The Department for Energy & Climate Change (DECC) is extending vouchers from the first release of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) until 31 March, allowing more time for energy efficiency measures to be installed.
The one-off voucher extension applies to GDHIF vouchers that have an expiry date before 31 March and have not yet been redeemed – affecting around 3,900 voucher holders - including vouchers that have already expired.
For the first release of GDHIF, which was open to applications from 9 June to 24 July, vouchers worth up to a maximum of £7,600 were on offer.
Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change Ed Davey said: “The GDHIF has been going like hotcakes – winter can be a difficult time to get installations done so by giving more time to voucher holders they can join over one million homes already benefitting from a warmer, cheaper winter thanks to our energy efficiency schemes.”
Up to the end of December 2014, 11,061 vouchers had been paid and 13,613 measures installed through GDHIF, with £54.3 million claimed.
The extension is effective immediately and will apply automatically to eligible voucher holders - a new voucher will not be issued. To claim, eligible householders should carry out the work and submit their voucher for redemption to the GDHIF scheme administrator by 31 March 2015 – vouchers that have been extended will not be accepted after this time. All other terms and conditions for the first release of GDHIF continue to apply to customers and installers.
Energy & Climate Change Minister Amber Rudd said: “We know the best way to lower bills – permanently – is to make homes warmer and greener.
“We’ve helped one million homes install measures like insulation and boilers so it makes sense to extend GDHIF vouchers for even more families to reap the benefits.”
Vouchers from the second release of GDHIF which opened to applications on 10 December 2014, will not be affected and will be valid for six months as per the expiry date on the voucher.
Details of further releases of funding for GDHIF will be announced on a quarterly basis with the next release and announcement expected in late February/early March 2015.
GDHIF voucher holders whose vouchers were due to expire before 31 March:
Those who have an expiry date on or after 31 March will not receive an extension and should submit their claim as per the expiry date on the voucher: the GDHIF voucher extension is a once only offer for voucher holders from the first release of the scheme.
There is no guarantee that voucher redemption will be successful, if a claim was/is non-compliant with the scheme terms and conditions in any other respect. It’s advisable for people to refer to the terms and conditions before they submit their claim.
GDHIF registered installers and providers can help their customers by completing the installation and handing the required documents over to the customer in time for the customer to submit their claim by the 31 March deadline.
DECC may vary the terms of GDHIF (including the incentive rates) or suspend or close the scheme, with immediate effect, without notice and at any time.
Households in England and Wales can get advice on how to reduce their bills and make their homes more energy efficient from the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS) on 0300 123 1234 (calls charged at national rates). Scottish households seeking home energy efficiency advice should contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.
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