Change made: Government response published
Published 29 August 2025
Last updated 23 January 2026 — See all updates
Extending the ECO4 end date:
government response
Detail of outcome
We consulted on proposals to extend the end date of the Energy
Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) scheme between August and September
2025.
This government response summarises the consultation feedback and
sets out the government's final decisions. It confirms that ECO4
will be extended by 9 months to 31 December 2026. There will be
no extension to the Great British Insulation Scheme, no increase
in targets and no carry‑over arrangements, in order to support
remediation and an orderly closure of the scheme.
Detail of feedback received
We received 215 responses to the consultation from a variety of
stakeholders, including:
- energy suppliers
- installers
- trade bodies
- local authorities
- consumer stakeholders
Original consultation
Summary
We're seeking views on extending the end date of the Energy
Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme to maintain support for
households and the supply chain.
This consultation ran from
midday on 29 August 2025 to 11:59pm on 25 September
2025
Consultation description
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme is due to
end on 31 March 2026. It obligates the larger energy suppliers to
deliver a target of annual bill savings by installing energy
efficiency and heating measures to homes in Great Britain. These
measures help households to keep their homes warmer, reduce their
energy bills and carbon emissions.
This consultation proposes a scheme extension of 6 to 9 months to
maintain support for households and provide an opportunity for
stronger consumer protections under the scheme. It also gives the
supply chain certainty of continued work for the duration of the
extension, providing time for potential future schemes to be
explored. This consultation proposes and seeks views on a way for
obligated suppliers to continue to deliver beyond their
obligation target and for this additional delivery (carry-over)
to count towards a possible future obligation.
The consultation is open to all but of particular relevance to:
- energy suppliers
- energy efficiency and heating measure installers
- energy efficiency measure manufacturers and associated
software developers
- local authorities
- consumer groups
- academic groups
Read our consultation privacy
notice.
Documents
Extending the ECO4 end date:
consultation document
