Information source – click here to view the original information source – Green Deal Central
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has given advice to consumers who are thinking of joining the Green Deal revolution this year.
The terms of the Green Deal have been set to help Green Deal customers understand what their rights are and create a more transparent industry.
Government has also pointed out that poor insulation accounts for £1 in every £4 spent on heating British homes. Improvements can include loft and cavity wall insulation, hot water systems, condensing boilers and may also include measures such as solar thermal energy or solid wall insulation.
Under the Green Deal, energy efficiency improvements can be carried out on properties by quality approved workmen at little or no upfront cost. In the past upfront costs have previously deterred householders from carrying out energy efficiency improvements.
The Golden Rule of the Green Deal is that you pay back the cost of the improvement via your energy bill, at a level no greater than the savings made. Homes are assessed for how their homes can be improved with Green Deal measures and Green Deal Providers can then implement those measures.
Green Deal Providers will quote a repayment figure which will be collected with your energy bill by your chosen energy supplier.
There are various terms which have been set to protect both consumers and people employed under the deal. Many of the terms relate to finance and come under the Code of Practice and regulated by the Ombudsman.
The Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) has been working with the DECC and the Green Investment Bank to assist in the implementation of the deal.
For example, the lifetime of the repayment period for an individual measure must not exceed the guaranteed lifetime of that measure. The bill payer has the right to repay a Green Deal arrangement early – in part or in full – at any point. But they are advised to check the fees payable before making an early repayment.
Other terms relate to seeking permission to take out a Green Deal Plan on a property. The improver must seek the necessary consents for the charge to be added to the electricity bill from both the bill payer and the property owner if the two parties are different. In terms of consumer protection the plan must not restrict the bill payer’s right to switch energy providers throughout the term of the plan so long as the electricity supplier is regulated to collect Green Deal payments.
And, the bill payer is only liable to make payments in relation to this plan whilst they are the electricity bill payer at the named property. In return for agreeing to the Green Deal Plan, any current and future bill payers must oblige to make payments.