Rural families to get £9,000

towards heat pump upgrade

Upgrading to an energy-efficient heat pump could now be more affordable for thousands of rural homes across England.

The government is offering homes that rely on heating oil up to £9,000 towards the cost of upgrading to the greener alternative.

Heat pumps run on electricity and use extracted energy, either from the ground or outside air, to provide warmth to homes, offices and other buildings.

Under a previous version of the existing Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the government had offered to contribute £7,500 towards the cost of switching, but this has now increased to £9,000.

Leaflets containing information on how to apply for the funds, along with further details of the overall upgrade process, will be sent direct to eligible households over the coming weeks.

Martin McCluskey MP, Minister for Energy Consumers, said the increase in government support will “help thousands of families across England switch to clean heat to protect them from volatile fossil fuels.”

Matt Copeland, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, National Energy Action, said: “This is a positive step for households relying on heating oil, who have recently faced the highest and most volatile energy costs.

“Supporting the shift to cleaner heating in these homes can help deliver greater stability and lower bills.

“The real test, however, will be whether this support reaches those most at risk and makes homes genuinely affordable to heat.”

ACRE has been making the case for more tailored support for rural households to transition to net zero, as part of ongoing work on the costs of heating oil and LPG, and will continue to do so.

For more information, visit cleanenergy.campaign.gov.uk.