ECO4 Scheme Wales: Eligibility, Nest and Free Boiler Grants
This ECO4 scheme Wales guide explains how ECO4, the Great Britain-wide scheme administered by Ofgem, works for Welsh households, and how it differs from Nest, the Welsh Government's own free home energy efficiency scheme.
Apply Free Boiler is run by Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd, which installs in England and Scotland only. We do not install in Wales, so this guide points you to the routes that do.
Last updated 9 October 2026. Scheme details checked against Ofgem and GOV.WALES.
What is the ECO4 scheme in Wales?
ECO4 is the fourth Energy Company Obligation, a Great Britain-wide scheme that covers Wales as well as England and Scotland. It requires obligated energy suppliers to fund heating and insulation upgrades in low-income, less energy-efficient homes, and Ofgem administers it. It runs until 31 December 2026, according to Ofgem.
Reliant Energy Solutions Ltd, which runs this site, is an ECO4 installer working in England and Scotland. We survey, install and submit the work, and we are paid by the energy supplier, not by households. We do not install in Wales, and we are not government, Ofgem or an energy supplier. Start with our ECO4 scheme guide for the full picture.
ECO4 scheme eligibility in Wales: who qualifies?
You may qualify for ECO4 in Wales if you get a qualifying benefit, or your council includes you under LA Flex, and your home is one of the least efficient, generally EPC band D to G. Eligibility does not guarantee an installation, because a survey decides what is funded.
Getting one of these benefits can qualify a household in private housing:
- Child Benefit (subject to an income threshold)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
- Universal Credit
Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit ended in April 2025 and are not qualifying benefits. Source: Ofgem homeowners and tenants.
If you do not get a qualifying benefit, ask your council about LA Flex, where councils can include households on income, health or other grounds. Homeowners can apply, and private tenants need their landlord's permission. The ECO4 eligibility checklist covers every route.
ECO4 grants in Wales: what can be funded?
People often search for ECO4 grants in Wales, but Ofgem says ECO is not a grant scheme. Suppliers choose which projects to fund, so a survey decides which of these measures your home gets:
- Insulation, such as loft, cavity and solid wall insulation where the property and rules allow
- Boiler repair, replacement or upgrade, where technical conditions are met after a survey
- Heating controls, such as thermostats and programmers
- Other heating upgrades, including low-carbon options in some cases
Never pay a fee to apply. Ofgem notes that contributions to installation costs may be requested in some cases, so get a written contract before work starts. See the free boiler scheme guide and our insulation and heating grants for more.
How do I apply for ECO4 in Wales?
There is no single Ofgem application form. You can apply through an obligated energy supplier, your local authority (including LA Flex where it is offered) or an ECO4 installer that works in Wales. We do not install in Wales, so our eligibility checker is for homes in England and Scotland.
Nest: the Welsh Government's home energy efficiency scheme
Nest is the Welsh Government's scheme for free home energy efficiency improvements, and it is separate from ECO4. GOV.WALES says it can confirm if you are eligible for a package such as a heat pump, insulation or solar panels. You are generally eligible if:
- You own your home or rent from a private landlord (not from a council or housing association).
- You get a means-tested benefit or live in a low-income household.
- Your home has an EPC rating of 54 (E) or lower, or 68 (D) or lower if someone in the household has an eligible health condition.
To apply, call Nest on 0808 808 2244 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or request a callback online. If you qualify, an assessor visits your home. We do not run Nest. Read the Nest eligibility rules and how to apply on GOV.WALES, or see the Nest overview.
ECO4 Scheme Wales FAQ
Common questions about ECO4 and Nest in Wales.
Is ECO4 funding still available?
ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026 (Ofgem). Availability still varies by supplier and area, and eligibility does not guarantee an installation. Nest is funded by the Welsh Government and is a separate scheme.
How to qualify for ECO4?
You generally need a qualifying benefit, or a route through your council's LA Flex scheme, and a home in EPC band D to G that you own or privately rent with your landlord's permission. A survey then decides what, if anything, is funded.
What health conditions qualify for the ECO4 grant?
The main ECO4 route is a qualifying benefit. A health condition counts through ECO4 Flex Route 3, which covers a severe or long-term cardiovascular condition, respiratory disease, limited mobility or immunosuppression made worse by a cold home. It needs a GP or NHS clinician to name the condition, and your council must offer Flex. Nest has its own list: respiratory disease, circulatory disease, mental health, dementia, and intellectual and developmental disorders.
Are there solar grants available in Wales for 2026?
GOV.WALES lists solar panels among the free improvements Nest can provide to eligible households, alongside heat pumps and insulation. Nest confirms what your package includes after an assessment. We cannot promise solar panels through ECO4, where a survey decides the measures.
Is Nest the same as ECO4?
No. Nest is the Welsh Government's home energy efficiency scheme. ECO4 is a Great Britain-wide scheme that requires energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency measures and is administered by Ofgem. They have separate rules and separate applications. We do not install in Wales under either scheme.
Applying from Wales?
Call Nest on 0808 808 2244 or apply on GOV.WALES. If your home is in England or Scotland, check your eligibility with us.