Warm Wales Powys Energy Saving Scheme Questions and Answers

What is the Warm Wales Powys Energy Savings Scheme and who funds it?

The Warm Wales Powys Energy Saving Scheme is available to qualifying Powys residents through the Community Interest Company 'Warm Wales', designed to help tackle the ever-increasing problem of fuel poverty for our residents. It offers funding for energy efficiency improvements with a 'whole house' approach to improving your property. The scheme is funded almost in its entirety by the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which is a government energy efficiency scheme administered by OFGEM. ECO4 will be a four-year scheme running from April 1st, 2022, to March 31st, 2026. Where available, Powys County Council have also made funding available to contribute toward energy efficiency elements which are not funded by ECO4 in the form of a small grant and/or interest free loans.

How do I qualify, which improvements are available and is there any cost to me?

Funding is available for properties with an E, F or G EPC rating, D rated properties may also be considered on a case-by-case basis, but the funding and measures available is limited. As part of the qualification process, you must meet the generous net income threshold set after allowable household expenses (mortgage/rent/council tax/ALL fuel bills) have first been deducted from your net income and is set dependent on your household composition. Any savings do not affect your qualification, but income received from them is accountable for qualification purposes. Should you receive any income related benefits, housing or council tax benefit or suffer from certain pre-existing health conditions, you will automatically qualify without the need to provide income evidence.

The measures available under the scheme are: Loft Insulation, Room in the Roof Insulation, Flat Roof Insulation, Cavity Wall Insulation, Solid Wall (Internal or External) Insulation, Underfloor Insulation, Air Source Heat Pump & refurbished/new Central Heating System, Smart Heating Controls (TTZCs), Solar electric panels (PV) and, subject to funding, a grant or an interest-free loan towards a Solar Battery and Energy Saving Lights.

All projects are offered fully funded, without ANY initial outlay from you (except for batteries and energy saving lights which are subject to available funding). Interest-free loans are available repayable based on energy savings over 5 years from our partners Robert Owen Community Banking Fund (who administer funds on behalf of Powys County Council). The Scheme Coordinator will advise if you have qualified for the FREE or assisted Solar Battery.

Can I choose who does my installation measures?

Simply put, NO. To install under the Warm Wales Powys Energy Saving Scheme all contractors must have undertaken the relevant Government accredited qualifications and checks and have access to ECO funding. Our panel of installers are fully vetted and pre-approved by our scheme having completed previous installations on other schemes to an extremely high standard.

What happens if I move or sell the house after having works completed?

There is no tie-in or repayment should you move or sell your property ANY time after works have been completed. In fact, providing your new property qualifies, you can apply to improve your new home providing it meets the qualifying criteria also.

What's the process after I have been approved on the Scheme and can I choose what measures and/or manufacturer I have installed?

To formalise qualification and to determine what measures are approved/funded for install we will need you to evidence your income and provide a Council Tax & Electric Bill which on receipt, will enable us to instruct a Retrofit Assessment (Funding Survey) and Technical Survey (Installation Survey). These surveys can take 2-4 hours and enable us to assess the energy inefficiency of your property, which determines how much funding is available for you. The less energy efficient your property is the more funding is available to improve your home. ALL measures approved for funding MUST be installed as part of the project of all energy efficiency improvements to your property. No part projects will be undertaken. Which measures are installed is determined by the savings outweighing the total cost of installing each improvement measure over the measures' lifetime. You are NOT able to 'pick & choose' which measures or the manufacturer you want. Also, certain measures only qualify and are dependent on another measure being installed such as Solar Panels & an Air Source Heat Pump. Once we have modelled your property based on the funding available, we will inform you which measures we can install and agree an install date for each measure. We are happy to provide details of the measures/systems to be installed including any design calculations and alterations (such as radiator changes) that are required to your property on request.

Do I receive a Contract and what Warranty or Guarantees do I have for the workmanship?

As all the improvement works are usually at no cost to you, the contract of works is between the installer and the funder so you will not receive a contract. However, this does not diminish in any way the quality/workmanship of your job. All measures come with a minimum 2-year full workmanship warranty which covers all project measures, upgrades, and includes an insurance backed guarantee (IBG), in case the installer should go out of business. Also, each measure has its own manufacturer guarantee.   Insulation carries a 10-25-year guarantee, an Air Source heat pump, 2-7 years and Solar PV has typically a 5-10 year warranty for the Inverter and Battery and 25 years for the Solar PV panels.

How do Air Source Heat Pumps work. Are they more efficient than other forms of heating?

Here's how air source heat pumps work, based on information from the governments approved organisation, the Energy Saving Trust:

1. Heat Absorption: Air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside air. This heat is absorbed into a fluid refrigerant
2. Compression: The refrigerant is then compressed, which raises its temperature
3. Heat Exchange: The hot refrigerant transfers its heat to your central heating system through a heat exchanger
4. Heat Distribution: The heated air or water is distributed throughout your home via radiators, underfloor heating, or air ducts
5. Cooling Mode: In warmer months, the process can be reversed to cool your home by extracting heat from the indoor air and releasing it outside

Benefits:

• Energy Efficiency: Air source heat pumps can be more than three times as efficient as traditional gas or oil boilers
• Environmental Impact: They reduce your carbon footprint by using renewable energy from the air
• Versatility: They can be used for both heating and cooling, making them a year-round solution

For more detailed information, you can visit the Energy Saving Trust's Air source heat pumps: costs, savings and benefits - Energy Saving Trust

I currently use my Range cooker or my Open Fire to heat my room/water/heating, can I keep this?

The ethos of the project is to make your house as energy efficient as possible. An open fire is one of the least efficient ways of heating a room/house, as most of the heat (around 60%) goes through the chimney and can cause unrestricted and uncontrolled draughts and airflow. It also greatly increases the heat demand in the room/house meaning an Air Source Heat Pump and radiator/s for the room would be drastically oversized or even become unsuitable! As we are investing in your energy efficiency it would be worth considering closing the chimney/fire or investing in a replacement closed log burner. The technical survey will determine what action (if any) is required.

Also, a condition of the scheme is that 100% of your property's heat AND water demand is satisfied by the new heating system. Sharing heating elements to satisfy the heating and/or water demand of the property is also incompatible, potentially dangerous, against install regulations and will result in Heat Pump failure and/or damage. Should your existing Range Cooker or Log Burner/Open Fire do this it will need to be disconnected from the system.

How long does the project take to install and is there much disruption?

This is dependent on the extent and nature of works involved in each project. For new heating systems and Solar PV, this is typically completed in 2-3 days and will almost certainly involve the replacement of some/all pipework and radiators. Any new pipework will be in copper, and wall mounted. This can remain visible or covered with trunking with any new visible pipework or cabling kept to a minimum where possible. Any invasive works required to the walls/ceilings/floors will be repaired and filled and made good. If you don't currently have a water cylinder in the property, we will need to make room for a plant room to house the Air Source Cylinder & Ancillaries plus the Solar PV inverter & battery (if not put in the loft). The size required is around 1.5m x 1m. Should this be an issue (subject to funding) it may be possible to house the cylinder in a garage/outhouse or specially made shed outside. Should your install require Internal Wall insulation or Room in the Roof Insulation, this can be quite disruptive as all external walls will need insulating and the walls reskimming. This can take anywhere from 2-6 days, depending on the size of your property and add an additional 50-75mm onto the wall thickness. All windowsills and electrics will be made good; however, you will be responsible for redecorating and reinstating the skirting boards to the affected walls.

How does this Scheme affect my property?

As the property owner and/or energy user, this funding opportunity can be worth tens of thousands and offered fully funded. The project improvements to your property will in turn add significant value and transformational energy efficiency (typical projects raise the SAP rating to a B) of your property, drastically reduce maintenance costs and save you or your tenant up to 75% on your fuel running costs (dependent on your current fuel type and age of system). It will also help reduce climate change, offering a clean, sophisticated renewable energy solution, drastically reducing your carbon footprint.

Do I need Internet and a Smart Meter and do I need to change my Electricity Provider/Tariff?

To have a Solar Battery installed under the Scheme, you will need an internet connection and Wi-Fi. Also a Smart Meter will give you the ability to access all the energy saving options available to your new system. In addition, to maximise your energy savings potential you will need to access a 'time of use' tariff (such as Octopus Agile). This allows you to buy and sell electricity wholesale at the most opportune times. Your Battery will store electricity from the grid when the cost per kW is at its cheapest and sell when energy is not required at peak times when the price is high. Don't worry, the smart hybrid inverter & battery links up with your smart meter to monitor electricity price costs every 30 minutes to automatically determine when to 'buy & sell' your energy. You will need a smart meter and internet access for this service.

Will I own the equipment? Who is responsible for servicing/maintaining the equipment?

Under ALL circumstances you will own any equipment installed under the scheme from day 1 and any savings or benefits from the measures installed (such as Solar PV) are yours to fully enjoy and benefit from. You retain full control of the equipment and are responsible for normal servicing and maintenance costs outside the equipment warranty at your cost.

I'm a landlord and rent out a property, can I benefit from this scheme?

Absolutely! As the property owner, you can utilise the scheme (subject to tenant and property qualification) for all eligible properties. Your tenant I'm sure, will appreciate and benefit from the fuel savings and increase in energy efficiency and effectiveness of living in a warmer home, resulting from installation of energy efficiency improvements.

What can I do if I have had works done, I am not happy with the outcome, and I cannot get the contractor to complete to my satisfaction?

When undertaking home improvements, it's important to know what steps to take if things have gone wrong.
 
You, as the Homeowner - Regardless of what home improvements are taking place, or how they are funded, ultimately the householder takes responsibility for what happens in their own home unless that responsibility is discharged to a third party such as an architect or building surveyor. Legally, ECO4 is structured as a contract between a contractor and the householder, and there is no funding included that covers such third parties, so the responsibility falls back to the homeowner. However, there are organisations with processes and advice in place which help protect the consumer. For more advice, see below:
 
OFGEM - The UK Government set the Regulations under ECO and have appointed OFGEM as their Administrators. The Contractors undertaking the work are appointed by the Energy Companies, who are the funders obligated under ECO legislation. The quality control of the scheme is managed by TrustMark, who use the 'Publicly Available Specification' (PAS) PAS2030/2035 Framework to set the guidance under which the ECO Contractors must operate, and the standards under which the work must be completed. However, on occasions, if things do go wrong, and work is not completed to the satisfaction of the homeowner, OFGEM offers the following advice: OFGEM Complaints Process.

TrustMark - TrustMark are the UK governments endorsed quality scheme for domestic construction, and they have set out a process to help householders navigate to a satisfactory resolution when things go wrong. Specifically, under ECO, the works have been completed under the specification PAS2035, and the ECO Contractor is required to follow a robust process of 'Monitoring and Evaluation' (M&E) carried out by a Retrofit Evaluator. If the M&E process does not identify problems with the installation, but the householder is unsatisfied with their installation, then follow the advice given under the heading 'Dispute Resolution Process' found here: TrustMark Consumer Protection. They can also be emailed at disputes@trustmark.org.uk 
 
Ombudsman - If it was not possible to resolve the issue using the advice given by TrustMark which may include escalation to the business type scheme provider i.e. trade or certification provider or competent persons scheme, the Ombudsman may intervene. For the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA), Installation Assurance Authority (IAA), and Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) oversight bodies, the Ombudsman is the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR): CEDR.
 
Citizens Advice - If your problem is still not resolved, the Citizens Advice consumer helpline may be able to help. Citizens Advice can refer matters to Trading Standards, who will then decide whether to take on the case: Citizens Advice.

Can I sell excess electricity generated by solar panels?

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a UK government initiative that allows households generating renewable electricity, such as through solar panels, to earn money by exporting unused electricity back to the grid. To qualify, installations must meet specific eligibility criteria, including having a certified renewable electricity generating system and a smart meter capable of providing half-hourly export readings. Before choosing which company to sign up to, the householder should compare rates per kilowatt-hour (kWh), contract terms, and additional benefits, therefore making an informed decision about which SEG tariff to choose. 

For more information, visit the UK government SEG page