Statement of intent for ECO4
This document is also available to download:
Download the statement of intent
Local authority: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Publication date: 30 September 2022
Version number: V.X 6
This statement sets out our flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 to March 2026.
The ECO4 scheme will focus on supporting low income and vulnerable households. The scheme will improve the least energy efficient homes helping to meet the government's fuel poverty and net zero commitments.
The flexible approach for Local Authorities (LAs) to identifying fuel poor and vulnerable households who may benefit from heating and energy saving measures is referred to as 'ECO4 Flex'.
We welcome the introduction of the ECO4 Flex eligibility routes as it helps the Council achieve its plans to improve the homes of those in fuel poverty or vulnerable to the cold.
We are publishing this statement of intent (SOI), on 30 September 2022 to confirm that each of the households declared will adhere to at least one of the four available routes outlined below.
Route 1
SAP bands D-G households with an income less than £31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or region.
Route 2
SAP bands E-G households that meet a combination of two of the following proxies:
Proxy 1
- Homes in England in lower-layer super output area 1-3 (LSOA) (external link to a PDF document)
Proxy 2
- Householders receiving a Council Tax rebate (rebates based on low income only, excludes single person rebates).
Proxy 3
- Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Only one from the list can be used, excludes the proxy 'low income'.
Proxy 4
- A householder receiving free school meals due to low-income.
Proxy 5
A householder supported by a local authority run scheme, that has been named and described by the local authority as supporting low income and vulnerable households for the purposes of NICE Guideline.
Proxy 6
A household referred to the local authority for support by their energy supplier or Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland, because they have been identified as struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills.
Proxy 7
Households identified through supplier debt data. This route enables obligated suppliers to use their own debt data to identify either non pre-payment meter households (non-PPM), or pre-payment meter households (PPM).
Non-PPM customers
these are customers who have been in debt for more than 13 weeks ending with the day on which the declaration is made, and are in a debt repayment plan with their energy supplier or repaying their fuel debt through 3rd party deductions
PPM customers
Suppliers may also identify PPM households who:
- have either self-disconnected or received supplier Discretionary/Friendly credit within the last 13 weeks ending with the day on which the declaration is made, or
- are in a debt repayment plan with their energy supplier, or
- repaying their fuel debt through 3rd party deductions
Please note: proxies 1 and 3 and proxies 6 and 7 cannot be used in combination with each other.
Route 3
SAP bands D-G households that have been identified by their doctor or GP as low-income and vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.
This is because we have identified a positive correlation between households who suffer from long-term health conditions and living off a low-income, with living in poorly insulated homes.
Route 4
SAP band D-G households that are referred under Route 4 bespoke targeting. Suppliers and local authorities can submit an application to BEIS where they have identified a low income and vulnerable household, who are not already eligible under the exiting routes.