We have been repeatedly writing about the closure of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (“RHI”) scheme on March 31st 2022. If you have already had your heat pump system installed and it was commissioned on or after 1st March 2019, and you meet the eligibility criteria and have not yet claimed the RHI, then you have until 31st March 2022 to apply or you will miss out on thousands of pounds in RHI payments.
The Good News
As per the original scheme rules you would have had 12 months from the date of commissioning to put in your claim; however that has now changed. On 1st April 2021, Ofgem updated their guidance as follows:
If your heating system was commissioned on or after 1 March 2019, the applicant can apply for the Domestic RHI, until the scheme closes to new applications (i.e. before midnight at the end of 31 March 2022). Applicants who commissioned their eligible heating system on or after 1 March 2019 and were previously rejected for failing to meet the 12-month rule, can re-apply for accreditation to the scheme.
So anyone who had their heat pump commissioned after 1st March 2019 can apply for the RHI scheme, provided of course that they meet the eligibility criteria and complete the application before 31st March 2022.
To put in a claim for the RHI you will require your handover pack, containing your MCS Certificate and a help guide to applying for the RHI. You will also require a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property too. This is not something we do but using the GOV website you can do so here.
Even More Good News…Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The even better news as that this isn’t the end for Government Grants to install a heat pump in your property. From 1st April 2022 the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) will launch, meaning that you can get an up front grant towards the cost of installing a heat pump in your property. We are still waiting for some final details regarding the scheme administration (since Alto Energy will be administering the grant on the customer’s behalf), however you can see what we know so far on our dedicated Boiler Upgrade Scheme webpage.
MCS Umbrella for Installers
If you’re a heating installer wanting to offer heat pumps to your customers, and you want a way that your customers can get access to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, then look no further that our Alto Energy MCS Umbrella scheme. We are partnering with more and more installers wanting to offer heat pumps to their customers, without the hassle of MCS, as we do all of that for them. Sounds good right?
Contact Alto Energy
If you have any queries about your RHI claim, or require your handover pack in order to do so, please do get in touch with our helpful staff on the contact us button below.
Any queries about the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme for a potential project, please do call our specialist Account Managers on 01993 220699 and select option 2.