Ofgem's consultation on its proposed administration of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed on 27 January 2022, the regulator has confirmed, with the page now marked "Closed (with decision)" and a decision document published1. The consultation opened on 16 December 20211.
The scheme, formerly known as the Clean Heat Grant, was assigned to Ofgem as intended administrator in October 2021, in the Government Response to Clean Heat Grant proposals within the "Future support for low carbon heat" consultation1. Ofgem states the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will launch in Spring 20221.
"The BUS will launch in Spring 2022 to aid the decarbonisation of buildings through providing upfront capital grants to support the installation of heat pumps and biomass boilers in homes and some non-domestic buildings."
The consultation sought views on Ofgem's proposed administration of the scheme, and respondents were asked to use a feedback template to help process responses1. Ofgem also said it was designing the digital service for the scheme according to the 14 Government Digital Service service standards, and had been engaging with potential service users through user research and usability testing sessions1.
The published page does not set out the grant amounts, the eligible measures in detail, or the application process for householders. Those details have not been reported on this page1. The consultation page lists a main document, a feedback template and a responses file, alongside the decision document1.
Why it matters for households
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is the grant route through which households in England and Wales can claim money towards a heat pump or, in limited cases, a biomass boiler. Ofgem's role as administrator means it, rather than a government department, will run the application and payment process that householders and installers deal with. The closure of this consultation and the publication of a decision mark the point at which the administrative design of that process is settled ahead of launch.
For a household considering a heat pump, the practical questions are whether a home qualifies, how much the grant is worth, and how the money is paid. None of those are answered on the consultation page itself1. What the page does confirm is the intended launch window of Spring 2022 and that grants are upfront capital grants, meaning the money is directed at the point of installation rather than repaid afterwards1.
What happens next
Ofgem states that following analysis of responses it will publish a decision document and procedural guidance1. The decision document has been published1. The scheme is due to launch in Spring 20221. No further dates are given on the consultation page1.