ECO4
- The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a government energy-efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.
- ECO4 began delivery from the 01st April 2022. The ECO4 scheme will run until the 31st March 2026.
- ECO4 focusses on improving the least energy efficient homes and households in fuel poverty, therefore only properties in EPC bands D-G can be treated.
- It also aims to deliver a more complete upgrade of those homes, shifting to a multi-measure whole-house retrofit approach.
- ECO4 aims to encourage the installation of various energy efficient measures such as insulation measures, first time central heating, renewable heating, and district heating connections.
- Eligibility is determined by assessing the property and the occupant.
In Bassetlaw we have outlined the Statement of Intent, where details of eligibility for the scheme are provided.
Improvements to the dwelling:
- Energy efficiency improvements are available for insulation and heating. Insulation measures typically available are loft, cavity wall and floor insulation. Heating repair and replacements are available for boilers, direct electric heating and air source heat pumps.
Approved contractors working on ECO4 in Bassetlaw are:
- D Louth Plumbing and Heating LTD
- Four Seasons Energy
- Wright Renewable Heating
- Urban Renewable Power LTD
- All Seasons Energy
The contractors can be contacted directly for eligibility advice.
ECO4 flexible eligibility
This statement sets out Bassetlaw District Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 – March 2026.
The ECO4 scheme will focus on supporting low income and vulnerable households. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping to meet the Government’s fuel poverty and net zero commitments.
The flexible approach for Local Authorities (LAs) to identifying fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as “ECO4 Flex”.
The Council welcomes the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the Council achieve its plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.
The Council is publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI), on the 5th November 2022 to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below:
- Route 1: SAP bands D-G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.
- Route 2: SAP bands E-G households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:
-
Proxy 1 Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1-3 (LSOA)[1], or homes in Welsh provision LSOA 1-3 on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019[2], or the Index of Multiple Deprivation for 2020, published by the Scottish Government[3]
-
Proxy 2 Householders receiving a Council Tax rebate (rebates based on low income only, excludes single person rebates).
-
Proxy 3 Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Only one from the list can be used, excludes the proxy ‘low income’.
-
Proxy 4 A householder receiving free school meals due to low-income.
-
Proxy 5 A householder supported by an LA run scheme, that has been named and described by the LA as supporting low income and vulnerable households for the purposes of NICE Guideline.
- Proxy 6 A household referred to the LA for support by their energy supplier or Citizen's Advice or Citizen’s Advice Scotland, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills.
-
* Note proxies 1 and 5 cannot be used together.
- Route 3: SAP bands D-G households that have been identified by their doctor or GP as low-income and vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.
This is because the Council has identified a positive correlation between households who suffer from long-term health conditions and living off a low-income, with living in poorly insulated homes.
- Route 4: SAP band D-G households that are referred under Route 4: Bespoke Targeting. Suppliers and LAs can submit an application to BEIS where they have identified a low income and vulnerable household, who are not already eligible under the exiting routes.
Declaration and evidence check confirmation
All potentially eligible households should apply through Bassetlaw District Council or one of their approved ECO installers to ensure that they can either benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant programme.
Our officer will be responsible for checking and verifying declarations and associated evidence submitted on behalf of the local authority.
Officer name: Terry Roe
Job title: Strategic Housing Officer
Telephone: 01909 533533
Email: terry.roe@bassetlaw.gov.uk
Dedicated responsible person: Alison Craig, Head of Housing
[1] The English Indices of Deprivation 2019
[2] Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (full Index update with ranks): 2019
[3] Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020
Last Updated on Monday, August 5, 2024