MILLIONS of households are missing out on free cash for home improvements to help slash energy bills by £400.
The Great British Insulation Scheme was introduced by the former Conservative government last year and helps households with the cost of insulating their home.
The £1billion works with energy companies to install insulation for their customers and they are commissioned to carry out the work.
The funding can help up to 300,000 households across the UK.
However recent figures released by the government show there have been 30,400 measures installed in 24,400 households in the year to August 2024.
On top of this, the funding can help up to 7.7million eligible households in upgrading insulation in solid walls as well as in cavity walls.
According to the latest figures, some 13,500 homes have been helped with improving this type of insulation.
A cavity wall is a type of wall that has an airspace between the outer face and the inner.
These types of walls can sometimes allow heat to escape easily meaning homes get colder quickly.
This was followed by loft insulation which was installed in 8,300 homes and heating controls which were fitted in a further 6,000 homes.
The GBIS scheme is scheduled to run until March 2026 but the new Labour government has not said yet if it will continue after this.
At the time, the Conservative government said these measures would help households cut their annual energy bill by an average of between £300 to £400 a year.
How to apply
To be eligible for the scheme you must be either a homeowner, landlord or tenant, either renting privately or from a housing association.
If you’re a tenant, you must speak to your landlord before you apply. You’ll need their permission before any insulation can be installed.
The scheme is not available to households in Northern Ireland.
You might get support if your home:
- Has an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G.
- Is in Council Tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland or Wales – check your Council Tax band
An EPC measures the energy efficiency of residential properties and rates it on a sliding scale depending on how efficient it is.
For example, an ‘A’ would be the best possible energy rating and a ‘G’ would be the worst.
If you qualify you may be able to get support to install:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
- Loft insulation
- Flat or pitched roof insulation
- Underfloor insulation
- Solid floor insulation
- Park home insulation
- Room-in-roof insulation
To apply you will need to know your total household income and the type of benefit anyone living in the property receives.
If you’re eligible for support, your energy supplier will contact you.
They’ll arrange an assessment of the property.
If you need to pay anything, you’ll find out after the assessment.
You can decide not to go ahead if you do not agree with the assessment or costs.
What other support is available
The Great British Insulation Scheme is not the only support for households struggling with energy costs.
Energy grants
Many of the UK’s biggest energy suppliers have grants in place to help support struggling customers.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
The country’s biggest supplier British Gas has an energy grant scheme in place, with the hardest-pressed households receiving a grant of up to £2,000 this year.
Typically, the families supported are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty – in addition to this 30% of clients supported are single-parent families, 61% are living with a disability and 20% are food bank users.
The firm also has also launched a new debt reduction scheme called ‘You Pay: We Pay’.
Struggling customers will also be able to get part of their debts wiped via what’s known as debt matching.
For instance, if a customer pays £100, British Gas will pay off £100, too, effectively wiping half the amount owed and getting them back on track sooner.
The £15million “You Pay: We Pay” scheme will open in June and eligible customers will be contacted directly – they won’t need to apply.
Elsewhere, fellow supplier EDF has a customer support fund which on average wipes £1,250 off customers’ bills.
It is available to vulnerable customers experiencing hardship.
To apply you must visit EDF’s website and make sure you have details of your account number (find it on your energy bills or EDF emails) and the current debt balance on all EDF accounts you have.
Check directly with your supplier what help is available.
Household Support Fund (HSF)
Struggling households can apply for support via the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, was first launched in 2021 but has been extended several times.
Funding is given to local councils to distribute, so the amount handed out varies across the country.
But in the past, some families have had up to £500 help.
How much you can get also depends on where you live, but the sum should be paid as a direct bank transfer or on receipt of an electricity bill.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
