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Boiler scrappage scheme launched Boiler scheme to cut energy bills
(9 minutes later)
A government scheme that gives households in England £400 off the cost of a new boiler will be launched later. A government scheme which gives households £400 off the cost of a new boiler will be launched later.
The boiler scrappage scheme was announced in the pre-Budget report last month. The Boiler Scrappage Scheme was announced in the Pre Budget Report last month.
According to the government it will help households cut their energy bills, reduce CO2 emissions and support thousands of jobs.According to the government it will help households cut their energy bills, reduce CO2 emissions and support thousands of jobs.
Up to 125,000 households in England could benefit from the scheme, which is costing the government £50m.Up to 125,000 households in England could benefit from the scheme, which is costing the government £50m.
How do I do it?How do I do it?
To qualify households need to have a working G-rated boiler. It is likely to be G-rated if it is more than 15 years old. To qualify households need to have a working G-rated boiler. It is likely to be G-rated if it is more than 15 years old. To find out more people can contact the Energy Saving Trust (EST). class="bodl" href="http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/">Energy Saving Trust
The website will have a list of qualifying boilers.
Once you have found out if your boiler qualifies for replacement, the next step is to arrange a quote for a new one from a qualified installer. This could cost anything between £2,000 and £3,000.Once you have found out if your boiler qualifies for replacement, the next step is to arrange a quote for a new one from a qualified installer. This could cost anything between £2,000 and £3,000.
Then, you need to provide the Energy Saving Trust (EST) with details of your old boiler and the installer you have chosen fit the new one. The EST will also want confirmation the installer has actually visited your home and provided you with a proper quote for the work. Then, you need to provide the EST with details of your old boiler and the installer you have chosen fit the new one. The Trust will also want confirmation the installer has actually visited your home and provided you with a proper quote for the work.
Assuming all that is in order, a voucher worth £400 will be issued from 18 January. This will be refunded once the work has been done and the EST has received both the invoice for the work and the voucher.Assuming all that is in order, a voucher worth £400 will be issued from 18 January. This will be refunded once the work has been done and the EST has received both the invoice for the work and the voucher.
The £400 rebate should take no more than 25 working days of the paperwork reaching the Trust.The £400 rebate should take no more than 25 working days of the paperwork reaching the Trust.
Bigger dealsBigger deals
Energy companies are expected to use the scheme to drum up business. British Gas, the biggest installer of boilers in the UK, is planning to match the government's £400 discount.Energy companies are expected to use the scheme to drum up business. British Gas, the biggest installer of boilers in the UK, is planning to match the government's £400 discount.
I hope the new boiler will save me money in the long run, so it is worth the investment now Catherine Allinson I hope the new boiler will save me money in the long run, so it is worth the investment now Catherine Allinson, from Balham
Other firms are offering similar savings too. The government says the scheme will help to safeguard jobs across the industry which, it says, employs about 130,000 installers. Other firms are offering similar savings too. The government claims the scheme will help to safeguard jobs across the industry which, it says, employs around 130,000 installers.
The government says upgrading a boiler can save a household more than £200 a year. It has also estimated that replacing 125,000 G-rated boilers will save about 140,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. Saving money
Catherine Allinson, from Balham, south London, has had her boiler for more than 10 years and hopes to upgrade to a new one with the help of the scheme. The government claims upgrading a boiler can save a household more than £200 a year. Its also estimated replacing 125,000 G-rated boilers will save around 140,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Catherine Allinson, from Balham, south London, has had her boiler for more than ten years and hopes to upgrade to a new one with the help of the scheme.
She said: "My current boiler is pretty inefficient, and has not been terribly reliable this winter."She said: "My current boiler is pretty inefficient, and has not been terribly reliable this winter."
"I hope the new boiler will save me money in the long run, so it is worth the investment now, and with the boiler scrappage scheme, I should be able to get a little bit of money off the full cost of the boiler, so that will help," she added."I hope the new boiler will save me money in the long run, so it is worth the investment now, and with the boiler scrappage scheme, I should be able to get a little bit of money off the full cost of the boiler, so that will help," she added.
Are you planning to take advantage of the boiler scrappage scheme? Send us your comments. Are you planning to take advantage of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme? Send us your comments.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions