Current schemes and funding
Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO 4)
The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) is a government energy efficiency scheme funded by large UK energy companies, who are obligated by the regulator Ofgem to upgrade a certain number of UK homes each year with retrofit measures.
Rotherham Council has widened the criteria to allow more residents to benefit under a section of the scheme named ECO4-FLEX.
Read the statement of intent for ECO4-FLEX
Winter fuel payment
If you were born before 25 September 1957 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.
The amount you get includes a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’. This is between £150 and £300. You’ll get this extra amount in winter 2023 to 2024. This is in addition to any other Cost of Living Payments you get with your benefit or tax credits.
You will automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment if you are eligible. (you do not need to claim).
Eligibility includes if you:
- get the state pension.
- get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)
Full winter fuel payment scheme found on the UK Government website here.
Cold weather payments
You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you are getting certain benefits or support for mortgage interest.
If you’re eligible, you’ll get these payments automatically. You do not need to apply, but you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus if you have a baby or if a child under the age of 5 comes to live with you.
You will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 days in a row. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. The scheme opened 1 November 2023.
More information can be found here.
Smart meters
Smart Energy GB is an independent government backed organisation that focuses on helping people to get smart meters and understanding the benefits of having them in your home.
A smart meter is a new type of gas and electric meter that measures how much energy you are using and the costs, displaying it on a home screen.
These devices can help reduce energy cost through:
- Sending accurate readings to your energy supplier, removing estimate usage bills.
- Making you aware of how much energy you are using, leading to changes in usage and behaviour.
Smart meters are free, and your energy supplier needs to be contacted for installation.
Further information about what smart meters are and how they work can be found below, alongside help in contacting your energy supplier.