ECO4 Guidance: Local Authority Administration

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO), is a government energy efficiency scheme for Great Britain, administered by Ofgem.

The main objective of ECO4 is to improve the least energy efficient housing stock occupied by low income and vulnerable households. One route that can be used to identify these households is ‘ECO4 Flexibility’ (ECO4 Flex). Under ECO4 Flex, a participating Local Authority (LA), can refer private tenure households that it considers to be living in fuel poverty or on a low income and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.

This guidance sets out opportunities for LAs and Devolved Administrations (DAs), to engage with energy suppliers on how suppliers meet their obligations to install energy efficiency measures in homes under ECO. This guidance document also outlines the requirements that are expected of LAs when referring eligible households for the scheme, and it provides information on our oversight and administration process.