Thousands apply for heat

pump grant in single month

The ongoing rural energy crisis has led thousands of off-grid households to make the switch from heating oil to heat pump.

New figures from the government show that 8,150 applications for heat pump grants were made in July.

The total represents an 81 per cent increase on the number of applications made in the previous month.

It shows that many rural families have lost patience in the unpredictable heating oil market, which has been hit by months of extreme price hikes as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Families making the switch from oil to pump have been able to do so with the help of a £9,000 grant as part of the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Although the grant is unlikely to cover the full costs of installation, especially on older properties where retrofitting is always more challenging, the incentive could act as a catalyst for families who have recently been thinking about switching.

Martin McCluskey MP, Minister for Local Energy and Jobs, said: “Households reliant on heating oil were among the worst affected when the conflict in the Middle East started.

“Installing a heat pump is the best way for people on heating oil to get certainty over their bills and avoid costly spikes in prices due to events out of our control.”

For more information on how to apply for a heat pump grant, visit www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme.