Vouchers still available under boiler scrappage scheme

54,758 vouchers have been snapped up under the Government's Boiler Scrappage scheme leaving around 70,000 vouchers worth a total of £28 million still up for grabs.

The scheme was launched in January to upgrade up to 125,000 household heating systems in England to cut carbon, save money on fuel bills and sustain work for the heating industry.

All the major energy companies which sell and install boilers (British Gas, E.On, npower and Scottish & Southern) have now matched the offer, giving householders potentially £800 off the cost of a new efficient boiler. Some manufacturing companies are also offering deals.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: "The Boiler Scrappage scheme has proved incredibly popular and with energy companies and manufacturers offering deals as well, the government scheme has truly kick-started a national programme of boiler replacement. The scheme is helping householders to save around £200 a year off fuel bills and reduce emissions while helping to sustain work for the 130,000 installers and up to 25 UK-based boiler manufacturers throughout the economic recovery."

People who have applied to the scheme have been commenting: Arjinder Gill from Oadby in Leicestershire, who was told by the engineer that his boiler was only 50% efficient and that it would be wise to get a new one, said: "The process has been quick and easy. I am looking forward to a more efficient boiler and a warmer home."

Clive Wuest from St Neots in Cambridgeshire, who had been thinking about replacing his home's old boiler when he heard about the scrappage scheme, said: "There already seems to be a huge difference. It definitely feels like the new boiler is working less for more heat, and we're looking forward to hopefully getting a significantly reduced gas bill."

Jan Robson from Leeds, who has also got a new boiler through the scheme, said: "We're really pleased and the place feels much warmer now. We're looking forward to saving some money on our bills too."

The Energy Saving Trust (EST), which is running the scheme on behalf of Government, is receiving on average 5,000 enquiries per day to its 14 call centres across England. In the first few days after the launch, EST dealt with 24,000 calls per day - 10 times more than usual.

Fraser Winterbottom from Energy Saving Trust said: "We're extremely pleased with the public's response to this scheme. Since the scrappage offer was launched the phones have been ringing off the hook, and our call centres have been working hard to process the applications - we've had nearly 400,000 calls nationally - an average of 5,000 a day at each of our regional advice centres.

"It's clear that people are very keen to slash their energy bills and do their bit in helping to cut the UK's CO2 emissions, given the right support - we've given out nearly 5,000 vouchers in the capital. There are still thousands more vouchers to be claimed, and with more and more companies complementing the scheme with their own offers, there's no better time to get rid of that old inefficient boiler."

Roger Webb, Director of the trade association Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), said: "The boiler scrappage scheme has injected new life into the domestic heating market for both manufacturers and installers. Industry has been stimulated on many levels and the generation of enquires has been huge. Installers are thrilled that both existing and new customers are realising the benefits of this scheme and actually acting on the chance to replace their G-rated boilers. Normally a boiler purchase is a distress buy but customers are receiving their voucher and actually scheduling in an installation. This rise in interest is indicative of how successful the scheme has been with consumers. The general consensus from industry is that there has never been a better time to get a boiler replacement."