You may have heard of the electric storage heaters grants, perhaps from the government schemes. Here’s what you need to know about them and how you can apply for the free electric storage heater grant.
What are Electric Storage Heaters?
An electric storage heater stores thermal energy and releases it as needed to heat your home. They use cheaper off-peak night-time electricity (Economy 7 or 10 tariff) to produce thermal energy, which they store and then continuously release throughout the day. Therefore, they’re often called night storage heaters.
Compared to their predecessors, modern electric storage heaters retain plenty of heat for an extended period. With better insulation, they can store heat longer and use convection to top up heat on cold days. These models have LCD displays showing heat input and output levels and intelligent controls that teach how much heat you need.
How do I apply for the free electric storage heaters grant?
The Government offers different grants for different purposes, and the ECO4 scheme allows you to install various heating measures in your home at no cost to you!
To get electric storage heaters for free as part of the grant, you need to be a homeowner or private tenant, and your property should ideally be electrically heated. You also need to be a recipient of one of the qualifying benefits (see below).
ECO4 funding is the newest fourth phase of Energy Company Obligation initiated by the Government in Great Britain in 2013 to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
Who is eligible for the ECO4 grant?
To be eligible for the ECO4 grant, you need to:
- Own your own home or rent it from a private landlord.
- Have your home heated through electricity.
- Receive one of the qualifying benefits (all listed below).
The qualifying benefits are:
- Child Benefits
- Child Tax Credits (CTC)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Warm Home Discount Scheme Rebate
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
Why apply for the electric storage heaters grant?
The two main goals of the Government are to reduce carbon emissions and make heating more affordable for UK households. Your heating bills will go down, and your home will be more comfortable with energy-efficient electric storage heaters.
An ECO4 grant can cover 100% of the cost of installing and supplying modern high retention storage heaters, which, considering they can cost up to £1000, is pretty amazing!
Are there other grants available through the ECO Scheme?
The ECO scheme isn’t exclusively for electric storage heaters; it covers a wide range of heating measures that can be installed at your home, such as:
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Smart meters
Is an electric storage heater right for you?
When you choose the right tariff, storage heaters are much more energy-efficient and can save you a lot of money. Since they can retain heat, they are more reliable than traditional radiators and require no maintenance. With the addition of a smart meter, your home’s heating efficiency will be maximised, and bills lowered so you can sit back, relax, and start saving money while keeping your house warm and cosy.
