HOUSEHOLDS buying new boilers are set to pay £120 in added costs after manufacturers said they will miss heat pump targets.
The Government will start fining manufacturers from April if they are not fitting enough heat pumps under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) scheme.
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The scheme is designed to lower the UK’s carbon emissions and encourage firms to install more of the devices.
It comes with the Government also offering households grants worth up to £7,500 to have heat pumps fitted through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
But manufacturers have said they are already missing CHMM targets, and will be forced to pass on the additional costs incurred to customers looking to upgrade their boilers, the Daily Mail reports.
Boiler makers including Baxi, Ideal, Worcester Bosch and Vaillant all said prices could go up by as much as £120.
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The cost of having a new boiler fitted typically costs between £1,500 and £5,000.
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “Targets are realistic and fully achievable, providing industry with flexible options to support our ambition to make heat pumps easy and affordable to install.
“We’ve also made it easier to get a heat pump by increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant by 50% to £7,500 – tripling applications in the week after it was rolled out.”
Baxi, Ideal, Worcester Bosch and Vaillant did not comment.
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How to get help paying for new boilers
Hard-up households can get grants to help cover the cost of new boilers through the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4)
The scheme was designed by Government to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.
But you will have to be on certain benefits to qualify. You could be eligible if you receive one of the following:
- Child Benefit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Pension credit saving credit
Bear in mind though, just because you are eligible, that doesn’t mean a supplier is obliged to act.
And you might have to help pay towards the cost of having a new boiler installed. You will also have to prove you are on a low income.
More details on eligibility can be found on energy regulator Ofgem’s website.
Meanwhile, there is a select list of energy providers signed up to the Energy Company Obligation. The full list is:
- British Gas
- E Ltd
- E.ON
- Ecotricity
- EDF
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Scottish Power
- Shell Energy
- So Energy
- Utility Warehouse
- Utilita Energy
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Even if your energy company isn’t included above, you might still be able to get a grant through one of them.
You can contact one of the above firms to apply.
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