The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

The present Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (“the Scheme”) is a scheme for providing grants towards the cost of work or advice to improve thermal insulation or otherwise to reduce or prevent energy wastage in dwellings.

The Scheme is set out in the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Regulations 1997 (“the principal Regulations”). The principal Regulations create Area Agencies to administer the scheme, and set out who is eligible to receive a grant. The principal Regulations also prescribe the type of work and the purposes for which grants may be approved. They provide a method for calculating grants, and set out the maximum sums which may be awarded as grants. The principal Regulations set out the procedures for applying for and approving grants and arranging for works to be carried out or materials to be supplied.

The principal Regulations were made under Section 15(1) of the Social Security Act 1990 (as amended by Section 142 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996). Section 15 (1) provides that the Secretary of State may make or arrange for the making of grants towards the cost of work or advice to improve thermal insulation or otherwise to reduce or prevent energy wastage in dwellings. No grants can be made under Section 15(1) of the Social Security Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”) except in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary of State.

Regulation 3 changes the limitation on the purposes for which a grant may be awarded under the principal Regulations, from “…not more than one..” to “…one or more…” of the purposes set out in the principal Regulations.Regulation 4 of these Regulations provides new maximum amounts for grants under the principal Regulations.