Hey @StewMagoo,

Thank you for your message, I’ve removed the out of date email from the comment 🙂

@joss I couldn't see anything obvious for the general ECO4 scheme. So you may have to phone CSE and ask. 

Info from the Ofgem website is below

So if  on one of these benefits you should be able to contact OVO I think? Even if you are not, but are struggling with bills there is mention of EcoFlex which may be appropriate? Again OVO should handle this? 

@Emmanuelle_OVO if someone is on these benefits do they simply email OVO as it says on the Ofgem website? There is no reference in the scheme on the Ofgem website about having to always talk to CSE? 

I think we need OVO to be much clearer on their process and what they need. It is too generic. What do OVO need from CSE if anything? 

Can I benefit from ECO?

In order to benefit from ECO your property will need to require energy efficiency upgrades. The specific measures that would benefit your home would be determined by a retrofit assessment. You must own your own home or have permission from your landlord, including if the property is owned by a social housing provider or management company.

You can contact any of the obligated energy suppliers to find out how they may be able to help you benefit from the ECO scheme, even if they are not your energy provider.

Who is eligible?

You could be eligible for ECO if you receive at least one of the following benefits:

• Child Benefit
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
• Universal Credit
• Housing benefit
• Pension credit saving credit

Local authorities are also able to refer residents in their areas to obligated energy suppliers so that they can be offered support under the ECO Flex.

Energy suppliers can also refer households under ECO4 Flex where they are either struggling with persistent fuel debt and are supported by suppliers or are using pre-payment meters and have regularly been unable to stay connected to their fuel supplies due to financial hardship.

It is important to note that eligibility for ECO doesn’t necessarily mean that an energy supplier or installer will decide to install energy efficiency measures in your home.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco/homeowners-and-tenants

Let us know how you get on including links to any useful information. 

I am sure it will be very useful for many other people. 

Hope all goes well and do pop back at any time with any other questions.

Hey @Jeffus and @joss,

I’ve updated the best answer on this thread to hopefully make it more informative and easier to understand- let me know what you think! 😊

Yes, it look more ordered thank you 👍

Hey @joss,

It’s  eco@ovoenergy.com without the dot between ovo and energy.

Let me know if you have any further issues 😊

@Emmanuelle_OVO Hello Emmanuelle Any chance of an update on this topic please? thanks.

Hey @joss 

Thanks for bringing this to us. It’ll be good to get some more information on what this means for OVO and our customers so I’ve asked about this update internally, and I’ll come back on here when I have any more on this.

Hey @joss 

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you on this, I asked our teams about how we are progressing with this and what our customers can expect. 

They’ve got back to me to let me know that they’re in the process of creating a new main page on the OVO website dedicated to ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme. This will include a detailed breakdown on the eligibility criteria for both schemes, making it easier for our customers to understand what they qualify for, as well as details on how non-OVO customers can still benefit from these through us. They expect this to go live next week on the 1st June. 

If I find anything more before the page goes live I’ll come back and let you know🙂

I did find this from Ofgem regarding the new draft, and while it’s rather lengthy, I found it an easier read on the eye than the publication from the Government, especially using the contents page which is nicely broken down, so it may be of interest to you:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-05/Draft%20Great%20British%20Insulation%20Scheme%20Delivery%20Guidance%20V0.1.pdf

@Abby_OVO  Good morning abby. Just wondering if theNew main page has been created yet? “They’ve got back to me to let me know that they’re in the process of creating a new main page on the OVO website dedicated to ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme. This will include a detailed breakdown on the eligibility criteria for both schemes, making it easier for our customers to understand what they qualify for, as well as details on how non-OVO customers can still benefit from these through us. They expect this to go live next week on the 1st June. “

I have looked and don’t see it.

Thanks

Sorry to go off-topic. but as usual I’m bamboozled by that page, or a bit of it at any rate. “Households with an EPC rating of D or lower and in a lower Council Tax band area can apply.” 

“D or lower”? My Council Tax band is A, while my EPC rating is F. Is A lower or higher than D? Is D higher or lower than F? How do I know whether the area I live in counts as higher or lower as far as Council Tax is concerned?

I do wish ‘content creators’ would try a bit harder to make their texts unambiguous. 

Thank you @BPLightlog