until 2026 and more information can be found through the Norfolk Warm Homes website – Norfolk Warm Homes
Please contact [email protected] for further information.
Connected for Warmth (CFW)
Connected for Warmth installs singular heating and insulation measures into homes across the United Kingdom.
Although the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk isn’t directly involved with this scheme, households are referred to Connected for Warmth if proven to be ineligible for schemes such as ECO 4 & HUG 2.
Households are automatically eligible for the scheme so long as the dwelling in question falls withing Council Tax bands A-D.
Further information on CFW can be found through the following link – Fully funded energy efficiency measures | Connected for Warmth
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
The GBIS is a new government energy efficiency scheme (formerly known as ECO+) that will be administered by Ofgem. It is designed to deliver improvements to the least energy-efficient hones in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.
The scheme complements the ECO 4 scheme, yet unlike ECO 4’s whole house approach, this scheme will mostly deliver singular insulation measures.
As well as supporting low-income and vulnerable households, it will also be available to those living in homes with an EPC of D-G and within Council Tax bands A-D.
GBIS is still in it’s infancy so please contact [email protected] for further information.
*It is worth noting that landlords are obligated to contribute up to 1/3 of the cost of any measures being implemented through the following schemes:
Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for information on any of the schemes mentioned above.
