Home Energy Efficiency East Dunbartonshire Council’s statement of Intent

We've now published our Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Flexibility Statement of Intent

ECO is a requirement which was placed on energy companies over a certain size to help improve the energy performance of domestic properties of those who may be vulnerable, reduce carbon emissions and lower fuel bills. Suppliers meet this obligation by installing measures in homes that reduce energy consumption – typically, these are insulation measures and replacement boilers. It is possible that a contribution will be required for whichever measure you receive however it will be heavily subsidised.

In the current ECO phase there is a Flexible Eligibility option. This is where the Council can set criteria to direct assistance towards local private sector homes at risk of fuel poverty, but falling outside of the normal rules of ECO (usually qualifying benefits).

Following broad guidance from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Council can access Flexible Eligibility funds on the production of this Statement of Intent.

This allows East Dunbartonshire Council to set income levels and guidelines to target local residents at risk of from fuel poverty.

Residents meeting these agreed criteria, subject to the Council issuing a Declaration for their properties, can be assumed eligible by Energy Companies for ECO funded energy efficiency improvements.

If you'd like to know more please contact the Housing Department on 0141 574 5595 and ask to speak to Derek Lyon or Colin Miller.

Publication Date: June 23

This statement sets out East Dunbartonshire Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 – March 2026. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping meet the Government's fuel poverty and net zero commitments. The flexible approach for Local Authorities (LAs) to identifying fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as “ECO4 Flex”.

The Council welcomes the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the Council achieve its plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.

The Council is publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI) to confirm that the each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below:

Route 1: SAP band D-G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E-G households with a gross income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, tenure type or region.

Route 2: SAP band D-G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E-G households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:

Route 4: Households within SAP band D-G that are referred under bespoke targeting. Suppliers and Councils can submit an application to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) where they have identified a low income and vulnerable household, who are not already eligible under the existing routes.

All potentially eligible households should apply through Home Energy Scotland or an ECO installer to ensure they can either benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant programme.

The final decision on whether any individual household can benefit from funding for energy saving improvements under ECO Flex will be made by the appropriate ECO supplier and their contractors/agents. Eligibility does not guarantee funding and the final decision of whether measures will be undertaken will depend upon:

• Surveys carried out by an ECO contractor/agent of properties and household circumstances and the installation costs calculated
• The energy savings that can be achieved the property
• Whether suppliers have achieved their relevant Affordable Warmth targets or require further measures to meet such targets
• Where the assessment process identifies that a household are required to pay a proportion of the cost of potential measures themselves, this would be the subject of agreement between the parties.

The Council’s Housing Investment Team, as listed below will be responsible for checking and verifying declarations and associated evidence submitted on behalf of the local authority

Name: Derek Lyon – Programme Manager, Capital Projects.
Name: Julie Isikaiye – Private Sector Housing Officer
Name: Elaine Anderson – Private Sector Support Officer
Telephone: 0300 123 4510
Email: energyefficiencyenquiries@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

East Dunbartonshire Council will administer the scheme according to the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 (ECO4 Order) and will identify eligible households via Ofgem’s application process. The Executive Officer will oversee the process of identifying eligible households under ECO Flex.

The eligibility information will be stored securely in line with the Council’s data protection policy, Information Commissioner’s Office Data Sharing Code, and ESNZ guidance.

Signature: 

Name: Alan Bauer
Job Title: Executive Officer – Assets & Facilities
Date of signature: 01/06/23

For any general enquires relating to this SoI, please contact energyefficiencyenquiries@eastdunbarton.gov.uk.

This statement sets out East Dunbartonshire Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 – March 2026. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping meet the Governments fuel poverty and net zero commitments. The flexible approach for Local Authorities (LAs) to identifying fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as “ECO4 Flex”.

The Council welcomes the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the Council achieve its plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.

The Council is publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI) to confirm that the each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below:

Route 1: Households within Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) bands D-G  with a gross income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.

Route 2: Households within SAP bands E-G that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:

Proxies 1 and 3 cannot be used together for referrals under this route.

Route 3: Households within SAP bands D-G that have been identified by their doctor or GP as low-income and vulnerable with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.

The Council has identified a positive correlation between low income households containing individuals who suffer from long-term health conditions and  living in poorly insulated homes.

Route 4: Households within SAP band D-G  that are referred under bespoke targeting. Suppliers and Councils  can submit an application to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) where they have identified a low income and vulnerable household, who are not already eligible under the existing routes

All potentially eligible households should apply through Home Energy Scotland or an ECO installer to ensure  they can either benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant programme.

The final decision on whether any individual household can benefit from funding for energy saving improvements under ECO Flex will be made by the appropriate ECO supplier and their contractors/agents. Eligibility does not guarantee funding and the final decision of whether measures will be undertaken will depend upon

• Surveys carried out by an ECO contractor/agent of properties and household circumstances and the installation costs calculated
• The energy savings that can be achieved the property.
• Whether suppliers have achieved their relevant Affordable Warmth targets or require further measures to meet such targets.
• Where the assessment process identifies that a household are required to pay a proportion of the cost of potential measures themselves, this which would be the subject of agreement between the parties.

The Council’s Housing Investment Team will be responsible for checking and verifying that declarations have been issued for households that meet the eligibility criteria and associated evidence has been submitted on behalf of the local authority.

Name: Derek Lyon – Programme Manager, Capital Projects.
Name: Julie Isikaiye – Private Sector Housing Officer
Telephone: 0300 123 4510
Email: energyefficiencyenquiries@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

East Dunbartonshire Council will administer the scheme according to BEIS’ ECO4 Order and will identify eligible households via Ofgem’s application process.

The eligibility information will be stored securely in line with the Council’s data protection policy, Information Commissioner’s Office Data Sharing Code, and BEIS guidance.

Signature: 

Name: Alan Bauer
Job Title: Executive Officer – Assets & Facilities
Date of signature: 14/12/2022

For any general enquires relating to this SoI, please contact energyefficiencyenquiries@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Note - in this section:

• we/us = East Dunbartonshire Council
• you = approved ECO installer
• supplier = ECO obligated energy supplier
• householder = applicant

Ofgem manages the ECO for the Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).