Energy News

£400 for scrapping your old boiler

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

By Seamour Rathore - seamour@consumerchoices.co.uk

There’s a £400 bounty on the head of your old boiler, thanks to a boiler scrappage scheme that will help 125,000 households.

125,000 households will get a £400 boost when they replace their old boiler with an energy-efficient new model. The scheme was laid out by Chancellor Alistair Darling in his Pre-Budget report today.

Read our guide to the boiler scrappage scheme.

Estimates suggest that older, less energy-efficient boilers cost households £200 a year in extra energy consumption. The new scheme aims to cut bills and improve the UK’s carbon emissions.

The Chancellor also said that anyone using green technologies, such as solar panels, to generate power, will be able to sell any surplus back to the national grid tax-free.

Chris Eagle, commercial director at Energychoices.co.uk, said: “There will be a rush to get approved for this scheme – so it will be interesting to see the eligibility criteria.

“New boilers cost an average of £1,500-£2,000 to install. A £400 scrappage bounty will make taking the plunge and replacing an old boiler a possibility for many hard-pushed households now.

“Even if you aren’t one of the lucky ones, taking steps to improve the energy efficiency of your home, and ensuring you’re on the cheapest energy deal could cut your bills now. If your boiler is a few years old, you should also consider taking out boiler cover.”

How do I apply for the boiler scrappage scheme? - Ask our expert