£400 grant not enough to upgrade old boilers

The first application forms of residents availing for the £400 subsidy under the UK government’s boiler scrappage scheme were mailed out this week.

Some 6,000 residents had applied for the forms, which were given by the Energy Saving Trust since Monday. But with only 125,000 applications to be approved under the scheme, experts warn that any household delaying to submit the form could miss out.

Kevin Miles, CEO of npower, informed that there are about four million G-rated boilers that are eligible for the scheme, but only 125,000 applicants can avail of the grants. Therefore, Miles’ company, alongside British Gas, plans to match the £400 subsidy offered by the UK government by giving residents £800 off the price if ever they buy a new boiler.

But Scott Byrom, Utilities Manager of Moneysupermarket, commented that the scheme may not be enough for many. While it is good to have such green measures implemented to help lessen carbon emissions and fuel prices, he was not certain whether the scheme is enough already to encourage consumers to change their old boilers as the total scrappage cost is still high.

Charlie Mullins, Managing Director of Pimlico Plumbers, claimed as well that the programme will not succeed to benefit people who really need new boilers. According to Mullins, a new boiler charges about £2,000, so the Labour’s £400 grant will only be helping households who can afford to have the new device.

Meanwhile, Annie Shaw from Cashquestions warned households applying for the subsidy that they should watch out for the hidden costs unmentioned under the scheme.