The ECO4 scheme
You could be eligible for free energy efficiency upgrades
If you want to make your home warmer and more energy efficient, we can help.
If you’re eligible, you could get a wide range of energy-saving measures installed through ECO4 – from loft insulation to a new boiler, or even high-end tech like heat pumps. You could get a whole package installed, all for free.
ECO4: what is it?
The UK government’s ECO scheme is designed to help you reduce your energy bills, keep your home warm and your energy use down.
All large UK energy suppliers take part in the scheme, which aims to improve your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). As part of it, we at OVO can help you install energy efficiency measures such as insulation and heating upgrades. We’re now on version 4 of the scheme – that’s why it’s known as ECO4.
Since the scheme began in 2012, we've helped thousands of homes across the country, with over 600,000 energy efficiency improvements.
If your home qualifies for energy efficiency upgrades, our trusted partners could help install the measures it needs.
ECO4: what is it?
The UK government’s ECO scheme is designed to help you reduce your energy bills, keep your home warm and your energy use down.
All large UK energy suppliers take part in the scheme, which aims to improve your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). As part of it, we at OVO can help you install energy efficiency measures such as insulation and heating upgrades. We’re now on version 4 of the scheme – that’s why it’s known as ECO4.
Since the scheme began in 2012, we've helped thousands of homes across the country, with over 600,000 energy efficiency improvements.
If your home qualifies for energy efficiency upgrades, our trusted partners could help install the measures it needs.
What’s included in ECO4?
The ECO funding makes all kinds of different improvements around your home as a whole. For example, you’re unlikely to just get loft insulation or a new heating system. You’d get a few things based on a survey of your home. If you join the scheme, you’ll need to agree to all the energy efficiency measures our installation partner recommends when they assess your home. You won’t be able to pick and choose the measures you prefer. These might include:
Insulation
This is the most important measure we carry out and we make sure all bases are covered: cavity wall, external wall, flat roof, internal wall, loft, underfloor or room-in-roof.
Air source heat pump
This sucks warmth from the air outside and uses it to heat your home. It powers both your heating and your hot water.
Electric storage heater upgrade
These storage heaters charge up at night. They then release their heat gradually throughout the following day.
Solar panels
These turn sunlight into electricity, but they don’t even need direct sunlight to work. So they’re perfect for the UK.
First time central heating
If your home has never had it, we’ll sort this for you. We’ll either fit a modern, efficient boiler or an air source heat pump.
Who’s eligible for ECO4?
To access ECO4 through OVO Energy, you’ll need:
- To be a homeowner or a private tenant.
- An EPC rating of D, E, F or G if you own your home (E, F or G for tenants). Not sure of your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating? Check your EPC if you live in Scotland, or if you live in England or Wales.
- You don’t need to be an OVO Energy customer.
- To receive one or more benefits (see below).
Who’s eligible for ECO4?
To access ECO4 through OVO Energy, you’ll need:
- To be a homeowner or a private tenant.
- An EPC rating of D, E, F or G if you own your home (E, F or G for tenants). Not sure of your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating? Check your EPC if you live in Scotland, or if you live in England or Wales.
- You don’t need to be an OVO Energy customer.
- To receive one or more benefits (see below).
Eligible benefits
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit Saving Credit
- Warm Home Discount payment
- Child Benefit (maximum income levels apply – see below)
Eligible benefits
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit Saving Credit
- Warm Home Discount payment
- Child Benefit (maximum income levels apply – see below)
How to apply for ECO4
Apply for ECO4
First up, you can apply for the scheme with OVO Energy through our form. We’ll check the details you’ve given us. Then, if it looks like you’ll qualify for ECO4, we’ll pass them to one of our trusted partners.
Our partner will contact you
They’ll double-check the details you gave us (including your EPC rating and benefits status), and ask some more questions about your home. Then, if you’re eligible, they’ll arrange your home assessment to let you know how it could be improved.
Booking the installation
Our partner will talk to an installer about the upgrades you could get through ECO4. If you’re happy to go ahead, our partner will book the installations with you. They’ll have their own terms and conditions, and you’ll need to sign a contract with them before the work begins. The order the works happen is decided by scheme rules – for example, insulation will be installed before heating.
Important details to know
We can’t guarantee you’ll be included in the scheme until our installation partner has confirmed that you’re eligible and that your home fits the ECO4 criteria.
We at OVO don’t install the energy efficiency measures ourselves. We’ll put you in contact with one of our trusted partners, then they’ll carry out the full assessment of your home and install any ECO4 measures.
The installer will check the information you’ve provided. If it looks like you’re eligible, they’ll need to visit your home to carry out a technical survey to work out which measures to install. Any upgrades they recommend for your home will be based on what will reduce your energy use under ECO4, rather than your preference.
Being eligible doesn’t mean that upgrades can definitely be installed in your home. The results of your survey might mean they won’t save enough energy, or installing them could cause a lot of disruption. Or there might be something about your property that means our partner can’t install the measures.
ECO4 aims to make your whole home more energy efficient. This means you can’t pick and choose the measures suggested for you, and you’ll need to accept the whole package.
ECO4 questions and answers
We've put together a table to explain what levels apply. Across the top row you'll see the number of children (or qualifying young people) per household and the levels of income linked.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single claimant’s annual income | ≤£19,900 | ≤£24,800 | ≤£29,600 | ≤£34,500 |
| Household’s annual income (if more than one adult)* | ≤£27,500 | ≤£32,300 | ≤£37,200 | ≤£42,000 |
*Maximum household income includes all income coming into your home, including from any young adults who live there.
Check your EPC if you live in Scotland, or if you live in England or Wales.
Yes, the scheme is available for privately rented properties. To access it, the tenant must receive a qualifying benefit, and the property must have an EPC rating of D or below. If you’re the tenant, you’ll need permission from the landlord before the in-home assessment happens.
Yes, the scheme is available for properties in social housing. Please contact your social housing provider or local authority for more information about which schemes are available in your area.
You can contact us at [email protected] with any general questions about the scheme.
Ask your installer if you have any questions about your home assessment or the work that’s being done on your property. You should also contact your installer with any questions or concerns about the work after it’s finished. They’ll give you information about the warranties on your new products too, so you know what to do if something goes wrong. We’ll give you their contact details once we’ve passed your info to them.
No – if you’re eligible, we’ll refer you to one of our installation partners. They’ll survey your property, recommend which works might be suitable and then install them (if you choose to go ahead). You’ll need to sign a contract with them before any work begins. Make sure you read this contract very carefully before agreeing to the installation, and get independent expert advice if you’re not sure about anything.
It can take a while to go through the ECO4 process. Even once you’re confirmed as eligible based on your benefits status, our partner will need to work out if the measures would improve the EPC rating of your property by the minimum amount. It can take a few weeks to do this. Then the installations need to happen in a particular order to fit with the rules of the scheme. This can take a few months.
No – ECO4 isn’t a boiler replacement scheme. If you need your boiler replaced, ECO4 might not be for you. The work involved can take several weeks and you’ll only get a new boiler if you also qualify for insulation.
Drop us an email at [email protected]