Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
ECO is a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.
Obligated energy suppliers must promote measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
This includes actions that result in reduced energy usage, such as installing insulation or upgrading a heating system.
The ECO scheme is administered by Ofgem and its current version, ECO4, is available until March 2026.
ECO4 and ECO4 Flex
There are two ways you could be eligible for ECO funding:
- ECO4 is for households in receipt of certain means-tested benefits, and evidence of these benefits would confirm your eligibility
- ECO4 Flex is for households not in receipt of these benefits, but who have been identified as low-income, vulnerable or fuel-poor. Participating Local Authorities publish a ‘Statement of Intent’ which details the criteria for this and can then provide declarations of eligibility to Ofgem for households who meet the criteria.
How to apply
If you have joined our Warm Homes Register, then you will be notified if you meet the eligibility criteria and will be provided with information on how to apply.
Find out if you are eligible for ECO4
You could be eligible for ECO4 if you receive at least one of the following benefits:
- Child Benefit
- Pension 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
Find out if you are eligible for ECO4 Flex
You could be eligible for ECO4 Flex if you meet one of these criteria:
- your household has an annual income of less than £31,000 (before tax)
- a person in your household has a severe or long-term health condition that is adversely affected by living in a cold home, and is due to a cardiovascular condition, a respiratory disease, limited mobility or immunosuppression.
There are also other criteria that can be used to identify eligible low-income, vulnerable and fuel-poor households. Full details of the eligibility routes can be found in the Statement of Intent.
How to make enquiries
ECO4 enquiries can be made directly to an obligated energy supplier or a reputable installer.
ECO4 Flex enquiries can be made directly to a reputable installer.
You can make enquiries to any obligated energy supplier, even if they are not your energy provider.
Contact details for obligated energy suppliers
We are currently putting a list together of ECO4 Flex installers that will be registered with us, we will announce on this page when you can request a copy.
Email: housing.energy@cumberland.gov.uk
Eligibility for ECO4 or ECO4 Flex does not guarantee that an energy supplier or installer will decide to install energy efficiency measures in your home.
We cannot recommend an installer or endorse the quality of their workmanship. Companies registered with us have been verified as holding the correct certifications, accreditations, and insurances. We recommend that you conduct your own research when deciding which installer to use. Any agreement to install energy efficiency measures in your home will be between yourself and the installer.
We will verify eligibility for ECO4 Flex applications and provide declarations to registered installers and to Ofgem. We cannot accept applications directly from residents.
ECO4 Flex Statement of Intent
The Cumberland Council ECO4 Statement of Intent:
Installer enquiries
If you are an installer and wish to offer ECO4 Flex in the Cumberland area, contact the Housing Energy Team.