Getting help with your energy bills

ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme

We have appointed experienced retrofit contractors to help in retrofitting over 3,000 homes across the city each year through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).

This initiative aims to significantly reduce fuel bills for thousands of families by making the homes more energy efficient.

The schemes will focus on some of the city’s most deprived areas and will enable installation of:

  • new insulation
  • improved ventilation
  • more efficient heating systems
  • solar panels

Before a home can be fitted with energy efficiency measures a retrofit assessment will be carried out in line with industry standards.

You will not be able to influence what measures your home might qualify for or benefit from.

If you have been contacted by someone who says they are working on behalf of one of the companies listed below, you can verify them using the contact details in the table.

Our trusted contractor partners
Contractor Email Telephone
Consumer Energy Solutions part of City Energy Network BCC-ECO@cityenergy.co.uk 01792 721162

Next Energy Solutions Limited

 bcc@nextenergyuk.co.uk 0800 021 3145

If you want to make a complaint about the service you received or work carried out by one of our contractor partners, you must contact them first to make your complaint and give them time to deal with it.

If you have raised a complaint with the contractor and are not happy with the outcome, email our ECO Team at ECOFlex@Birmingham.gov.uk.

Shared Works platform

To help you through every step of the process, we are using an online platform called Shared Works.

You can use Shared Works to:

  • apply to the ECO and GBIS schemes through one form
  • upload documents needed to support your application
  • track the progress of your application and installation
  • see what energy-saving measures are being proposed and learn more about them

Find out more about Shared Works and apply to the schemes.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a government energy efficiency scheme.

It aims to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of homes occupied by housholds that are:

  • low income
  • fuel poor
  • vulnerable

Find out more about the ECO4 scheme and eligibility

As a Birmingham resident you may qualify through two categories, either:

  • because you receive means-tested benefits under the Help to Heat Grant (HTHG)
  • or under one of the four ECO Flex routes (ECO Flex)

Find out more about Help to Heat funding or read more about ECO4 Flex in our statement of intent.

The Great British Insultation Scheme

Our contractor partners might also be able to offer you free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills.

You might get support if your home:

You may be able to get support to install:

  • cavity wall insulation
  • loft insulation

You may be able to get support to install other types of insulation. Our contractor partners will tell you what support you can get after assessing your home.

If you think you qualify for energy efficiency measures through GBIS, you can contact a contractor partner using the information in the table above.

Page last updated: 11 April 2025

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