The government has confirmed that ECO4, the scheme behind funded or subsidised insulation, heating upgrades and, in some cases, solar panels for eligible households in Great Britain, has been extended by nine months to 31 December 2026. At the same time, it’s confirmed there will be no direct successor supplier obligation once that date passes, meaning ECO4 won’t be replaced in the same form.
That combination matters. If you think you might qualify, this is a narrower window than it first appears. And if you don’t qualify (which is true for most homeowners), there’s still a clear route to solar, battery and heat pump savings without a means test. We’ll cover both below.
ECO4 (the Energy Company Obligation) places a legal obligation on energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency measures for eligible households. It was originally due to end on 31 March 2026. Following a government consultation, the end date has been pushed back by nine months to 31 December 2026, giving suppliers more time to hit their existing targets and fix non-compliant installations from earlier in the scheme.
The important detail for homeowners is what happens after that. In the November 2025 Budget, the government confirmed there will be no direct successor supplier obligation after ECO4, meaning no scheme with the same structure will take its place. Instead, an extra £1.5 billion in direct grant funding has been committed to low-income household upgrades, as part of a wider £15 billion Warm Homes Plan. That funding is delivered differently, through routes such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which is separate from ECO4 and worth checking on its own terms.
In short: ECO4 itself isn’t closed, and new applications are still being accepted for standard measures through to December 2026. But once that date passes, this specific route to a funded or subsidised upgrade won’t exist in its current form.
ECO4 funds measures like:
Solar panels specifically are only funded through ECO4 as part of a wider, whole-house retrofit package, not as a standalone measure. If solar is your main interest and you don’t expect to qualify for ECO4, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme route (which doesn’t require a low income or benefits) is generally the more realistic option, and we cover that below.
There are two routes into ECO4, and the criteria are genuinely strict compared with a scheme like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Standard route. You’re likely to qualify if:
LA Flex route. If nobody in your household receives a qualifying benefit, your local council may still be able to refer you under its own “flexible eligibility” criteria. This commonly covers households with a gross income below roughly £31,000 a year, or where someone in the home has a health condition made worse by living in a cold house. Exact thresholds are set by each local authority, so it’s worth checking directly with your council rather than assuming a single figure applies everywhere in Great Britain.
If neither of these applies to you, ECO4 isn’t the right scheme, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing available. Keep reading.
ECO4 isn’t something you book directly with an installer the way you would a standard solar or heat pump quote. To apply:
Given the strict eligibility criteria and supplier-led process, it’s worth checking directly with your council or supplier for your specific situation rather than relying on a single guide, including this one.
Most homeowners won’t meet the ECO4 criteria, and that’s fine. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has no income or benefits test at all, and currently offers up to £9,000 towards a heat pump for oil and LPG homes off the mains gas grid (£7,500 for everyone else). Pairing that with self-funded solar panels and battery storage is where most Essex and Kent homeowners we speak to end up finding the best long-term savings. We covered the current BUS grant rates and eligibility in detail in our recent guide to the £9,000 heat pump grant.
We’re not able to process ECO4 applications ourselves, so if you think you qualify, your energy supplier or council is the right first call. But for everyone else, and for anyone who wants a second opinion on what’s realistically available to them, we can talk you through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, solar panels and battery storage options with no pushy sales pitch. We’ve been doing this across Essex and Kent for over 11 years and hold MCS, NICEIC, HIES and TrustMark accreditations.
Not sure whether ECO4, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, solar or battery storage is the right route? Book a free consultation, and we’ll help you understand what’s realistically available for your property.
No. Standard ECO4 measures are still being applied for and delivered through to 31 December 2026. A narrower restriction on new applications applies only to a technical sub-category called Innovation Measures and Data Light Measures, not to standard insulation, heating or renewable measures.
The government has confirmed there will be no direct successor obligation scheme. Some funding is being redirected into the wider Warm Homes Plan, including the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which works differently from ECO4 and is worth checking separately.
Only as part of a wider retrofit package where it’s judged the most effective way to cut your heating costs, and only if you meet the standard or LA Flex eligibility criteria. It isn’t available as a standalone measure, and ECO4 is not a guaranteed free-of-charge scheme; funding levels can vary by household.
Not necessarily. Ask your local council about LA Flex, which can cover households on a low income or with a relevant health condition even without a qualifying benefit.
Look at the Boiler Upgrade Scheme instead. It has no income or benefits requirement and currently offers up to £9,000 for oil and LPG homes switching to a heat pump, or £7,500 for other properties.
Last updated: April 2026. Based on the government’s official ECO4 extension response (published 23 January 2026) and current Ofgem guidance. Scheme rules can change, so always confirm current terms before applying.
