Grants and Schemes news
Is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant going up, and has the application process changed? Has the Great British Insulation Scheme reopened, or the rules on heat pump grants? Which energy suppliers are offering extra funding?
Every grant and scheme story we have reported, newest first: eligibility, payment amounts, deadlines, rule changes and how to apply. Each one links to our guides on what it means for you.
- November 2026
Flintshire pledges direct contact with eligible households over £100 payment
Flintshire County Council says it will contact eligible households directly when the £100 Welsh Government energy bill payment arrives, expected in the new year.
Warwickshire County Council highlights energy cost support after latest price cap increase
Warwickshire County Council has urged residents to check available energy bill support, including emergency help for heating oil and LPG users, after the latest price cap increase took effect.
Winter Fuel Payments of between £150 and £400 pay out from November 2026
Winter Fuel Payments of between £150 and £400 reach state pensioners from November 2026, while a new £100 Household Energy Payment for homes in Council Tax bands A to D in England follows from January.
- October 2026
£1bn cut to Warm Homes Plan announced
The Autumn Budget cut £1bn from the Warm Homes Plan, leaving Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding at £400m in 2027-28 rather than the £600m previously allocated, with grants unchanged for now.
Budget confirms Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding for 2027-28
The Budget of 28 October 2026 confirmed Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants of £7,500, or £9,000 for homes on oil or LPG, for 2027-28, while capping annual scheme funding at £400 million.
Budget ends zero-rated VAT for solar panels from April 2027
The 2026 Budget leaves zero-rated VAT for energy saving materials, including solar panels fitted to homes, unextended beyond the end of March 2027, alongside cuts to warm homes funding.
Chancellor did not extend 0% VAT rate at the Budget
Chancellor John Healey did not extend the 0% VAT rate on heat pumps, solar panels and solar batteries at the Budget, so installations will carry 5% VAT from 1 April 2027.
VAT cut on electricity bills extended to July
Chancellor John Healey has extended the VAT cut on domestic electricity bills to July, alongside a £100 winter payment for households in council tax bands A to D in England.
Warm Home Loans scheme launches across the UK
The government-backed Warm Homes Loan Scheme opened on 27 October 2026, offering interest-free and low-interest loans of up to £35,000 for heat pumps, solar panels and batteries across the UK.
Warm Homes Loan Scheme factsheet published with ten initial lenders
DESNZ has published the factsheet for its Warm Homes Loan Scheme, naming ten initial lenders and setting maximum loan sizes for heat pumps, solar panels, batteries and other clean energy technology.
E.ON Next begins issuing £150 Warm Home Discount to 565,000 customers for 2026/27
E.ON Next has credited the £150 Warm Home Discount to 565,000 eligible customers for 2026/27, with payments continuing until the end of March 2027 as more eligible households are identified.
Warm Home Discount letters begin arriving
Letters confirming eligibility for the £150 Warm Home Discount begin being posted today and will continue to be issued through to January 2027, with around six million households across Britain set to receive the discount this winter.
Gas networks expand Safe & Warm Grassroots Community Scheme with £1.15 million next phase
SGN, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities have extended the Safe & Warm Grassroots Community Scheme with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, a £1.15 million programme running to March 2028.
Warm Homes, Healthy Futures reaches 50,000 households
National Energy Action says its Warm Homes, Healthy Futures programme has supported 50,000 fuel poor households across England, Scotland and Wales, with fuel poverty down 29.3% among those helped.
Letters confirming £150 Warm Home Discount to reach thousands of Scottish households
Letters confirming the £150 Warm Home Discount are being sent to Scottish households from October 2026, with around 345,000 set to receive the rebate automatically this winter.
West Northamptonshire Warm Homes Local Grant Scheme closed for 2026/27
West Northamptonshire Council has closed its Warm Homes Local Grant scheme for 2026/27 after using its full Year 2 allocation, with new funding due from 1 April 2027.
Smart Energy GB research reveals energy support scams targeting households
Smart Energy GB research found 83 per cent of Brits received a scam text, email or call this year, with fraudsters exploiting the Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Discount.
Nesta warns against devolving the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Nesta has welcomed plans to devolve elements of the Warm Homes Plan but warns that devolving the Boiler Upgrade Scheme would effectively end the UK's most successful low-carbon heating scheme.
DWP sends Winter Fuel Payment letters ahead of winter 2026 to 2027
The Department for Work and Pensions is sending Winter Fuel Payment entitlement letters in October or November, with most payments due in November or December 2026.
Hackney urges residents to apply for Warm Homes Local Grant
Hackney Council has announced that more than 3,000 households in the borough will receive letters from the Greater London Authority urging them to apply for the Warm Homes Local Grant.
- September 2026
Scottish Government announces winter heating payments for over 1 million people from autumn 2026
The Scottish Government says an estimated 1.4 million winter heating payments will be made from October 2026, with rates set at £62.00, £265.50 and between £105.55 and £316.70.
Government announces devolution of Warm Homes Plan
The Energy Secretary has announced that the Warm Homes Plan, the government's £15 billion home upgrade funding pot, will be devolved to Mayors and local authorities under a new Great Home Upgrade programme.
Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme extended into winter
The Scottish Government has extended the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme beyond its initial six months, keeping support open for low-income households using heating oil and LPG over winter.
Final evaluation of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme published
The government has published the final evaluation of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, covering property owners' experiences, satisfaction with low carbon heating systems and the scheme's value for money.
Record number of heat pump grant applications in England and Wales
Nesta says Department for Energy Security and Net Zero statistics show a record number of households in England and Wales applying for Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grants, driven by oil and gas price rises.
Qualifying week for 2026 winter heating payments begins
The qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026 has begun, fixing eligibility and payment amounts for the Winter Fuel Payment and Scotland's Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Winter Fuel Payment claims open for winter 2026/27
Claims for the winter 2026/27 Winter Fuel Payment opened on 21 September 2026 and close on 31 March 2027, with most eligible households paid automatically in November or December.
Household Electricity Discount Scheme to continue in 2027 and 2028
Northern Ireland's Economy Minister has confirmed a £63 electricity bill discount for around 860,000 households from 6 October, with the scheme continuing in 2027 and 2028.
Tax information and impact note published on temporary VAT zero rate
HM Revenue and Customs has published the tax information and impact note for a temporary zero rate of VAT on qualifying domestic electricity in Great Britain, running from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
NISEP schemes for 2026/27 approved and live
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme's schemes for 2026-2027 have been approved and are live, drawing on an £8 million fund collected from electricity customers.