Boiler scrappage scheme to help 125,000 families
THOUSANDS of households will be able to apply for a voucher worth £400 towards the cost of a new energy-efficient boiler under the government’s scrappage scheme.
From 18 January, up to 125,000 families will be eligible for a discount under the £50m taxpayer-funded project. The government hopes to cut CO2 emissions by encouraging people to ditch old G-rated boilers for A-rated models, which require less fuel.
Changing over would save the average household around £235 a year, according to price comparison site uSwitch.com. Will Marples, an energy adviser at uSwitch.com, said: “Heating and hot water account for £756 a year on average so it makes absolute sense to focus energy efficient efforts here.”
However, consumer groups warned the offer was likely to be oversubscribed as 3.5m UK households are estimated to be using G-rated boilers, which tend to be at least 25 years old.