Several public bodies set the rules for home energy-efficiency work and
oversee the schemes that fund it. None of them installs anything or deals with
you day to day, but they decide who is allowed to, how quality is enforced and
where you can turn if something goes wrong. Knowing which body does what helps
you understand where your grant funding comes from and
who stands behind it.
Who does what
-
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) –
the government department responsible for energy policy, including the
design of schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4). -
Ofgem – the energy regulator, which administers ECO
on the government’s behalf: it sets the detailed rules for suppliers
and checks that measures are delivered and meet the standards. -
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
– responsible for Energy Performance Certificates and the
government-approved schemes that assessors must belong to. -
Local authorities – which can widen eligibility for
some schemes locally, for example through ECO4 ‘LA Flex’.
Why it matters to you
Because these are public bodies, the schemes they run come with published
rules and enforceable protections rather than informal promises. ECO4 is a
legal obligation on larger energy suppliers, monitored by Ofgem, and
government policy runs the scheme to the end of 2026 — though timescales
and eligibility change, so it is always worth checking the current position
with Ofgem or on GOV.UK.
No information website, including this one, is a government body or can
approve grants; that authority sits with the organisations above. Use them as
your reference point when you want to confirm a scheme is genuine. For related
guidance see our energy and water section and our
overview of grants.