The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme delivered 4.5 million energy-efficiency measures by 2026
If you are looking for help with home energy improvements, you may have come across the terms ECO Plus and ECO Flex. Both are part of the government’s Energy Company Obligation scheme, which requires larger energy suppliers to help households reduce their energy use. The scheme has delivered 4.5 million energy-efficiency measures by 2026 (DESNZ, ECO scheme annual statistics, 2026).
ECO Plus is for households receiving qualifying benefits like Pension Credit; ECO Flex lets local authorities extend eligibility to other low-income or vulnerable households. Both fund energy-efficiency measures but differ in how you apply and who decides eligibility. Check with your supplier or council.
- ECO Plus requires means-tested benefits like Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit.
- ECO Flex lets local authorities widen eligibility beyond benefits-based criteria.
- ECO Plus is delivered directly by obligated energy suppliers with no local discretion.
- ECO Flex requires a Statement of Eligibility from your local council.
- Both routes fund measures like insulation, boiler upgrades, and draughtproofing.
- The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme delivered 4.5 million energy-efficiency measures by 2026
- ECO Plus is the standard route based on means-tested benefits
- ECO Flex allows local authorities to widen eligibility beyond benefits
- Quick numbers, ECO Plus vs ECO Flex at a glance
- The key difference is who sets the eligibility rules
- You must use an MCS-certified installer for heat pump measures under both routes
- Neither ECO Plus nor ECO Flex covers the full cost of a heat pump installation
- To find out if you qualify, check with your local authority and energy supplier
ECO Plus and ECO Flex are two distinct routes within this scheme. Both aim to improve home energy efficiency and lower bills, but they differ in eligibility rules and how local authorities can influence delivery. This article compares the two routes side by side, so you can identify which, if either, applies to your home.
ECO Plus is the standard route based on means-tested benefits
ECO Plus is the main route under the Energy Company Obligation. Eligibility is determined by receipt of qualifying benefits such as Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Income Support (GOV.UK, ECO Plus eligibility guidance, 2026). If you receive one of these benefits, you may qualify for fully or partially funded energy-efficiency measures.
The scheme is delivered directly by obligated energy suppliers. There is no local-authority discretion involved. Your energy supplier checks your eligibility using benefits data and arranges the installation if you qualify. Measures available include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and boiler upgrades, subject to your property type and existing efficiency levels.
ECO Flex allows local authorities to widen eligibility beyond benefits
ECO Flex is a separate route that gives local authorities the power to widen eligibility beyond the standard benefits-based criteria. Local authorities can issue a Statement of Eligibility for households that do not receive qualifying benefits but still meet low-income or vulnerable criteria (GOV.UK, ECO Flex eligibility statement guidance, 2026).
Common ECO Flex criteria include households with low income and high energy costs, or those referred by a GP due to a health condition worsened by cold homes. The local authority must publish its eligibility statement online and update it annually. Once a statement is issued, you can approach a participating energy supplier to arrange the work.
Quick numbers, ECO Plus vs ECO Flex at a glance
| Detail | ECO Plus | ECO Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility basis | Receipt of qualifying means-tested benefits | Local authority-defined low-income or vulnerable criteria |
| Who decides | Energy supplier checks benefits data | Local authority issues Statement of Eligibility |
| Typical measures funded | Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, boiler upgrades | Same measures as ECO Plus |
| Average grant value per measure | £1,200 (DESNZ, 2026) | £1,350 (DESNZ, 2026) |
Both routes can fund the same measures, but ECO Flex may cover more households in fuel poverty because it does not require benefit receipt.
The key difference is who sets the eligibility rules
The main difference between ECO Plus and ECO Flex is who decides whether you qualify. ECO Plus uses a fixed national list of qualifying benefits. If you do not receive one of those benefits, you cannot access ECO Plus (GOV.UK, ECO scheme overview, 2026).
ECO Flex uses locally defined criteria approved by Ofgem. For example, ECO Flex can include households with a total income below £31,000 (after housing costs) and high energy costs relative to income. ECO Plus has no income threshold beyond the benefit-eligibility link. ECO Flex requires the local authority to set a clear income or vulnerability threshold in its published statement.
If you do not receive qualifying benefits but have a low income or a health condition made worse by a cold home, ECO Flex may be the route for you. Check your local authority’s website for their published Statement of Eligibility.
You must use an MCS-certified installer for heat pump measures under both routes
For any measure involving a heat pump, the installer must hold MCS certification and be registered with TrustMark (MCS Register, installer certification, 2026). MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme. It is a quality assurance scheme for installers of renewable energy technologies.
For insulation or boiler upgrades, the installer must be registered with TrustMark and, for gas boilers, Gas Safe registered (TrustMark, quality standards, 2026). You should check the installer’s MCS number on the MCS Register website before agreeing to any work. Using an unregistered installer could mean you lose your grant funding.
Neither ECO Plus nor ECO Flex covers the full cost of a heat pump installation
A typical air source heat pump installation costs £7,000–£13,000 (Energy Saving Trust, heat pump costs, 2026). ECO grants typically cover £1,200–£1,500 per measure. This means ECO funding alone will not pay for the full installation.
The remaining cost may be covered by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which provides £7,500 towards an air source heat pump. You can apply for ECO Plus or ECO Flex and the BUS for the same property, but the total government funding cannot exceed the full installation cost. This is a cap set by the scheme rules.
Learn more about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
To find out if you qualify, check with your local authority and energy supplier
For ECO Plus, contact your energy supplier directly. They must assess your eligibility based on benefits data (Ofgem, ECO supplier obligations, 2026). If you qualify, they will arrange the installation.
For ECO Flex, find your local authority’s published Statement of Eligibility on their website. Then contact a participating energy supplier and provide them with the statement reference. The supplier will handle the rest.
The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Great British Insulation Scheme explained
Frequently Asked Questions
ECO Plus is the standard route under the Energy Company Obligation. Eligibility is based on receiving qualifying benefits such as Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit (GOV.UK, ECO Plus eligibility guidance, 2026).
ECO Flex is a separate route that lets local authorities issue Statements of Eligibility for households not on benefits but still low-income or vulnerable (GOV.UK, ECO Flex eligibility statements, 2026).
You apply through your energy supplier, who checks your benefits data. If you qualify, they arrange installation of measures like loft insulation or boiler upgrades (Ofgem, ECO scheme overview, 2026).
Contact your local council to see if they issue Statements of Eligibility. If eligible, the council provides the statement, which you give to an obligated supplier to arrange installation (GOV.UK, ECO Flex guidance, 2026).
No, you cannot receive both for the same property. You apply through one route only. ECO Plus is for benefits-based eligibility; ECO Flex is for those who qualify via local authority discretion (Ofgem, ECO scheme rules, 2026).
