200,000 UK households urged to claim £9,000 boost from Monday | Personal Finance | Finance
Thousands of households could access a £9,000 grant to cut the cost of installing a heat pump in days – potentially bringing families significant savings on their energy bills. Households on heating oil across England and Wales will be eligible to receive increased support from Monday, July 21, when the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant goes from £7,500 to £9,000 (a 20% rise).
The scheme is designed to help rural households make the move from heating oil to a heat pump, which over time can be much less expensive to run. The Government says switching to a heat pump will electrify families’ heating, “protecting them from fossil fuel price spikes and providing greater certainty over energy bills”. In a press release flagging the change put out on June 26, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said leaflets would be arriving at 200,000 eligible homes in England and Wales that week with more information on how to claim the extra funding.
It provides £9,000 off the cost and installation of air-to-water or ground source heat pumps in eligible off-gas grid properties and is available from Monday until March 31 2027, Ofgem’s website explains.
Various other criteria apply.
Officials say you must:
- Own their own property
- Be looking to replace a heating system that uses heating oil or LPG
A valid Energy Performance Certificate is also required, The Sun reports.
You can get a quote by visiting Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), where you can find a heat pump installer in your area or contact your energy supplier, the website for the Government’s Clean Energy campaign explains.
The campaign stresses the importance of choosing a suitable and qualified tradesperson to install the pump. “You should choose a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer if you plan to apply for government funding, such as through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and the installer will apply on your behalf,” it explains.
Additionally, the property must be located in England and Wales.
The clean energy campaign notes that people in Scotland can find out about financial help for your heat pump from Home Energy Scotland, as heating and energy efficiency is a devolved matter.
Northern Ireland residents might be able to get financial help via the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme.
According to the campaign, heat pumps are three times more energy efficient than traditional boilers, “meaning they’ll substantially reduce the carbon footprint of your home, and because they run on electricity, there’s potential to make bill savings too by using smart tariffs with cheaper off-peak rates”.
Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: “This government is determined to bring down energy bills, but I know the war in the Middle East has hit households on heating oil especially hard.
“We have already taken action to support these households through confirming over £50 million in support for vulnerable customers on heating oil.
“Now, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will help thousands of families across England and Wales switch to clean heat to protect them from volatile fossil fuels.”
