What is Great British Insulation Scheme?
The UK government’s Great British Insulation Scheme is funding for energy efficiency measures running from Spring 2023 – 2026
This guide will be updated as and when new information comes out – last edit 06/04/2023
There are several existing government programmes which aim to prevent fuel poverty. These include ECO4, The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), and the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme. But, due to vastly increased energy prices and the cost of living crisis, the government are now offering further support to those most at risk of struggling to pay their energy bills.
On Monday November 28th, Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps launched a project to help millions of people across the country lower their energy costs. The government’s budget for the programme is £1 billion. The government intends to lay out necessary legislation so the scheme can commence in spring 2023.
Just over a year ago the average annual energy bill was around £1,271 in the UK. Due to the energy crisis, despite the price freeze and government support schemes, the average bill has doubled.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO scheme) began in April 2013 and is “responsible for the installation of around 3.5 million insulation and heating measures in 2.4 million homes.” ECO has gone through a few different versions, and we are currently in ECO4. The purpose of the scheme is to reduce carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty. In order to qualify, your home must have a poor energy efficiency rating, and someone in the property must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
The government is proposing another scheme to run alongside ECO4 called Great British Insulation Scheme. This is to target the least efficient homes in low council tax bands, low-income households, and vulnerable households. Great British Insulation Scheme was created to complement ECO4 by capturing households which are not eligible for ECO4.
If your household fits the criteria, you could benefit from free insulation and heating controls. The funding will be delivered by energy suppliers.
How do you qualify for funding?
The qualifying criteria for Great British Insulation Scheme is subject to change, but at the moment this is what the government are putting forth:
“The Scheme will target two groups: the “general group” and the “low-income group”. The
general group will consist of those living in homes with an EPC rating D-G and within Council
Tax bands A-D in England and A-E in Scotland and Wales. Eligibility in Wales is expanded
from Council Tax bands A-C as consulted upon to better align the proportion of eligible homes
in each nation. The low-income group will consist of those living in homes with an EPC rating
D-G and broadly mirroring the household eligibility requirements of ECO4 (being on means
tested benefits or living in the least efficient social housing).”
There is currently a consultation underway which has ran from November 28th and will end on December 23rd at 11:45pm.
The UK government is seeking views on the proposed scheme from consumer representatives, energy suppliers, and anyone else with an interest in energy efficiency and fuel poverty policies. You can respond here, email: beisecoplusteam@beis.gov.uk, or write to: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, 1 Victoria St, London.
