2004 No. 188

ENERGY CONSERVATION

The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004

Made

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers in exercise of the powers conferred by section 15 of the Social Security Act 19901, and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 10th May 2004.

2

These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

Amendment of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Regulations 1997

2

The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Regulations 19972 are amended as follows.

3

In regulation 3A, after “purpose of” insert “replacing or upgrading a central heating system or”.

4

In regulation 4(1)(d), for “£14,200” substitute “£14,600”.

5

In regulation 15–

a

after the definition of “central heating” insert–

  • “electric storage heater” means, any of the following which, in each case, was manufactured at least 20 years before the date of application–

    1. a

      a free-standing storage heater;

    2. b

      an electric fan-assisted storage warm air system;

    3. c

      an electric wired underfloor heating system, set in solid floors; or

    4. d

      an electric ceiling heating system;.

b

after the definition of “energy advice” insert–

  • “inefficient central heating system” means–

    1. a

      a central heating system that is unable to deliver the minimum temperature standard; or

    2. b

      a central heating system that consists of or includes–

      1. i

        a solid fuel boiler with a seasonal efficiency of less than 55%;

      2. ii

        a natural gas boiler with a seasonal efficiency of 55% or less;

      3. iii

        an oil-fired boiler with a seasonal efficiency of less than 65%; or

      4. iv

        a gravity or semi-gravity solid fuel heating system which was manufactured at least 20 years before the date of application;

  • “minimum temperature standard” means a temperature of 23ºC in a living room and 18ºC in all other rooms sustained for at least 16 hours in every period of 24 hours;

  • “partial central heating system” means a system that does not provide warmth to one or more of the following rooms–

    1. a

      the main living room;

    2. b

      the main and any second bedroom;

    3. c

      the main bathroom; and

    4. d

      the main hallway;

  • “seasonal efficiency” means the efficiency of a boiler as determined using the Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings3;

c

after the definition of “self-contained dwelling” insert–

  • “service occupancy” means occupancy as a tenant of a dwelling in terms of a contract of employment;

6

In regulation 17 (persons who may apply for a grant)–

a

after sub-paragraph (1)(b) insert–

; or

c

occupies the dwelling under a service occupancy and does not expect to cease so to occupy the dwelling within the period of twelve months beginning with the date on which the works would be completed

b

for sub-paragraph (3)(a) substitute–

a

i

does not have a central heating system or has a central heating system that cannot function which it would be more reasonable to replace than to repair; or

ii

has a partial central heating system or an inefficient central heating system;

7

For regulation 19(1) (purposes for which grant may be approved) substitute–

19

1

Subject to paragraph (2) below, an application for a grant may only be approved for the purpose of–

a

providing a central heating system and any new fuel source to a dwelling to enable that system properly to function; or

b

if regulation 17(3)(a)(ii) applies, replacing or upgrading a partial or inefficient central heating system where the applicant is aged 80 or over.

MARY MULLIGANAuthorised to sign by the Scottish MinistersSt Andrew’s House, Edinburgh

(This note is not part of these Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Regulations 1997 (S.I.1997/790) (“the 1997 Regulations”) which provide for the making of grants for the improvement of energy efficiency in dwellings occupied by persons on low income or elderly persons. These Regulations amend the 1997 Regulations as regards Scotland only.

Regulation 3 makes a consequential amendment to regulation 3A of the 1997 Regulations.

Regulation 4 amends the financial limit in regulation 4(1)(d).

Regulation 5 amends regulation 15 of the 1997 Regulations by adding definitions for “electric storage heater”, “inefficient central heating system”, “minimum temperature standards”, “partial central heating system”, “seasonal efficiency” and “service occupancy”.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 17 (person who may apply for a grant) so as to–

a

allow those living in tied accommodation to obtain a central heating system where they do not have one or where their existing system cannot function and would be more reasonable to replace than repair; and

b

expand the category of those who may apply for a grant to those aged 80 or over who have a partial heating system or inefficient central heating system.

Regulation 7 amends regulation 19 (purposes for which grant may be approved) to allow those aged 80 or over to upgrade or replace their heating system where it is a partial or inefficient central heating system.