Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

You may qualify for ECO if you:

• own your own home or have the permission of your landlord
• receive at least one of the following benefits:
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA),
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA),
  • Income Support (IS),
  • Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit (PCGC),
  • Working Tax Credit (WTC),
  • Child Tax Credit (CTC).
  • Universal Credit (UC),
  • Housing Benefit,
  • Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC),
  • Child Benefit, and
• meet the relevant income requirements (where applicable)

To find out if you are eligible please visit Simple Energy Advice

You may also contact any of the energy suppliers to find out how they may be able to help you. You don’t need to buy energy from that supplier.

Even if you are eligible, the energy supplier or installer may decide not to install any measures.

If you are not eligible, you may be eligible under ECO4 Flexible Eligibility. See our Statement of Intent for details.

Under ECO4/GBIS Flex, Local Authorities (LAs) can refer private tenure households that it considers to be living in fuel poverty or on a low income and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.

City of Wolverhampton Council Eligibility Criteria

To offer ECO4/GBIS Flex, LAs must publish a Statement of Intent (SoI). This document sets out the eligibility criteria for ECO4/GBIS Flex.

You can find our Statement of Intent in the Downloads section.

ECO4/GBIS Flex will support our key priorities:

• Better Homes for All
• Ensure safe and healthy homes for all
• Good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods

Note - in this section:

• we/us = City of Wolverhampton Council
• you = the householder
• supplier = ECO/GBIS obligated energy supplier
• installer = approved ECO/GBIS installer

1. Contacting a supplier

You will need to contact a supplier who is delivering the scheme. Ofgem provides a list of ECO/GBIS obligated suppliers on their website.

You can contact any of the suppliers to find out how they can help you. You don't need to buy your energy from them.

The supplier will check that both you and your property are eligible. They will also be able to assess eligibility for other relevant programmes.

Even if you are eligible, the energy supplier or installer may decide not to install any measures.

2. Application

You need to complete an application form and provide evidence that you are eligible.

Your chosen installer will submit the application to us on your behalf. You must not send your application to us.

3. Eligibility confirmed

If we confirm your eligibility, we will issue a declaration to your chosen installer. The installer needs to pass this on to the relevant supplier.

Our declaration will not guarantee the installation of any measures. The final decision on whether you receive any support will be with the supplier.

Once they have permission to start work, the installer may need to do a survey to get a more accurate cost of the job.

If the cost of installation is below the cost of the suppliers’ offer, the work will go ahead free of charge. If not, you may need to pay the extra. Your installer will confirm this.

You don’t have to proceed with the scheme if you don’t think the works are appropriate or affordable.

4. Who to contact

Contact your installer if you want to

• make any enquiries
• check on progress
• raise any concerns

Do not contact City of Wolverhampton Council.

As Ofgem manages the ECO/GBIS schemes, you should refer any concerns or complaints to them. You can find more details on Ofgem’s FAQs.

5. City of Wolverhampton Council involvement

We limit our involvement to the declaration of eligibility and is not responsible for:

• issuing the funding
• appointing contractors
• installing the works
• checking the quality of the completed work

By participating in the ECO/GBIS Flex scheme, we seek to support those who are:

• experiencing fuel poverty
• vulnerable to living in a cold home

As such, we recommend installers offer you measures that are affordable and the most energy-efficient.

An installer may contact you claiming to be working under the ECO scheme. You should not accept face-to-face cold-call enquiries. Installers must:

• provide ID in all circumstances
• be TrustMark accredited with a registration number. To check visit TrustMark.

6. City of Wolverhampton Council endorsements

We do not endorse any company connected to

• the application process
• installation of ECO/GBIS Flex grants or products

This includes:

• energy companies
• ECO/GBIS installers/contractors
• grant agents

You should seek independent advice to make sure that you are being offered the best deal.

7. City of Wolverhampton Council liability

We accept no responsibility or liability resulting from:

• any negative consequence from you accepting an ECO/GBIS Flex grant
• damage or loss arising from you accepting an ECO/GBIS Flex grant
• efforts connected to the preparation, application or survey before a grant
• damage or loss arising from works

You should contact the supplier or installer if you have any grievances or issues with:

• the grant works
• the application process

Note - in this section:

• we/us = City of Wolverhampton Council
• you = approved ECO/GBIS installer
• supplier = ECO/GBIS obligated energy supplier
• householder = applicant

Ofgem manages the ECO/GBIS for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESZN).

1. Completing an application

You must submit applications using the Council’s application form template. You can request a copy via email to energyefficiency@Wolverhampton.gov.uk

2. Submitting applications

You will submit applications to us on behalf of the householder. Installers must make sure the householder and property meet the eligibility criteria. Also, you must get any relevant evidence and submit it with the application.

Email all applications and supporting documentation to energyefficiency@Wolverhampton.gov.uk

Please make sure the householder does not submit the application themselves.

Declarations will not be issued unless all evidence if provided.

Please do not apply to us if the applicant receives means-tested benefits as ECO will apply. For further information visit Ofgem: Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

3. What you need to explain to the householder

You must explain to the householder that:

• ECO/GBIS Flex is a private sector-led scheme.
• energy companies award funding for improvements
• the Council has limited involvement. We are not responsible for:
  • issuing the funding
  • appointing contractors
  • installing the works
  • checking the quality of completed work

4. Branding

You must not use any City of Wolverhampton Council branding or suggest you are working on our behalf.

5. Contact details

You must leave contact details with the householder. This includes named contact, telephone number and e-mail address.

Please tell the householder to contact you:

• for any enquiries
• to check on progress
• raise any concerns

They should not contact City of Wolverhampton Council.

6. Extra Costs

You must tell householders of any works and extra costs which the ECO/GBIS Flex scheme cannot fund. You should also explain that they may have to cover these extra costs.

Explain that they don't have to proceed if they think the work isn't appropriate or affordable.

7. Accreditation

All installers must be TrustMark accredited.

8. GDPR

All installers must follow the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

You will need to

• undertake work in line with Ofgem requirements
• act in line with industry best practices for consumer care and quality standards

9. Further information

You can find further information and guidance on Ofgem’s website:

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) | Ofgem

Great British Insulation Scheme | Ofgem

FAQs: Installers and Industry | Ofgem

You can contact Ofgem by email at eco@ofgem.gov.uk

10. City of Wolverhampton Council limits its involvement to the declaration of eligibility

By participating in the ECO4/GBIS Flex schemes we seek to support those who are:

• experiencing fuel poverty
• vulnerable to living in a cold home

As such we recommend you offer householders measure that are:

• the most affordable
• the most energy-efficient

City of Wolverhampton Council discourages you from undertaking cold calling face-to-face contact. We insist that you contact householders via phone, email, letter or a leaflet drop.

We will investigate any complaints received from householders about cold calling. This could result in us not issuing declarations.

11. City of Wolverhampton Council endorsements

We do not endorse any company connected to

• the application process
• installation of ECO Flex grants or products

This includes:

• energy companies
• ECO installers/contractors
• grant agents

12. On-boarding

City of Wolverhampton Council does not have an on-boarding process, installers must meet the requirements set out by Ofgem/DESZN and be TrustMark accredited.

13. City of Wolverhampton Council liability

We accept no responsibility or liability resulting from damage or loss connected to:

• the application process
• surveys
• preparation of works
• works undertaken

Citizen’s Advice and NHS professional healthcare workers can identify and refer households under ECO4/GBIS Flex.

An ECO4 Flex fact sheet for third parties is available on Ofgem’s website to help understand the policy for those involved in the ECO4/GBIS Flex.

Citizen’s Advice and NHS professionals’ referral letter templates can be found on Ofgem’s website:

• Template - NHS referral letter for NHS medical professionals 
• Template - Citizen's Advice referral letter