The move sharply contradicts the stance taken in England and Wales (see above) where a similar Green Deal Home Improvement Fund announced last month excludes properties using oil heating from taking advantage of the scheme to upgrade their boiler.
Both schemes went live on 1st June and will result in a startling disparity between the regions.
Jeremy Hawksley, OFTEC’s director general, said: “It seems even more unjust that oil-heated households in England and Wales are discriminated against, whereas those in Scotland are able to take advantage of the grants on offer.
“We’ve been informed that ministers at the Department of Energy and Climate Change were advised that the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) must be the only option for rural homeowners on oil in England and Wales, although gas homeowners have a choice.”
OFTEC has voiced its concerns about the domestic RHI scheme since its inception, saying that with typical installations costing between £8,000 and £19,000, they are fit for only the wealthy few.
Oil condensing boilers are included in the Green Homes Cashback scheme in Scotland, provided the condensing boiler is recommended on the Green Deal Assessment. There may be other eligibility criteria that a householder will need to satisfy for the scheme. www.oftec.co.uk