ECO4 & GBIS: Are Councils Helping or Blocking Energy Efficiency Grants?

ECO4 & GBIS: What Role Do Councils Play in Grant Approvals?

What Councils Are (and Aren’t) Responsible For

Councils do not:

• Fund ECO4 or GBIS grants

• Set the rules for eligibility

• Pay for any grant-funded energy-saving measures

• Accept applications or process applications

Councils do:

• Widen eligibility criteria so that more residents can access funding based on income, vulnerability, or medical conditions

• Issue declarations confirming eligibility for health, income, and vulnerable applications

• Publish a Statement of Intent (SoI) outlining their local eligibility criteria

Councils have three main responsibilities in the ECO4 and GBIS schemes:

• Publish a Statement of Intent (SoI) outlining their participation criteria.

• Issue Declarations to confirm eligibility, allowing applicants to access funding.

• Widen the eligibility criteria so that more constituents can access funding based on income, vulnerability, or medical conditions.

That’s it. Councils don’t pay for the measures, nor do they install them. Their only job is to verify eligibility and sign off on declarations so households can receive funding from energy suppliers. You can apply with us at Energy Saving Genie or through a registered installer for a free assessment of eligibility.

Which Councils Are Helping – and Which Are Failing Residents?

Councils That Get It Right

Some councils are proactive, making it easy for installers to submit applications and ensuring residents are aware of the funding available. They publish clear Statements of Intent and work with multiple installers to process applications quickly.

Councils That Put Up Barriers

Other councils restrict access by only allowing a small number of installers to submit applications, making it harder for residents to access funding. Some introduce additional red tape, slowing down the process unnecessarily.

Councils That Do Nothing

Shockingly, some councils haven’t even published a Statement of Intent, meaning households in their area cannot access ECO4 or GBIS funding through Flex at all. These councils are effectively blocking much-needed energy efficiency improvements for local residents.

Ways to Qualify for ECO4 and GBIS Grants

To qualify for ECO4 and GBIS grants, households must meet one of the following criteria:

• Receiving Benefits – No council involvement required.

• Claiming Child Benefit – No council involvement required.

• Income-Based Eligibility – Requires a council-issued declaration.

• Vulnerable Households – Requires a council-issued declaration.

• Health Conditions – Requires a council-issued declaration.

• General Group (GBIS only) – No council involvement required.

For routes requiring council involvement, your local authority must publish a Statement of Intent and issue declarations confirming eligibility. The installer will ask for evidence in accordance with Ofgem rules and arrange for the declaration for you.

Is Your Council Supporting ECO4 and GBIS? Here’s How to Check

The easiest way to find out if your council is issuing declarations is to complete our free grant checker. Our system will automatically check if your local authority is participating and connect you with an approved installer from our network of over 30 trusted professionals. If your council is issuing declarations, the installer will handle the process for you, ensuring you can access the funding you’re entitled to.

Why Some Councils Don’t Participate

Some councils fail to issue declarations due to:

• Lack of resources – Some councils say they don’t have the staff to process applications, yet councils can actually generate significant revenue from the scheme. For example, Powys Council charges £500 per declaration and had issued 4,388 declarations by October 2024, generating £2,194,000. By the time the scheme ends, this figure could double, demonstrating that councils can benefit financially while supporting residents.

• Lack of awareness – Some local authorities may not fully understand their role in the scheme.

• Bureaucratic delays – Some councils have inefficient processes that slow down applications.

• Policy decisions – Some councils have chosen not to participate, leaving residents without access to funding.

If your council is not supporting ECO4 Flex, push for change using our tips below.

Check if Your Council is Helping – Then Apply for a Grant Today

Our Naughty or Nice list explains which councils are blocking resident access to grants or use our free grant checker to check eligibility and apply today.

What Can You Do If Your Council Isn’t Participating?

If your local authority hasn’t published a Statement of Intent or is making the process harder than it needs to be, you can:

1. Contact your council – Ask them why they aren’t supporting the scheme and when they plan to publish an SoI.

2. Speak to your local councillor – Raise the issue at council meetings or through local representatives.

3. Spread awareness – Many councils don’t act because they don’t see demand. The more residents who ask about ECO4 and GBIS, the more pressure they’ll feel to take action.