Free boiler, is this genuine?

mossstitchmama

Hi, our household recieves PIP and enhanced rate UC. Our combi boiler is over 20 years old.

We keep getting adverts on social media for a new free boiler. Is it possible to get a like for like replacement (ie another combi boiler - NOT the air heat pumps that they seem to be pushing)? We have asked our energy supplier's eco4 contact the same question, asking for a simple "yes" or "no", but their reply skirted around the issue and they wanted to send someone over to discuss "options"... If so, can any of you recommend someone in the Birmingham area we can contact.

Thank you

Spoonie_Turtle

This will probably be better over on the energy board, but to my knowledge it's not possible to get funding for a replacement boiler.

The government policy is to work towards stopping burning stuff for our energy, so heat pumps (which use electricity which at worst is ~60% produced from burning gas and coal*, and emit on average 3-4kWh heat per kWh consumed rather than the average 0.9kWh that gas boilers do) and solar panels to generate electricity are in line with that.

*Although as I type, <25% of electricity right now is being produced from burning coal and gas, so each kWh of heat our heat pump is putting out is at most 8.3% from fossil fuels (not sure what the efficiency is at this moment, could even be as low as 6.5%), rather than the average 111% that gas heating is.  That stark difference is why grants are available for heat pumps and not gas boilers.

QrizB

Regarding ECO4, see the FAQ here:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco/homeowners-and-tenants/faqs-domestic-consumers-and-landlords

You won't get a "yes" or "no" over the phone. The company has to survey your property then offer a package of energy efficiency improvement measures. You can then take it or leave it; you don't get to pick and choose.