Gas boilers subsidised why not Oil boilers?

clarkent1

Can someone explain why Gas boilers that need replacing are subsidised and not Oil boilers. In rural areas due to no gas distribution Oil boilers are extremely popular, why is this discrimination against where you live allowed?

thenudeone

The energy companies have been given targets in terms of energy savings and CO2 reductions, and can choose they're going to achieve them. Whether they should have the freedom to choose is debatable/ Obviously (and predictably) they will concentrate on the cheapest measures first.
Since an oil boiler costs £4-5k (much more than gas) they aren't keen.

If you are an EON electricity customer, they will provide 51% funding for a replacement oil boiler (but not any extra costs such as additional plumbing), as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
AFAIK they are the only energy company providing anything at all for oil boiler customers.

captainhindsight_2

Oil boilers are included in ECO, its just due to the fact that oil boilers tend to be in rural areas and there are less businesses in rural areas to offer the work.

In a review of the scheme released earlier this month it stated that only 2% of boilers fitted through the Affordable Warmth part of ECO have been to homes off mains gas grid and that the government aren't happy about this. So from 1st April new guidelines come in which will mean that companies will start offering more ECO work to people off the mains gas grid.

What you should do is talk to a green deal provider (they are the ones who have access to the money for ECO) explain your situation and they will get someone to come out and fit a new boiler and depending on the amount of work required it could be completely free.