Local authorities across Wales have a major opportunity to bring millions of pounds of investment into their communities by engaging with the UK Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, a programme designed to make homes warmer, greener and more affordable to run.
ECO, which channels around £1 billion a year from energy suppliers into improving the energy efficiency of homes across the UK, offers councils the chance to secure significant funding to upgrade poorly insulated properties, reduce fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions.
However, for many local authorities, the challenge lies in managing and coordinating the scheme effectively.
The administrative complexity of ECO, coupled with the need for quality control, compliance and oversight of installers, can make it difficult for councils to maximise their share of available funding.
That’s where partnership working can make a crucial difference. A number of Welsh councils have already appointed specialist ECO scheme managers to oversee delivery on their behalf, ensuring that installations meet standards, that all funding is claimed efficiently, and that residents receive the right support.
Among these delivery partners is Warm Wales, a not-for-profit organisation with more than two decades of experience in tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency across Wales and the South West of England. Warm Wales currently manages ECO delivery for seven Welsh local authorities, overseeing the process from initial engagement through to quality assurance and compliance.
This partnership approach has already helped unlock around £100 million in ECO funding into Wales, bringing significant investment into communities and improving the condition of thousands of homes.
For councils, the benefits of such partnerships go beyond the immediate funding gains. Working with an experienced partner can help:
- Generate additional income through approved ECO frameworks.
- Ensure full compliance and quality control across all installations.
- Leverage private and public funding to improve local housing stock.
- Support decarbonisation targets and local climate action plans.
- Reduce fuel poverty and improve wellbeing for vulnerable households.
As local authorities look for ways to enhance housing quality and meet ambitious net-zero and wellbeing objectives, collaborative models like this are proving highly effective.
By combining local insight with specialist expertise, councils can ensure that national funding programmes such as ECO deliver tangible, lasting benefits for their communities.
Jonathan Cosson, CEO of Warm Wales, said:
“We know that local authorities across Wales are deeply committed to improving the lives of residents and creating warmer, healthier homes. The Energy Company Obligation scheme provides a powerful tool to achieve that, but navigating it effectively requires resources, coordination and expertise.
“At Warm Wales, we’ve seen how collaboration can transform outcomes. By working in partnership, councils can unlock significant funding, bring investment directly into their communities, and ensure that every pound spent delivers real, measurable impact. Our goal is to make that process as simple, transparent and beneficial as possible.”
As the latest phase of ECO continues, more local authorities are expected to explore partnerships with trusted delivery organisations like Warm Wales.
With rising energy costs and the ongoing challenge of decarbonisation, ensuring that Wales secures its fair share of national investment will be essential, not just for energy efficiency, but for the health, well-being and prosperity of communities across the country.
