Grants and Schemes News: page 13
- March 2024
Children's rights impact assessment published for new Warm Homes Programme
The Welsh Government has published a children's rights impact assessment for its new Warm Homes Programme, which replaces Nest and extends eligibility to low income households as well as those on benefits.
Welsh Government publishes integrated impact assessment for new Warm Homes Programme
The Welsh Government has published an integrated impact assessment for its new Warm Homes Programme, setting out a £260 million cost, carbon savings and a worst first approach to fuel poverty.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme allowance increased to £7,500 per heat pump installation
MCS has said the Boiler Upgrade Scheme allowance has recently been increased to £7,500 per air source and ground or water source heat pump installation in England and Wales.
Existing Nest scheme to end in March 2024
The Welsh Government has confirmed its Warm Homes Nest scheme will close at the end of March 2024, with a replacement programme starting on 1 April to avoid any gap in provision.
Fuel Insecurity Fund ceased
The Scottish Government's Fuel Insecurity Fund ceased in 2024/25, after making more than £63 million available to households since late winter 2020.
Household Support Fund extended by six months with £500 million
The Household Support Fund, which was due to close on 31 March 2024, has been extended by six months so that a further £500 million reaches vulnerable households before 30 September 2024.
NAO report highlights challenges in decarbonising home heating
The National Audit Office's March 2024 report found delays and cancellations in hydrogen heating trials and lower than expected Boiler Upgrade Scheme uptake, drawing industry criticism of the advice behind heat policy.
NEA launches GB-wide fuel poverty and health programme
National Energy Action has launched Warm Homes, Healthy Futures, a Great Britain wide fuel poverty and health programme backed by the four gas distribution networks, with delivery starting in May.
Spring 2024 Budget extends Windfall Tax and Household Support Fund but ends other support
The Spring 2024 Budget extended the Windfall Tax and the Household Support Fund for limited periods, but ended other bill support on 31 March and announced no new energy efficiency funding.
- February 2024
Eligible chargepoint model list first published
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles published its first list of electric vehicle chargepoint models eligible for its grants, covering residential, commercial and dual-use equipment.
Labour announces new warm homes plan
Labour has announced a new warm homes plan, prompting the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action to call for urgent, funded action on energy efficiency for the households least able to heat their homes.
120 organisations sign letter urging Household Support Fund extension
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition joined 120 organisations in a letter to the Chancellor asking for the Household Support Fund to be extended by at least a year, as new figures put the cost of the bills crisis at £2,300 per household.
BUS vouchers awarded rise 75% year on year after grant increase to £7,500
MCS reports that Boiler Upgrade Scheme vouchers awarded in February 2024 were 75 per cent higher than a year earlier, following the increase in the grant from £5,000 to £7,500.
Electrical storage batteries included in the stated VAT circumstances
Electrical storage batteries installed in homes and relevant charitable buildings were brought within the VAT energy-saving materials rules from 1 February 2024, under stated circumstances.
February 2024 drop in fuel voucher help
Citizens Advice says the number of people it helped with fuel vouchers fell in February 2024, after a record January, as £299 Cost of Living payments and the warmest February on record eased immediate pressure.
Homes for Net Zero scheme opens
E.ON and Energy Systems Catapult opened the Homes for Net Zero research scheme in February 2024, offering vouchers and efficiency measures to owners of solid-walled homes with smart meters.
Relevant charitable purpose definition inserted
The definition of a relevant charitable purpose has been inserted into the VAT rules for installing energy-saving materials, taking effect from 1 February 2024.
VAT ESM relief reforms to be implemented on 1 February 2024
The government has confirmed it will expand VAT relief on energy-saving materials from 1 February 2024, adding electrical battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters across the whole United Kingdom.
- January 2024
VAT relief extended to charitable purpose buildings, water source heat pumps, battery storage and Smart diverters
From 1 February 2024 VAT relief on energy-saving materials was extended to charitable purpose buildings, water source heat pumps, electrical battery storage, smart diverters and associated groundworks.
£16m fund opens for West Midlands homeowners to pay for energy efficiency improvements
The West Midlands Combined Authority has opened a £16 million Home Upgrade Grant fund giving eligible off-gas-grid homeowners in four council areas grants of up to £18,000 for insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
Treasury makes the VAT (Installation of Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2024
The Treasury has widened the temporary zero rate of VAT on installing energy-saving materials to cover water source heat pumps, certain batteries and smart diverters from 1st February 2024.
Leeds City Council launches Home Upgrade Grant scheme with Everwarm
Leeds City Council has opened a Home Upgrade Grant scheme with Everwarm, offering free energy upgrades to eligible off-gas homeowners and a two-thirds discount to landlords, backed by £15.5 million that expires in March 2025.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant rise to £7,500 drives applications up nearly 39%
Ofgem's eighth Boiler Upgrade Scheme quarterly report shows 6,835 voucher applications between February and April 2024, after the heat pump grant rose to £7,500 in October 2023.
Scottish Central Government Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme stopped funding new measures
The Scottish Central Government Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme has not funded new measures since January 2024, with its funding due to end in 2026, according to the Scottish Government's Heat in Buildings progress report.
Winter Fuel Payment cut back
The Winter Fuel Payment, cut back in 2024, will be restored to many pensioner households in England and Wales from winter 2025, but only where income is below £35,000 a year.
- December 2023
£6 billion allocated to energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes
The government has allocated £6 billion of capital funding for 2025 to 2028 across energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes, including a new £400 million grant for households in England.
Extra £1.5 billion for Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced
The government has allocated an extra £1.5 billion to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for 2025 to 2028, part of a £6 billion package for energy efficiency and low carbon heating.
Government announces £6bn allocation for energy efficiency and home upgrades
The government has allocated £6bn for energy efficiency and home upgrades, a sum the National Energy Action charity welcomed for low-income households but called small against the scale of fuel poverty.
UK government announces details of £6bn home decarbonisation funding for 2025 to 2028
The UK government has set out how £6bn for decarbonising homes between 2025 and 2028 will be spent, including extra money for low-income households and social housing.
RECC reports Government extension of VAT relief on energy saving materials
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has reported that VAT relief on energy saving materials will be expanded from 1 February 2024 to cover battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters.