The government has set out new consumer protections for home energy upgrades, aiming to fix a system that left some households with poor-quality insulation and no clear route to put things right. The proposals cover oversight of installers, repair cover for defective work, and faster compensation in the energy market.
| Quick answerOn 17 June 2026 the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero set out new consumer protections for home energy upgrades. Proposals being consulted on include a public register of government-approved installers, a single end-to-end advice and support service, and powers to ban poor installers from government schemes. The Installation Assurance Authority will cover repairs to ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme solid wall insulation up to 25,000 pounds, up from 20,000 pounds, including where the installer has gone out of business. The Energy Ombudsman is being strengthened to cut redress waiting times to a maximum of 10 weeks and to fine suppliers that do not comply. |
What is changing
The reforms, announced on 17 June 2026 and now being consulted on, are designed to give households confidence to upgrade their homes and cut bills, after widespread issues with poor-quality insulation under earlier government schemes.
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Installer register | Public register of government-approved installers |
| Support | Single advice and support service across the whole upgrade |
| Accountability | Powers to ban poor installers from government schemes |
| Insulation repair cover | Up to 25,000 pounds (up from 20,000 pounds) |
| Energy redress | Ombudsman decisions capped at 10 weeks, with fines for non-compliance |
A new consumer protection service
The proposals would create a transparent public register of government-approved installers, a single advice and support service covering the entire time a home is being upgraded, powers to hold installers and delivery partners to account (including bans from working on government schemes if they fall short), and a data-backed system to spot risks and performance issues earlier. The aim is a single point of access offering end-to-end support, quality checks and routes to redress.
Repair cover for defective insulation
From 17 June 2026, the Installation Assurance Authority covers the cost of repairs to Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme solid wall insulation up to 25,000 pounds, up from 20,000 pounds, where this is within the terms of the original valid guarantee, including cases where the original installer has gone bust. The National Energy Foundation will also cover relevant repairs for some homes where the installer has gone out of business and the guarantee was cancelled, fraudulent or missing. Government has run a no-cost on-site audit programme and says more than 60 percent of identified issues have been remediated, with a dedicated Ofgem call centre for affected households. Homes eligible for free repairs will be contacted by the National Energy Foundation.
Faster, fairer energy redress
Consumers will get faster and fairer compensation through a strengthened Energy Ombudsman. If a company cannot resolve an issue directly, customers will be able to escalate sooner, with overall waiting times cut by a month to a maximum of 10 weeks. The Ombudsman will be able to fine companies that do not comply with its rulings, and the route to go through the courts as a last resort is being clarified.
If you are planning a home upgrade
- Wait for and use the public register of approved installers once it is live, and the single support service for advice and quality checks.
- Keep all guarantee and installation paperwork, which is what repair cover depends on.
- If you already have defective ECO4 or Great British Insulation Scheme solid wall insulation, watch for contact from the National Energy Foundation about free repairs.
This article is for general information only and reflects proposals and figures published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as at June 2026. Several measures are subject to consultation and may change. It is not financial or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What protections are being introduced for home upgrades?
A public register of approved installers, a single support service, powers to ban poor installers, higher insulation repair cover, and a strengthened Energy Ombudsman.
How much insulation repair cover is available?
The Installation Assurance Authority covers repairs to ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme solid wall insulation up to 25,000 pounds, up from 20,000 pounds.
How long will energy complaints take now?
The strengthened Energy Ombudsman is expected to cut waiting times by a month, to a maximum of 10 weeks.
What if my installer has gone bust?
Repair cover can still apply through the Installation Assurance Authority, and the National Energy Foundation will cover some cases where the guarantee was cancelled, fraudulent or missing.
| Sources (primary) |
