ECO Flex

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires large energy companies to help improve the energy efficiency of domestic homes by discounting the cost of improvement works. This applies to certain households who are struggling to pay their energy bills and are defined as being in fuel poverty. The Government has now given Local Authorities the ability to identify vulnerable households in their areas which could benefit from these improvements. The new scheme is called ECO Flexible Eligibility.

The draft version of the ECO4 Flex Administrative guidance was published at the end of June, and can be viewed here. Ofgem are anticipating publishing the final guidance by the autumn; however, this is tentative and may change. Our Statement of Intent is based on the draft guidance and may therefore change in the future.

ECO applications for Suffolk are administered by Warm Homes Healthy People at East Suffolk Council, on behalf of all Suffolk Councils. If you are an ECO installer looking to retrofit properties in Suffolk, please email Warm Homes Healthy People at eco@eastsuffolk.gov.uk to request an onboarding application pack.  Once all required documentation has been received an onboarding notification email will be provided along with an application template to use for individual property applications.

Suffolk ECO Flex Declaration Charges

As of April 1st, 2024, we will be implementing a new fee structure for the processing of ECO4 declarations. The revenue generated from these fees will be utilised to employ additional staff members, thus enabling us to furnish a more efficient and expedited service. Please note that any outstanding cases submitted prior to this date will be subject to these charges.

The fees assessed will be commensurate with the average time expended on each application:

  • A simple check, devoid of financial complexities (such as health eligibility, route three), will be charged at £65, based on up to 1 hour of processing time.

  • For non-complex checking, a fee of £130 will apply, reflecting up to 2 hours of processing time.

  • Complex checks and instances of incomplete information will incur a charge of £260, reflecting up to 4 hours of processing time. Any additional hours beyond this allocation will be chargeable at a rate of £65 per hour, subject to the discretion of the manager.

Applications submitted before the 1st of April 2024, but not yet commenced will be subject to the above fees. Applications submitted before the 1st of April 2024 and already commenced will be completed without charge. All applications submitted on or after the 1st of April 2024 will be subject to the charges detailed above.

Regrettably, if you are unwilling agree to the processing fee, we will be unable to furnish you with ECO declarations.

Got a Question?

Any enquiries should be sent to: Warm Homes Team. Tel: 0345 603 7686