Superseded Version 6
Superseded Version 6This superseded Statement of Intent was published on 17 January 2024.
This statement sets out Westmorland and Furness Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme and Great British Insulation schemes which run until 2026.
The ECO4 scheme will focus on supporting low income and vulnerable households. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping to meet the Government’s fuel poverty and net zero commitments. The Great British Insulation Scheme will support the ECO4 scheme in the delivery of predominantly single measures targeted at a wider range of households.
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” and ‘’Great British Insulation Scheme 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), on 27 October 2023 to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below.
Route one
SAP bands D to G owner-occupied households and private rented sector E to G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.
Route two
SAP bands E to G for owner-occupied households and private rented sector households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies.
Proxies 1 and 3 cannot be used together. Proxy 5 is not in use. Proxy 7 cannot be used in combination with proxy 5 or 6.
Proxy 1
Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1 to 3 (LSOA), or homes in Welsh provision LSOA 1 to 3 on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, or the Index of Multiple Deprivation for 2020, published by the Scottish Government
Proxy 2
Householders receiving a Council Tax reduction (based on low income only).
Proxy 3
Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Only one from the list can be used, excludes the proxy ‘low income’.
Proxy 4
A householder receiving free school meals due to low- income.
Proxy 6
A household referred to the LA for support by their energy supplier or Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and/or gas bills.
Proxy 7
This proxy is for supplier owned debt data and is listed here for information only. Households identified through energy supplier debt data. This route enables obligated suppliers to use their own debt data to identify either non pre-payment meter households (non-PPM), or pre-payment meter households (PPM).
Non-PPM customers
These are customers who have been in debt for more than 13 weeks ending with the day on which the declaration is made, and are in a debt repayment plan with their energy supplier or repaying their fuel debt through third party deductions.
PPM customers
Suppliers may also identify PPM households who:
- have either self-disconnected or received supplier discretionary or friendly credit within the last 13 weeks ending with the day on which the declaration is made
- are in a debt repayment plan with their energy supplier
- are repaying their fuel debt through 3rd party deductions
Route three
SAP bands D to G owner-occupied and private rented sector households that have been identified by either a person registered in:
- the General Practitioner Register
- a Scottish Health Board
- a Welsh Health Board
- an NHS Foundation Trust
- an NHS Trust as vulnerable
The registered person must identify an occupant whose health conditions may be adversely affected by living in a cold home. These health conditions must be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.
Route four
SAP band D to G Owner-occupied and private rented sector households that are referred under Route 4: Bespoke Targeting. Suppliers and LAs can submit an application to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero where they have identified new methods to identify low-income and vulnerable households. Applications need to demonstrate a number of factors, including that the proposed methodology is more effective at identifying households in fuel poverty than the criterion offered under routes one and two.
Scheme eligibility
All potentially eligible households should apply through Westmorland and Furness Council or one of their approved ECO or Great British Insulation Scheme installers , if a list of approved installers is available, to see if they can either benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant programme.
An LA officer (not a third party working on behalf of an LA) will be responsible for checking, and verifying evidence, and issuing declarations.
General enquires
For any general enquiries relating to this SoI please contact us.
Louise Jeffery
Job Title: Interim Strategic Lead – Home Improvement Agency
Telephone: 01768 212 451
Email: Louise.Jeffery@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Patrick Jenner
Job Title: Technical Energy Officer
Telephone: 01768 212 447
Email: Patrick.Jenner@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Lee Curren
Job Title: Interim Strategic Lead-Private Sector Housing
Telephone: 07500 052 696
Email: Lee.Curren@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Amy Servini
Job Title: Housing Standards Specialist
Telephone: 01539 793 532
Email: Amy.Servini@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Chris Jones
Job Title: Head of Programme Management and Climate Change
Telephone: 01229 876 351
Email: Chris.Jones@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
CEO or dedicated responsible person mandatory signature
Westmorland and Furness Council will administer the ECO 4 Flex scheme according to the Electricity and Gas Order (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 (ECO4A Order). The Council will administer the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex according to the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2023 (ECO4A Order).
The CEO or dedicated responsible person of the Council will oversee the process of identifying eligible households under ECO Flex and Great British Insulation Scheme Flex. The Council will notify Ofgem of households that declarations have been issued for via the declaration notification template.
All personal data collected or processed by Westmorland and Furness Council for the purposes of ECO4 Flex or Great British Insulation Scheme Flex will be processed and stored in accordance with:
- the Council’s obligations under UK GDPR
- the Data Protection Act 2018
- the Council’s data protection policy
- the Information Commissioner’s Office Data Sharing Code and other guidance
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero guidance
Steph Cordon
Job Title: Director Thriving Communities
Date of signature: 31 October 2023
Please contact us with any enquiries.
Email: better.homes@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone: 01768 212 348