The government is planning to incorporate the TrustMark quality scheme into the third phase of the Energy Company Obligation programme (ECO3) ending in March 2022.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a consultation on the proposals, which also include changes to the treatment of first-time central heating installations.
The TrustMark scheme ensures installers have been thoroughly vetted and are committed to good customer service, technical competence and trading practices.
BEIS said incorporating the scheme into ECO3 would “deliver greater consumer protection and robust yet fair requirements on businesses delivering ECO measures”.
The department is also proposing to remove the 400 per cent score uplift applied to replacement boilers delivered outside of the broken heating cap. It said this does not align with the original intent to prioritise insulation and first-time central heating (FTCH) as the best long-term solutions to high energy costs.
Furthermore, three changes are being proposed to the treatment of FTCH installations:
- To increase the lifetime for FTCH installations to 20 years to better reflect the longevity of the heating system as opposed to just the heat generation technology.
- To allow FTCH to be installed in private rented properties with an energy efficiency rating of F or G.
- To allow local authorities to offer FTCH installations to households that wouldn’t otherwise be eligible.
The government expects to issue its response the consultation in September and introduce regulatory amendments in parliament by October.
The ECO scheme requires suppliers of a certain size to meet targets for installing energy saving measures in the homes of customers. For the third phase, BEIS has shifted the focus onto low-income and vulnerable households who face the most difficulty in staying warm.