Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics are published monthly with a delay of approximately one month. The latest available data are for August 2026: Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics - GOV.UK. Table 1.3 provides information on the number of redemptions paid, broken down by the fuel type displaced since the scheme’s launch.

Across all technology types, a cumulative 15,106 voucher redemptions had been paid for the replacement of oil-heated systems through the scheme by the end of July 2026. By the end of August 2026 this had increased to 16,129 voucher redemptions, representing a further 1,023 voucher redemptions for installations displacing oil-heated systems during August 2026.

The Government recognises the important role that refineries play in energy security, resilience, economic growth and jobs, and is committed to the long-term future of the sector.

A linking agreement is expected to bring significant benefits for UK industry, including access to a larger, more liquid market. The Government is committed to negotiating an agreement that works for UK industry and will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes and assess impacts accordingly.

We do not have any FTE officials working on a review of the CBAM. CBAM is a tax and is a matter for HM Treasury.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, we will put communities at the centre of delivery, devolving funding so regional and local government can accelerate home and building upgrades according to their needs.

The Government does recognise the particular challenges for rural areas and is currently undertaking specific research to improve understanding of the costs and practicalities of decarbonising more complex housing archetypes. Results will be available soon and will help inform future policy decisions.

In the meantime, the Government is already taking action, recently increasing the grant amount available for heat pump installations through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £9,000 for homes heated by oil or LPG.

Real-world trials have shown that heat pumps work well across different property types. This is reflected in strong uptake in rural areas, with 50% of BUS grants awarded to rural properties and 39% to homes off the gas grid.

The Government recognises the particular challenges faced by households in rural and remote areas that are not connected to the electricity grid. Many of these households rely on heating oil and LPG as their primary source of heating.

This year, the Government announced £53 million of support for low-income households that use any fuel for domestic heating, cooking or lighting, helping to address rising energy costs.

For those considering alternatives to oil heating, the Government is supporting the installation of low-carbon heating through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for eligible households in England and Wales. A time-limited higher grant of £9,000 is available for eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating systems, helping households and small businesses most exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices to switch to low-carbon heating. The Government is regulating the heat oil sector for the first time.

In addition, the Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.

The Warm Home Discount provides eligible low-income households with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. In England and Wales, eligible households must receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance and they (or their partner) must be named on the electricity account. The financial resources of an unrelated co-tenant are not taken into account. Eligibility rules for other Government support schemes may differ from those for the Warm Home Discount, and entitlement is determined in accordance with the specific criteria established for each scheme.

Hydrogen can help reindustrialise Britain by cutting emissions from heavy industry and providing clean power, helping to maintain our manufacturing base, and create new clean energy industries and skilled jobs in our industrial heartlands.

Transport and storage infrastructure can help unlock the full system benefits of hydrogen.

Government is continuing to work at pace to identify transport and storage requirements to inform the scope, scale and timing of government support for transport and storage infrastructure. More detail on funding will be available following the Autumn Budget on October 28^th.

Hydrogen can help reindustrialise Britain by cutting emissions from heavy industry and providing clean power, helping to maintain our manufacturing base, and create new clean energy industries and skilled jobs in our industrial heartlands.

We understand the importance of providing clarity to businesses across the hydrogen sector and we are regularly engaging with industry to understand their proposals relating to hydrogen infrastructure.

We recognise the importance of maintaining momentum on hydrogen development and are committed to accelerating progress where possible.

Although both projects were consented together, different requirements apply to each. There is no compensation scheme for the Morgan project. For the Morecambe project compensation is payable for blight and the grant of Compulsory Acquisition and Temporary Possession powers.

The Government recognises that communities housing clean energy infrastructure should benefit from doing so, and is exploring introducing mandatory community benefits for low-carbon technologies. The offshore wind industry has well-established voluntary community benefit schemes for coastal communities. However, community benefits are not legally material to the planning decision and cannot be considered when deciding whether to grant consent for a project.

The Government is making strong progress in supporting off-gas-grid homes to switch to cleaner heating.

In response to the Middle East situation, the Government increased grants available for heat pump installations to up to £9,000 for homes currently heated by oil or LPG.

In total the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has supported over 90,000 installations across England and Wales, with 49% of funding delivered to rural areas and 38% to off-grid areas. The average cost of a heat pump installation has fallen by 11% in real terms since the Scheme launched in 2022.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is also supporting low-income households living in EPC D-G homes, both on and off the gas grid, with energy performance improvements and low-carbon heating.

ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.

ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.

ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.

ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.

ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.

ECO4 Flex Route 3 supports medically vulnerable households not meeting standard benefits criteria, but does not disapply the property requirements. Article 19(1)(e) cross-refers to articles 13 and 14 while omitting only their household-eligibility requirement. Accordingly, owner-occupied homes must have a pre-project SAP band D to G and private-rented homes E to G. Band C homes are outside the scheme. This targets finite support at the least energy-efficient homes, where improvements can deliver the greatest heating-cost reductions and benefits. Equality impacts were considered in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty when ECO4 was designed. Eligibility for the scheme, which closes on 31 December 2026, does not guarantee installation of measures.

The Solar Roadmap published last year set out actions for Government and industry, including for commercial solar.

Since 2022 there has been a business rates exemption for plant and machinery used in connection with onsite renewable generation. The exemption applies from until 31 March 2035.

The Annual Investment Allowance is permanently set at £1 million which gives 100% tax relief to businesses on plant and machinery investments.

The Government does not take a prescriptive approach to the proportion of future rooftop and ground-mounted solar. Both forms of deployment will be needed to meet our clean power ambitions.

The government is committed to delivering the transition to zero emission vehicles and low carbon heating in a way that supports an efficient electricity system and is affordable for consumers and businesses. As part of wider analysis of the future electricity system and consumer bills, the Department assesses the implications of electrification, including any changes in projected demand from electric vehicles and heat pumps. This analysis considers infrastructure requirements, the potential for flexible technologies and interactions across the wider energy system, and informs both policy development and electricity system planning. The government will keep this under review as policies develop.

The government has confirmed that it plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.

Next steps will include extensive stakeholder engagement. We will work with those recommended by the CMA in their final report, including the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Executive (where heating oil and consumer protection and advocacy is either fully or partially devolved), and relevant regulators including Ofgem and the Utility Regulator.

We’ll also work with industry and consumer bodies such as, but not limited to, UKIFDA and the Northern Ireland Oil Federation. This engagement will help build the evidence base needed to develop the right options for stronger regulations.

This will take time, and it’s important we get it right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers.

In the meantime, we will also work across relevant government departments and with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in the Codes of Conduct, and consider minimum order volumes, access to smaller deliveries and payment plans as well as whether further action is needed to support price transparency. We will look at whether any of the existing rules and guidance on minimum order volumes is unnecessarily restricting consumers’ options, and assess the coverage, accessibility and reliance of existing price transparency provisions. This will determine whether, and what, government intervention is required.

We will set out more detail on the approach to taking forward the recommendations as soon as possible.

The government has confirmed that it plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.

Next steps will include extensive stakeholder engagement. We will work with those recommended by the CMA in their final report, including the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Executive (where heating oil and consumer protection and advocacy is either fully or partially devolved), and relevant regulators including Ofgem and the Utility Regulator.

We’ll also work with industry and consumer bodies such as, but not limited to, UKIFDA and the Northern Ireland Oil Federation. This engagement will help build the evidence base needed to develop the right options for stronger regulations.

This will take time, and it’s important we get it right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers.

In the meantime, we will also work across relevant government departments and with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in the Codes of Conduct, and consider minimum order volumes, access to smaller deliveries and payment plans as well as whether further action is needed to support price transparency. We will look at whether any of the existing rules and guidance on minimum order volumes is unnecessarily restricting consumers’ options, and assess the coverage, accessibility and reliance of existing price transparency provisions. This will determine whether, and what, government intervention is required.

We will set out more detail on the approach to taking forward the recommendations as soon as possible.

The government has confirmed that it plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.

Next steps will include extensive stakeholder engagement. We will work with those recommended by the CMA in their final report, including the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Executive (where heating oil and consumer protection and advocacy is either fully or partially devolved), and relevant regulators including Ofgem and the Utility Regulator.

We’ll also work with industry and consumer bodies such as, but not limited to, UKIFDA and the Northern Ireland Oil Federation. This engagement will help build the evidence base needed to develop the right options for stronger regulations.

This will take time, and it’s important we get it right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers.

In the meantime, we will also work across relevant government departments and with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in the Codes of Conduct, and consider minimum order volumes, access to smaller deliveries and payment plans as well as whether further action is needed to support price transparency. We will look at whether any of the existing rules and guidance on minimum order volumes is unnecessarily restricting consumers’ options, and assess the coverage, accessibility and reliance of existing price transparency provisions. This will determine whether, and what, government intervention is required.

We will set out more detail on the approach to taking forward the recommendations as soon as possible.

The government has confirmed that it plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.

Next steps will include extensive stakeholder engagement. We will work with those recommended by the CMA in their final report, including the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Executive (where heating oil and consumer protection and advocacy is either fully or partially devolved), and relevant regulators including Ofgem and the Utility Regulator.

We’ll also work with industry and consumer bodies such as, but not limited to, UKIFDA and the Northern Ireland Oil Federation. This engagement will help build the evidence base needed to develop the right options for stronger regulations.

This will take time, and it’s important we get it right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers.

In the meantime, we will also work across relevant government departments and with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in the Codes of Conduct, and consider minimum order volumes, access to smaller deliveries and payment plans as well as whether further action is needed to support price transparency. We will look at whether any of the existing rules and guidance on minimum order volumes is unnecessarily restricting consumers’ options, and assess the coverage, accessibility and reliance of existing price transparency provisions. This will determine whether, and what, government intervention is required.

We will set out more detail on the approach to taking forward the recommendations as soon as possible.

The government has confirmed that it plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.

Next steps will include extensive stakeholder engagement. We will work with those recommended by the CMA in their final report, including the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Executive (where heating oil and consumer protection and advocacy is either fully or partially devolved), and relevant regulators including Ofgem and the Utility Regulator.

We’ll also work with industry and consumer bodies such as, but not limited to, UKIFDA and the Northern Ireland Oil Federation. This engagement will help build the evidence base needed to develop the right options for stronger regulations.

This will take time, and it’s important we get it right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers.

In the meantime, we will also work across relevant government departments and with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in the Codes of Conduct, and consider minimum order volumes, access to smaller deliveries and payment plans as well as whether further action is needed to support price transparency. We will look at whether any of the existing rules and guidance on minimum order volumes is unnecessarily restricting consumers’ options, and assess the coverage, accessibility and reliance of existing price transparency provisions. This will determine whether, and what, government intervention is required.

We will set out more detail on the approach to taking forward the recommendations as soon as possible.

The Government is working with Ofgem, which is considering a range of options to reduce energy debt. It is important that any intervention provides effective and fair support, is deliverable, and does not impose disproportionate costs on other consumers. The Government and Ofgem are therefore undertaking further work to develop the best approach to tackling both the stock of existing energy debt and the flow of new debt.

A home’s suitability for a heat pump depends on several factors such as sufficient internal and external space, peak current draw of the grid connection, and the home’s peak heat loss.

Evidence suggests the vast majority of GB homes have sufficient insulation and electricity connections to install a heat pump, considering developments like heat pumps operating with higher flow temperatures enabling installation in less well insulated homes.

We have commissioned research on understanding different approaches to decarbonising complex housing archetypes, including alternative low carbon heating solutions, and expect it to be published in due course.

The criteria for DCO decisions for all carbon capture projects are set out in the Energy National Policy Statements (EN-1: Energy, and EN-2: Natural Gas Electricity Generating Infrastructure). EN-1 establishes an urgent need for carbon capture and storage infrastructure as part of the energy mix and provides specific policy for the assessment of DCO applications.

EN-2 sets out the assessment provisions that are applied to any gas fired power station with carbon capture. A project must demonstrate technically feasible plans for the carbon capture plant and assess its environmental effects, including the arrangements for the transport and storage of the captured carbon.

MCS certification is not a prerequisite for consumers to access inspection and maintenance services.

Where chosen, MCS certification provides assurance across the full design, installation and commissioning process. A post-installation inspection alone cannot demonstrate that all applicable requirements were met throughout that process, and MCS therefore does not permit retrospective certification.

This Government is determined to ensure that consumers in rural communities who are reliant on heating oil are treated fairly and better protected, including during times of international volatility.

The CMA found that recent increases in heating oil prices were largely driven by higher wholesale costs rather than a lack of competition or excessive profits.

The Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, confirming it will take forward proposals to introduce stronger regulations for the first time, and agreeing with the CMA that we will not be replicating the gas and electricity price cap. Instead, we will focus on a programme of reform to strengthening consumer protections.

A Written Ministerial Statement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

The full response can be found here: Government response to the CMA heating oil market study - GOV.UK

The Department has not made an assessment of post-installation inspection and accreditation requirements. MCS certification is required for access to Government grant funding, where applicable, and is not mandated otherwise.

MCS certification provides assurance across the full design, installation and commissioning process. Post-installation inspection alone cannot demonstrate that all applicable requirements were met, and MCS therefore does not permit retrospective certification.

MCS certification is not a prerequisite for consumers to access inspection and maintenance services.

Where chosen, MCS certification provides assurance across the full design, installation and commissioning process. A post-installation inspection alone cannot demonstrate that all applicable requirements were met throughout that process, and MCS therefore does not permit retrospective certification.

The certification of battery storage by MCS does not require a pre-exiting solar PV system to be certified.

DESNZ does not prescribe a single minimum safe separation distance between carbon dioxide pipelines and residential areas. The safety of CO₂ pipelines is considered through the relevant regulatory and planning frameworks, taking account of the circumstances and risks associated with individual projects.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national regulator for workplace health and safety and regulates the health and safety aspects of CCUS operations within its remit, including CO₂ pipelines.

DESNZ and HSE are also involved in the joint industry Project Skylark, which is examining the safe operation of CO₂ pipelines and contributing to the evidence base for future regulatory and operational decision-making.

The disposal of radioactive waste in the sea was banned globally in 1993. The UK had already ceased disposal at sea voluntarily under the 1972 London Convention.

The first Nuclear Ocean Dump Site Survey and Monitoring (NODSSUM) international mission in 2025 mapped the locations of containers on the seafloor. The expedition found no significant environmental contamination.

The current NODSSUM project focuses on collecting samples of sediment and biota around some of the containers, to determine the levels of radionuclides that might have been released from the low-level radioactive waste to the surrounding marine environment.

The Department has not yet carried out an assessment of current NODSSUM expedition because the analysis of samples is still ongoing by researchers of the project.

Savings are a small part of DESNZ’s overall budget, which saw a significant uplift at Spending Review. We will set out further detail this autumn.

The Department does not plan to introduce a scheme for post-installation inspection and accreditation. MCS certification provides assurance across the full design, installation and commissioning process. Post-installation inspection alone cannot demonstrate that all applicable requirements were met, and MCS therefore does not permit retrospective certification.

The Department has not made an assessment of the impact of the absence of MCS certification on the sale of residential properties, mortgage lending, conveyancing and insurance decisions.

MCS certification is required for access to Government grant funding, where applicable, and is not mandated otherwise. It provides assurance that an installation was designed, installed and commissioned to MCS standards by an MCS-certified installer.

Requirements relating to property transactions, lending and insurance will depend on the circumstances of the property and the requirements of the relevant conveyancer, lender or insurer.

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of jobs lost across the ECO4 supply chain since the closure of the scheme was announced. ECO4 does not operate through a discrete workforce and many businesses and workers also deliver activity under other government and commercial programmes. The Government recognises that the closure of ECO4 presents challenges for parts of the supply chain and has engaged closely with industry to understand impacts, including on the workforce. Officials continue to monitor developments and support the transition to opportunities created through the Warm Homes Plan and wider home energy efficiency programmes.

Our Clean Energy Jobs Plan, published in October last year, sets out the government’s plan for delivering the pipeline of skilled workers needed for the clean energy transition.

This includes the launch of five new Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges, which will help to build a robust employer-aligned skills pipeline and raise the quality of provision.

The Nuclear Skills Plan aims to attract new talent, retain expertise and enable the skills infrastructure needed to support the sector. For low-carbon heating, the government is investing £7 million per annum in training up to 2029 through the Heat Training Grant.

The Government is investing over £2.5 billion in fusion over five years to accelerate deployment. This includes £1.3 billion for the next phase of the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, a prototype power plant planned in West Burton by 2040, which will stimulate investment in UK industry and supply chains. The UK Fusion Investment Prospectus, published in September 2026, is showcasing opportunities to developers, investors and manufacturers. The government has also published the draft National Policy Statement for Fusion Energy Generation (EN-8), providing planning certainty, building investor confidence, and enabling deployment in the UK.

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the costs of implementing a Portuguese-style LPG or heating oil support scheme in England.

The Government has allocated £53 million through the Crisis & Resilience Fund administered by local authorities in England to support those on low-income households who use heating oil and LPG to heat their homes.

The Department will continue to review the support available to households facing energy affordability pressures, including those that rely on alternative fuels such as heating oil and LPG.

This government is determined to ensure consumers reliant on heating oil are treated fairly and better protected, including during times of international volatility.

The government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, confirming it will take forward proposals to introduce stronger regulations for the first time, and agreeing with the CMA that we will not be replicating the gas and electricity price cap. Instead, we will focus on a programme of reform to strengthening consumer protections.

However, this Government does recognise the impact that heating oil price increases has had on households. In March 2026, the Government announced £53 million of targeted support for low-income households who heat their homes with oil. Wales was allocated £3.8 million, reflecting the number of Welsh households that rely on heating oil. Using this funding, the Welsh Government is providing a one-off £200 payment to low-income households that use heating oil or LPG and receive support through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The AI Energy Council completed its first term of meetings earlier this year. The Government is currently reviewing arrangements for the Council’s next meeting and will confirm the date in due course.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a budget of £400 million for this financial year (2026/27).

The Government does not comment on speculation ahead of fiscal events. Future Warm Homes Plan funding, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, is subject to decisions at future Budgets and Spending Reviews. The Chancellor will set out further details on spending later this month.

In March 2026, the UK Government announced £53 million of targeted support for low-income households that use heating oil, including £3.8 million for Wales. The Welsh Government is using this funding to provide eligible low-income households that use heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas with a one-off £200 payment.

Equivalent support is already available in England through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Local authorities can provide Crisis Payments to low-income households facing financial hardship with the cost of domestic heating fuels, including heating oil and LPG, and determine the most appropriate support according to local need

The Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly. This will include developing options for a proportionate regulatory regime for the heating oil market, which will take time to get right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers. In the meantime, we will work with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in existing Codes of Conduct, which set rules for the sector. This is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to create a fairer, more resilient and trusted heating oil market, which delivers stronger consumer protections while preserving competition and security of supply. The full response can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heating-oil-government-response-to-cma-market-study/government-response-to-the-cma-heating-oil-market-study.

For households considering alternatives to oil heating, the Government is supporting the installation of low-carbon heating through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales and provides upfront grants towards eligible low-carbon heating technologies. It currently offers £7,500 towards the installation of air-to-water heat pumps and ground source heat pumps, £5,000 towards biomass boilers in limited circumstances, and £2,500 towards air-to-air heat pumps. A time-limited higher grant of £9,000 is available for eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating systems, helping households and small businesses most exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices to switch to low-carbon heating. The grant is deducted from the upfront cost by the installer, who applies to Ofgem on the property owner’s behalf. Eligibility, suitability and costs will vary by property, and households should seek advice from an MCS-certified installer before making changes to their heating system.

The Government recognises the particular challenges faced by households in rural and remote areas that are not connected to the electricity grid. Many of these households rely on heating oil and LPG as their primary source of heating.

This year, the Government announced £53 million of support for low-income households that use any fuel for domestic heating, cooking or lighting, helping to address rising energy costs.

For those considering alternatives to oil heating, the Government is supporting the installation of low-carbon heating through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for eligible households in England and Wales. A time-limited higher grant of £9,000 is available for eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating systems, helping households and small businesses most exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices to switch to low-carbon heating.

In addition, the Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly