Archive Website of the UK government

Overview: Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP)

The six main energy suppliers (British Gas, E.ON, EDF Energy, RWE npower, Scottish Power and Scottish And Southern Energy) and five independent generating companies (Drax, Eggborough Power, Intergen, GDF Suez and International Power) have a legal obligation to cut carbon emissions under the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).

One of the ways they are doing this is by partnering with local organisations to offer free or low cost energy efficiency measures, such as solid wall insulation, to homes in low income areas.

Generally CESP suppliers partner with local councils or housing associations to set up CESP schemes, but groups of residents can also approach the companies to set up schemes.

Eligibility

CESP schemes can only be set up in areas that have been ranked in the lowest 10 per cent in England, or the lowest 15 per cent in Wales and Scotland, using the Income Domain of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

A list of eligible areas is available on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website by following the link below.

It is up to the energy company where they make CESP schemes available and what measures they offer under any scheme.

CESP runs until 31 December 2012, when it will be replaced by the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.

• Areas eligible to set up CESP schemes Opens new window

How to apply

CESP funding is not available by individual application.

If you are interested in setting up a CESP scheme in your area, please contact the energy companies directly. Contact details for the participating companies are available by following the link below.

• Set up a CESP scheme - contacts Opens new window

Participating companies

• British Gas Opens new window

• E.ON Opens new window

• EDF Energy Opens new window

• RWE npower Opens new window

• Scottish Power Opens new window

• SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy) Opens new window

• Drax Opens new window

• Intergen Opens new window

• Eggborough Power Opens new window

• GDF Suez Opens new window

• International Power Opens new window