Higher BUS grants for oil and LPG heating

The government has boosted the grant paid to households changing their oil and LPG heating to heat pumps to £9,000 under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

It’s part of a package of measures that the government says will protect households from energy crises, also setting out how it will ‘break’ the link between gas and electricity prices, so that higher gas prices don’t automatically lead to higher electricity prices too

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “As we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear: the era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age. That’s why we’re doubling down on clean power, to give our country energy security and bring down bills for good.”

Martyn Bridges, director of External Affairs at Worcester Bosch, welcomed the increase in BUS funding for oil and LPG heating. He said: “We believe this is really good for a number of oil and LPG users in the UK. There are a few reasons why we’ve seen this announcement today. First, it is driven by the volatility of oil prices since the crisis in the Middle East, which has seen domestic heating oil prices double.

“Secondly, it is also likely down to the estimated underspend (as of 31 March) of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme of around £65 million, which signals that growth in retrofit heat pumps is starting to flatline and further action is required to make this government policy look like it’s succeeding.”