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Robert W S
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November 30, 2022
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Do we qualify for Government's ECO4 scheme for home insulation?

  • November 30, 2022
  • 30 replies
  • 2306 views

I would like to know if we as pensioners will we qualify for a grant to wards loft insulation  our house is in Surrey and our Council tax band is “G” This I’m sure would help reduce our heating bills if we qualify..

 

Best answer by Emmanuelle_OVO

Updated on 28/01/25 by Abby_OVO
 

The Great British Insulation Scheme offers households in England Wales and Scotland access to one free or discounted insulation measure. 

 

This scheme is open to all, meaning there is no requirement to be an OVO customer to get this.

 

Customers must be a home owner, reside in a property with a Council Tax Band of A-E in Scotland / Wales and A-D in England and have an EPC rating of D or below.

 

Applications are open and very welcome here.

 

If you have a query or question, contact ECO@ovo.com we will be happy to help and will respond within 48 hours.

 

You could be eligible for free energy efficiency upgrades via the ECO4 scheme. 

 

If you want to make your home warmer and more energy efficient, take a look!

 

If you’re eligible, you could get a wide range of energy-saving measures installed through ECO4 – from loft insulation to a new boiler, or even high-end tech like heat pumps. You could get a whole package installed, all for free.

 

OVO have made a guide to ECO4 here which covers:
 

  • ECO4: what is it?
  • What’s included in ECO4?
  • Who’s eligible for ECO4?
  • Eligible benefits
  • How to apply for ECO4

 

See the guide here, or check if you’re eligible here. 

 

As of June 2023, 

 

Who’s eligible for ECO4?

 

To access ECO4 through OVO Energy, you’ll need:

  • To be a homeowner or a private tenant. 
  • An EPC rating of D, E, F or G if you own your home (E, F or G for tenants). Not sure of your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating? Check your EPC if you live in Scotland, or if you live in England or Wales. 
  • You don’t need to be an OVO Energy customer.
  • To receive one or more benefits (see below).

 

Eligible benefits

  • Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit Saving Credit
  • Warm Home Discount payment
  • Child Benefit (maximum income levels apply – see below)

 

We’ve created a new ECO and GBIS referral platform!

 

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) team have developed a new referral platform to allow both OVO customers and non-customers access to funding from the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).
 

What are these schemes?

 

ECO4 

  • A government energy efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions in Great Britain 
  • The scheme offers a full house retrofit for those who qualify and is aimed at those most at risk of fuel poverty
  • Customers will need to be receiving an eligible benefit to apply
  • More info on the scheme here.
     

Great British Insulation Scheme 

  • Currently being developed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) 
  • Aims to deliver energy efficiency upgrades in homes in Great Britain by installing one insulation measure such as Cavity Wall or Loft Insulation to eligible properties
  • Has a much wider reach than ECO4 and up to 80% of Great Britain could qualify, including many of us in the OVO community
  • No requirement to be receiving an eligible benefit for the largest part of this scheme - homes just need to be in the right council tax band and have a low energy efficiency rating
  • More info on the scheme here. 

 

How to apply

 

You can apply via the websites linked above.  

 

The application forms will cover the initial qualification criteria so you can send them the link to apply directly.  

 

The government is also about to launch a referral scheme for the GBIS and ECO through the gov.uk website so OVO customers, and non-customers, will be able to refer themselves to OVO via the platform. 

 

 

You can get an update on your referral from eco@ovoenergy.com. 

30 replies

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joss
Newcomer
joss
Newcomer
June 3, 2023

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

Never argue with an idiot! as they will beat you with experience. 👍
BPLightlog
Super User
BPLightlogSuper User
Super User
June 3, 2023

@joss https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/eco-scheme

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
    Firedog
    Super User
    FiredogSuper User
    Super User
    June 3, 2023

    https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/eco-scheme

    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. 

    Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
      joss
      Newcomer
      joss
      Newcomer
      June 3, 2023

      @Firedog Your council tax band A is the lowest band.

      Don’t mix up your council tax band with you EPC band/rating. If your EPC is F then that is lower than D.

      So you should meet the requirments Okay.

      Hope that helps.

      Never argue with an idiot! as they will beat you with experience. 👍
        joss
        Newcomer
        joss
        Newcomer
        June 3, 2023

        @joss https://www.ovoenergy.com/help/eco-scheme

        Thank you @BPLightlog 

        Never argue with an idiot! as they will beat you with experience. 👍
        Firedog
        Super User
        FiredogSuper User
        Super User
        June 3, 2023

        ​​​​Hope that helps.

         

        Yes, it does, thanks. I’ve learnt that A is lower than D, except when it’s not. I’m sure you’ll agree that the wording in the article might be confusing for some readers. 

        Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
          joss
          Newcomer
          joss
          Newcomer
          June 12, 2023

          Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 LA and Supplier Flex Decision Statement:

          Publication date

          12 June 2023

          On 5 April 2023, we published a consultation seeking stakeholder views on our proposed administration of the Great British Insulation scheme for LA and Supplier Flex including potential amendments to our current administrative approach within ECO4 Flex. The consultation closed on 28 April 2023 and we received 16 responses from a variety of stakeholders, including Local Authorities, energy suppliers, managing agents, installers and charities.

          The document below is our consultation decision which sets out our final position. In the decision document, we summarise stakeholder views, present the points raised and respond to that feedback. We then outline the outcome of the consultation and, where relevant, how we have changed our approach.

          Never argue with an idiot! as they will beat you with experience. 👍
            Tim_OVO
            OVO Staff
            Tim_OVO
            OVO Forum Legend
            June 13, 2023

            Thanks for sharing this, @joss!

             

            There’s seems to be a lot of consensus in the answers to the questions raised in the report. What’s the next steps in the process?

             

            Such an important outcome to insulate the UK’s existing housing stock, which is apparently some of the worse insulated in western Europe. 

            Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
            joss
            Newcomer
            joss
            Newcomer
            June 16, 2023

            Its a wait and see with Ofcom and local authorities and power suppliers now.

            Never argue with an idiot! as they will beat you with experience. 👍
            M
            Newcomer
            MattD1
            Newcomer
            July 3, 2023

            You don’t have to be on any kind of benefits or state support to access the Great British Insulation Scheme / ECO+. 

            Some other energy efficiency programmes are only accessible for people in that position, but the whole point of GBIS is that it is available for buildings that need it as well as the people in them.

            It’s worth clarifying the original response from OVO, and the page on their website. 

              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

              OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

              OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

              OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd