Record number of heating oil households apply for a heat pump

Thousands of households on heating oil are making the switch to a heat pump using the £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.

New figures show total applications in July reached record highs, with 8,150 households applying to install a heat pump.

The record-breaking figures are an 81% increase compared to June this year, thanks to additional interest from households on heating oil as people opt for cheaper energy bills with clean heat technology.

The grant was increased by 20%, from £7,500 to £9,000, to help protect households on heating oil and LPG by from spikes in fossil fuel prices.

Minister for Local Energy and Jobs Martin McCluskey said: “Households reliant on heating oil were among the worst affected when the conflict in the Middle East started.

Installing a heat pump is the best way for people on heating oil to get certainty over their bills and avoid costly spikes in prices due to events out of our control.

Seeing record numbers in applications for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is really promising. I would urge eligible billpayers on oil to take advantage of the £9,000 grant to make the switch.”

The new figures come alongside the rollout of plug-in solar, which is legal to buy and install in Great Britain today.

The easy-to-install panels can be plugged into homes across the country, saving households up to £110 a year on their bills through clean, homegrown power.

Rural properties have shown strong demand for heat pumps, with 49% of BUS grants since scheme launch going to these households and 38% to homes off the gas grid.