We would like to start this blog by wishing you a very Happy New Year. 2022 was a turbulent year and we expect that you are approaching 2023 with some trepidation. Hopefully, by now, you will have received the first three installments of the Energy Bill Support Payment scheme and these will continue to be paid directly to your energy provider until March 2023.

With the current cold snap looks set to remain a while longer, it is important for your health to keep warm when at home. Draught-proofing doors and windows will help to reduce heat loss as well as banish uncomfortable cold draughts. Drawing the curtains at dusk will likewise help to trap in any heat generated during the day and to prevent further heat loss as outdoors cools down further overnight.

Another way of keeping warm and saving money at the same time is to turn down the boiler flow temperature of your boiler to 60 degrees. This reduces the temperature to which the water is heated prior to being sent to your radiators. You could also consider turning down the temperature of radiators that are situated in empty rooms in favour of heating those rooms that are occupied.

For those considering longer-term home improvements to improve the energy performance of their home and to reduce their energy bills, grants remain available for those on low incomes, certain benefits, and for those living in homes with an EPC of lower than D.

2023 Energy Schemes

ECO+

The Government is investing £1 billion into the ECO+ scheme, which will run from the spring of 2023 and last for up to 3 years. This scheme will allow hundreds of thousands of homeowners to receive new loft and cavity wall insulation at no or minimal cost to themselves. ECO+ is open to a wider range of consumers than the existing ECO4 scheme, which is only accessible to those living in social housing, that are on low incomes, or in fuel poverty.

ECO4 will continue to run until 2026, alongside the ECO+ scheme, delivering energy efficiency upgrades to social housing and privately rented accommodation in energy bands D to G, which are occupied by low-income tenants and those in receipt of certain benefits.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

The Boiler Upgrade Initiative is still running, enabling homeowners to upgrade their existing oil, gas or electric boiler with a more efficient heat pump or biomass boiler and to claim a grant of up to £6,000 from the Government towards the cost of doing so.

For those consumers who do not have mains gas, are on a low income and have a property with an EPC of D or below, you may be eligible for a HUG. The Home Upgrade Grant applies to certain properties and postcode areas in England and allows homeowners to apply via their local council for energy efficiency upgrades to be made to their property. Typically these include wall, under-floor and loft insulation, solar panel installation, double glazing and potentially even the supply of storage heaters.

2023 Aims

At Next Energy, we want to help people. We believe the cost of living crisis will, in time, come to a natural end and that, in the meantime, the public can educate themselves on ways of living and heating their homes in a more efficient manner without sacrificing their comfort. We will do everything we can to educate those in need of simple measures that they can take to stay warm at home, including providing advice on any energy schemes for which they may be eligible. If you have any questions on how to remain comfortable without undertaking any major home improvements, please get in contact with us and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.

Something else we want to continue in 2023 is supporting the local community & donating to local food banks and hospitals.

We will continue to deliver as many home upgrades under the Government grant schemes as possible, to ensure that the majority of those people that need our help receive it as quickly as possible. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those people that are eligible for a grant are able to secure it and to have the work completed in a timely fashion so that they can start seeing the benefits as quickly as possible.