Grants and Schemes News: page 6
- September 2025
Warm Home Discount scheme for winter 2025 to 2026 opens
The Warm Home Discount for winter 2025 to 2026 opens in October 2025, with eligibility criteria for England and Wales published by the government on 30 September 2025.
Citizens Advice responds to consultation on extending ECO4 end date
Citizens Advice has backed a government proposal to extend the ECO4 grant scheme past March 2026, warning that a shorter timeframe would leave households facing a cliff edge.
Consultation on extending the ECO4 end date closes
The government consultation on extending the ECO4 end date beyond 31 March 2026 closed on 25 September 2025, with the insulation industry opposing an extension that does not raise supplier targets.
DESNZ consults on continuing the WHD to 2031
DESNZ has opened a consultation on extending the Warm Home Discount for a further five years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, keeping the rebate scheme running beyond its current period.
Ofgem publishes response to DESNZ consultation on extending ECO4 end date
Ofgem has published its response to the price cap aspects of the government's consultation on extending the ECO4 energy efficiency scheme beyond its current end date.
Grand Committee considers Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Lords Grand Committee has agreed regulations expanding the Warm Home Discount, removing the high cost to heat threshold so that around 2.7 million more households qualify for the £150 rebate this winter.
Green Alliance publishes report making the case for a social tariff to address fuel poverty
Green Alliance has published a report modelling three social tariff designs, arguing percentage discounts on gas and electricity bills would support fuel poor households better than the Warm Home Discount.
DESNZ publishes consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme
DESNZ has consulted on continuing the Warm Home Discount beyond 31 March 2026, setting out three options for Scotland for the 2026/27 scheme period.
WHD expansion changes come into force
Changes to the Warm Home Discount that remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold for one eligibility group and raise spending targets took effect in September 2025, Ofgem's scheme year 14 report confirms.
- August 2025
Consultation on extending the ECO4 end date opens
The government has opened a consultation on extending the ECO4 energy efficiency scheme beyond its 31 March 2026 end date, proposing an extension of between six and nine months.
Scottish charity THAW Orkney saves clients thousands in energy bills
THAW Orkney, part-funded by the British Gas Energy Trust, reports saving clients a collective £50,000 in energy payments and more than £116,000 in income gains in the last year.
British Gas Energy Trust reopens White Goods Fund
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its White Goods Fund, which last year supplied 2,148 appliances such as fridges, cookers and washing machines to households in England, mainland Scotland and Wales.
Government issues reminder to Warm Home Discount eligible households
The government has told households eligible for the Warm Home Discount to check the right person is named on their electricity account by Sunday 24 August to receive £150 automatically.
ECO4 Delivery Guidance version 3.0 published
Ofgem published version 3.0 of its ECO4 Delivery Guidance on 7 August 2025, adding definitions for hybrid heat pumps and updates on ECO4 Flex administration, solar PV and RdSAP 10.2.
Resolution Foundation publishes research on how the Warm Homes Plan should target spending
The Resolution Foundation says the £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan should target grants by household income and spend on insulation and solar rather than heat pumps.
Welsh Government budgets £35 million for Nest scheme this financial year
The Welsh Government has budgeted £35 million this financial year for the Warm Homes Nest scheme, published alongside figures showing 340,000 Welsh households in fuel poverty in October 2024.
British Gas Energy Trust reopens Individuals and Families Fund
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund, offering up to £1,700 towards energy debt for households on prepayment or credit accounts with suppliers that run no scheme of their own.
DESNZ consultation on the future of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed
A government consultation on the future of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has closed, with industry bodies using it to press the case for hybrid heating systems to qualify for grants.
DESNZ consulted on extending the ECO4 end date
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero consulted in August 2025 on extending the ECO4 end date, and the policy decision extends the scheme by nine months to 31 December 2026.
Shared ground loop GSHPs may be approved as innovation measures
Ofgem guidance confirms that from 1 August 2025 energy suppliers may apply for shared ground loop ground source heat pumps to be approved as an innovation measure under ECO4.
- July 2025
Amendment legislation became law and rural area classifications changed
The Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2025 became law on 29 July 2025, changing how rural areas are classified for ECO4 and altering installation standards and smart meter advice duties.
Ofgem publishes ECO4 Measures table version 4.0
Ofgem has published version 4.0 of the ECO4 Measures table, the document listing which energy efficiency measures can be installed under the fourth Energy Company Obligation scheme.
Plymouth Energy Community opens walk-in energy advice hub on Union Street
Plymouth Energy Community has opened a walk-in energy advice hub in the Genesis Building on Union Street, funded by Wales & West Utilities through its Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance fund.
Government updates House on systemic issues in solid wall insulation delivery under ECO4 and GBIS
The Government has told the House that solid wall insulation installed under ECO4 and GBIS shows widespread, systemic failures, with 92% of audited external wall installations carrying a major technical non-compliance.
Government allocates £650 million for Electric Car Grant offering discounts up to £3,750
The government has allocated £650 million to an Electric Car Grant giving discounts of up to £3,750 on new electric cars priced at or under £37,000, with funding running to the 2028/29 financial year.
Energy Systems Catapult report finds ECO4 failing health-vulnerable households
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report finding that ECO4 is not reaching health-vulnerable households in cold homes, with only four of 42 surveyed homes qualifying for fully funded work.
Which? warns of fake DWP energy support scam texts
Which? has warned that scammers impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions are texting householders fake energy grant offers of £200 to £300, with links to malicious websites.
Council publishes Statement of Intent for ECO4 and GBIS
West Lindsey District Council has published its July 2025 Statement of Intent setting out the full eligibility criteria for ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex routes.
Eligibility criteria for Warmer Homes Scotland widened
The Scottish Government has widened the eligibility criteria for Warmer Homes Scotland, so more households can qualify for energy-saving improvements and previous unsuccessful applicants may now be successful.
- June 2025
ECO4 Measures Table version 4.0 published
Ofgem has published version 4.0 of the ECO4 Measures Table, changing the treatment of solar PV, room-in-roof insulation and shared-ground-loop district heating connections.