// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Homeowner feared energy grant scheme was a scam
A homeowner admits he feared a government scheme to make homes more energy efficient may have been a scam until it was completed.
David Brain, from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, had solar panels installed as part of the warm homes local grant scheme, designed for people on lower incomes.
He said he was "sceptical" beforehand but claimed his electricity bill was now down to 2p a day since having them installed.
Councils in Cambridgeshire - who have helped 245 homes so far - have now used up the £3.5m grant and written to the government asking for more money. The government said the Energy Secretary's priority was "bringing bills down for good".
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) spokesperson said: "Our Warm Homes Plan will roll out more upgrades across the country."
The warm homes grant is available for homes in England with an energy performance certificate of D or below and an annual household income of usually £36,000 or less, or those in receipt of certain benefits.
If the local council has funding available, a home survey will be arranged, and improvements such as air-source heat pumps, insulation and solar panels could be installed.
In Cambridgeshire the grant is delivered through the Cambridgeshire Energy Retrofit Partnership, which combines six councils.
Solar panels are one of the home improvements that could be made under the grant
Labour councillor Rosy Moore, from Cambridge City Council, which is the lead authority, said: "We've been so successful that all of our [grant] money is booked to be spent, as it were, that's all in the pipeline.