EcoFlex4 Scheme FINAL

Renfrewshire Council · 25 January 2023
Back to Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board — 25 January 2023 and its agenda

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___________________________________________________________________
To: Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board
On: 25 January 2023
___________________________________________________________________
Report by: Director of Environment and Infrastructure Services
___________________________________________________________________
Heading: Renfrewshire Council ECO-flex 4 Statement of Intent 
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1. Summary 
1.1 Reducing Carbon Emissions is one of the principle measures to address
climate change and is a key priority for all Local Authorities. Renfrewshire
Council recognises that climate change will have far reaching effects on
Renfrewshire’s economy, its people and its environment and is determined to
lead by example in tackling the causes of climate change. 
1.2 The Scottish Government are transitioning to 'a net-zero emissions Scotland
for the benefit of our environment, our people, and our prosperity’. The world-
leading climate change legislation in Scotland sets a target date for 2030 for a
75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and net-zero emissions of all
greenhouse gases by 2045 - with the aim of ending Scotland’s contribution to
climate change, definitively, within one generation. 
1.3 In 2019, Renfrewshire Council signed up to become carbon neutral by 2030,
now formalised in the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board. This
challenging target covers all aspects of energy use within the Renfrewshire
wide area. Homeowners can help achieve these targets by ensuring their
home is energy efficient. In doing so, there are many long-term benefits, such
as carbon savings, reducing energy bills and by supporting the local
economy. 
1.4 The UK Government has introduced a new funding stream to help reduce
carbon emissions called ECO-flex 4 which supersedes ECO-flex 3, a scheme
that Renfrewshire Council was previously signed up to. ECO-flex 4 will allow
the Council to provide funding to Renfrewshire’s private sector, fuel poor
households that do not meet criteria for other schemes, as well as low-income
households that are vulnerable to the effects of the cold. The scheme is part

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of the UK Government Energy Company Obligation and will be advertised in
the National Press in order to maximise the funds uptake. 
1.5 The qualifying criteria for ECO-Flex, as set by Ofgem, is published by local
authorities in a document called a Statement of Intent. ECO-flex will apply to
owner occupier and private rented accommodation. ECO-flex, does not apply
to Council Housing or Registered Social Landlords. 
1.6 The Statement of intent will be published on the Renfrewshire Council website
and updated if and when appropriate, based on guidance from Ofgem. 
1.7 Homeowners can access the scheme in a variety of ways, such as being
referred by their energy provider to an approved installer or by contacting or
being contacted by an approved installer. The responsibility to obtain an
Energy Performance Certificate and obtain evidence that homeowners meet
the qualifying criteria would be the responsibility of the installer. The installer
is responsible for providing a copy of all qualifying evidence, including EPC’s
to Renfrewshire Council. The Council role is to complete a declaration and
lodge it with Ofgem for approval. Once approval has been received,
Renfrewshire Council will notify the installer to undertake the approved works
and provide an EPC upon completion. 
1.8 Homes that meet the criteria described in the Statement of Intent will be
issued a Declaration which will enable them to access enhanced funding
levels from the ECO providers for insulation and energy efficiency
improvements in their homes. 
1.9 Homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), band of D-G may be
eligible for the scheme. There is a minimum requirement of improving band F
or G homes to at least band D, and band D or E homes to at least a band C.
This requirement is to encourage the delivery of multiple measures to a home
for a more complete upgrade of the least efficient homes. 
1.10 A draft Statement of Intent is attached as Appendix 1 to this report.
___________________________________________________________________
2. Recommendations 
2.1 It is recommended that the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy
Board: 
(i)  Approves the Statement of Intent, as detailed in Appendix 1 of this
report, for submission to OFGEM and to be published on the
Renfrewshire Council website.
_________________________________________________________

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3. Background 
3.1 The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a levy which all electricity and gas
suppliers with over 150,000 customers add to fuel bills.  The main objective of
the scheme is to reduce household heating costs by improving the least
energy efficient housing stock occupied by low income and vulnerable
households. 
3.2 ECO4 places a legal obligation on duty-bound suppliers to reduce heating
costs for low income and vulnerable households by delivering energy
efficiency and heating measures. One route to identify eligible households is
through ECO4 Flex, where Local Authorities, the Scottish Government, and
suppliers identify households that meet the eligibility requirements set out in
the ECO4 Order. 
3.3 Suppliers can deliver up to 50% of their obligation through the ECO4 Flex
route. Delivery under ECO4 Flex is optional for Local Authorities, however,
Renfrewshire Council must issue a statement of intent, for households across
Renfrewshire to be eligible for the scheme. 
3.4 A Statement of Intent, as set out in the ECO4 Order, is intended to state
publicly the criteria that the Local Authority intends to use to identify
households that meet the eligibility criteria under flexible eligibility. The
Statement of Intent must also be published on the Council website and
referenced on any signed declarations. 
3.5 A declaration of compliance with a local Statement of Intent criteria enables
private householders to access ECO Flex 4, for specified improvements.   
3.6 As such, the local authority acts as an enabler for private householders to
access ECO-Flex.  It should be noted that the Council does not appoint an
ECO-Flex provider and the main role is to sign off declarations and provide a
copy to Ofgem. 
3.7 Renfrewshire Council’s draft Statement of Intent is attached as Appendix 1 to
this report for approval. In the document, the eligibility criteria as set out by the
Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is detailed. 
___________________________________________________________________
Implications of the Report
1. Financial – None
2. HR & Organisational Development - None
3. Community/Council Planning –

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• Creating a sustainable environment for all to enjoy – In taking part
and advertising the EcoFlex4 scheme, Renfrewshire Council will allow
Renfrewshire residents to access funding as part of the wider scheme. 
This will assist with Renfrewshire’s wider Net Zero targets by improving
the least energy efficient housing stock occupied by low income and
vulnerable households. 
4. Legal - None 
5. Property/Assets - None
6. Information Technology - None
7. Equality & Human Rights 
(a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed
in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative
impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’
human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations
contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual
impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be
reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be
published on the Council’s website.  
8. Health & Safety - None
9. Procurement - N/A
10. Risk - None
11. Privacy Impact - N/A
12. COSLA Policy Position - N/A
13. Climate Risk – ECO Flex 4 will help to reduce carbon emissions within
domestic properties throughout Renfrewshire.
_________________________________________________________
List of Background Papers
a) Renfrewshire Council ECO-flex Statement of Intent, Infrastructure, Land and
Environment Policy Board, 24 January 2018.
___________________________________________________________________ 
Author:   Craig Doogan, Energy Team Leader, Environment and Infrastructure

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APPENDIX 1 
Renfrewshire Council - Statement of Intent for ECO4 
Renfrewshire Council ECO4 Flexible Eligibility Statement of Intent 
Local Authority name: Renfrewshire Council (S12000038)
Publication Date: 30/01/2023
Version number: 1.0 
Publication on web site: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk  
This statement sets out Renfrewshire Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy
Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 – 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”. 
The Council welcomes 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. The Council is publishing this Statement of Intent (SoI), on the
30/01/2023 to confirm that each of the households declared eligible will adhere to at
least one of the four available routes outlined below: 
Route 1: Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) bands D-G owner-occupied
households and private rented sector E-G households with an income less than
£31,000. This cap applies irrespective of the property size, composition, or
region. 
Route 2: Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) bands E-G for owner-
occupied households and private rented sector households that meet a
combination of two of the following proxies:
1) Homes in datazones 1-3 of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)
2020 
(https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-index-of-multiple-deprivation-
2020/)
2) A householder living at the premises receives a Council Tax reduction
(based on low income only).
3) A person living at the premises is considered to be vulnerable to the cold
under the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
Guidance: Recommendation 2, for a reason other than their low income 
4) A child living at the premises is eligible for free school meals, due to low-
income.

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5) A person living at the premises is supported by a Local Authority run scheme
that is named and described in their Statement of Intent, and established to
support people living on a low income and vulnerable to the cold under NICE
Guideline NG6. 
6) A person living at the premises has been referred to the LA for support by
their energy supplier, Citizens Advice or Citizen’s Advice Scotland because
they have been identified by the referrer as struggling to pay their gas or
electricity bills.
7) Households identified through supplier debt data, which 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)** 
* Note proxies 1 and 3 cannot be used together. Instead, these two proxies must be
used in isolation of each other and combined with a different proxy from the list
above. This is because these are very broad criteria compared to the others in the
list and may not target low income and vulnerable households by themselves.
** Supplier Proxy 7 cannot be used with Proxy 6 as they are both using the same
common proxy which is debt. 
Route 3: Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) bands D-G owner-occupied
households and private rented sector E-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 the Council has 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 owner-occupied households and private rented sector
E-G households that are referred under Route 4: Bespoke Targeting. Suppliers
and LAs 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. 
Declaration and evidence check confirmation 
All potentially eligible households should apply through Home Energy
Scotland/Renfrewshire Council or an ECO installer to ensure that they can either
benefit from the scheme or be assessed for eligibility under any other relevant
programme. The final decision on whether any individual household can benefit
from funding for energy saving improvements under ECO-Flex will be made by the
appropriate ECO supplier and their contractors/agents. Eligibility does not
guarantee funding and the final decision of whether measures will be undertaken
will depend upon:

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• Surveys carried out by an ECO contractor/agent of properties and household
circumstances and the installation costs calculated.
• The energy savings that can be achieved the property.
• Whether suppliers have achieved their relevant Affordable Warmth targets or
require further measures to meet such targets.
• Where the assessment process identifies that a household are required to
pay a proportion of the cost of potential measures themselves, this which
would be the subject of agreement between the parties. 
Compliance 
ECO installers partnering with Renfrewshire Council will be responsible for the
collection of any necessary and compliant evidence from applicants to enable an
application to be verified by Renfrewshire Council as meeting the necessary criteria
as set out in this Statement of Intent. 
Installers that partner with the Council will cooperate with Renfrewshire Council fully
in meeting the requirements of any audits or investigations carried out by Ofgem. 
Governance 
Renfrewshire Council will administer the scheme according to BEIS’ ECO4 Order
and will identify eligible households via Ofgem’s application process. The Head of
Facilities and Property Management will oversee the process of identifying eligible
households under ECO4 Flex. 
Authorised Signatory 
Renfrewshire Council will only sign declarations, where a contractor presents
eligibility information and delivering measures.  The Council will only use the above
eligibility routes to declare households eligible where necessary processes are in
place to do so. 
The officer below will be responsible for checking and verifying declarations and
associated evidence submitted on behalf of the local authority: 
Name: Craig Doogan
Job Title: Team Leader, Energy Management Unit
Email: craig.doogan@renfrewshire.gov.uk 
CEO or dedicated responsible person mandatory signature 
Renfrewshire Council will administer the scheme according to BEIS’ ECO4 Order
and will identify eligible households via Ofgem’s application process. The Director

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of Environment and Infrastructure will oversee the process identifying eligible
households under ECO4 Flex. 
The eligibility information will be stored securely in line with the Council’s data
protection policy, Information Commissioner’s Office Data Sharing Code, and BEIS
guidance. 
Signature: 
Name: Gordon McNeil
Job Title: Director of Environment and Infrastructure
Date of signature: 
For any general enquires relating to this Statement of Intent, please contact:
emu@renfrewshire.gov.uk