Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced an additional £2.17 million for the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP), a scheme that funds home-insulation and other energy-saving measures for people on low incomes. The fresh allocation, delivered through the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Utility Regulator, is expected to reach more than 1,000 households across Northern Ireland.
With many families still grappling with high heating costs, the move aims to trim bills, improve comfort and cut carbon emissions. It also brings the Department for the Economy’s direct investment in domestic energy-efficiency measures to just over £5 million in the last three years.
Who benefits and what’s on offer?
According to the Department, grants will cover practical upgrades such as loft and cavity-wall insulation, draught proofing and, where appropriate, secondary measures like energy-efficient lighting. Speaking during a visit to a beneficiary’s home in Coleraine, Dr Archibald said:
“This funding will enable more than 1,000 low-income households to install practical measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation. These improvements will help reduce energy bills, improve comfort and warmth, and lower carbon emissions.”
The Minister added that the scheme “will also provide a welcome boost to local businesses delivering energy-efficiency services.” Over the past two years, £3.5 million of departmental support has insulated 1,600 homes; today’s announcement extends that reach.
Real-world impact: a homeowner’s view
Sammy Aiken from Coleraine, who received roof insulation under NISEP, said the works saved him an up-front cost of around £1,500 and have already reduced his household bills. “Our home feels warmer and more comfortable,” he noted, “and our energy bills have gone down – it’s made a big impact for us.”
Context from the Utility Regulator
Peter Russell, Executive Director for Price Controls, Networks and Energy Futures at the Utility Regulator, highlighted the wider reach of NISEP since its inception in 2010:
“An average of more than 3,500 households have benefitted from NISEP funding annually in recent years. Since 2010 the programme has invested £108 million, delivering an estimated £845 million in lifetime bill savings.”
Further details on eligibility and how to apply are available on the NI Sustainable Energy Programme webpage.
What remains unclear
- The Department has not specified how the new £2.17 million will be distributed across different council areas, nor the installation timetable.
- No information is provided on the precise eligibility thresholds (for example, income limits or benefits criteria) or whether tenants in the private rented sector can apply directly.
- There is no mention of complementary measures such as heat-pump grants, boiler scrappage or in-home energy advice that could maximise the benefit of insulation work.
- The announcement does not clarify whether further funding is planned beyond the current financial year, making it difficult for installers to plan workforce capacity.
Broader considerations
Northern Ireland continues to record some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK. The 2016 House Condition Survey put the rate at 22% of households, although charities such as National Energy Action believe that figure has risen following the 2022 energy-price spike. Against that backdrop, supporting 1,000 additional homes is welcome but relatively modest.
Moreover, the Executive’s 2021 Energy Strategy called for “no-regrets” energy-efficiency action at scale, including a target to retrofit all homes to EPC band C by 2035. It remains to be seen how one-off top-ups like today’s £2.17 million fit into a long-term, fully-funded delivery plan.
Finally, while the Minister emphasised the benefit to local installers, the press material does not indicate whether skills or supply-chain support is being ramped up to meet future demand—an issue flagged by construction bodies during last winter’s surge in retrofitting work.
Questions worth asking
- How will the Department ensure that the allocation reaches households most at risk of fuel poverty rather than those simply first in the queue?
- What is the projected average bill saving per household once the new measures are installed?
- Will the scheme be opened to private renters and, if so, how will landlords be incentivised or compelled to participate?
- How does today’s announcement dovetail with the Executive’s wider target to decarbonise heating, especially the planned shift away from oil boilers?
- Are there plans to move from periodic funding injections to a multi-year, ring-fenced budget that would give industry and households greater certainty?
Looking ahead
Extra help for more than a thousand low-income households during an energy-cost squeeze is undoubtedly positive. Yet the scale of fuel poverty and the Executive’s own long-term retrofit ambitions suggest much bigger, sustained investment will be required. Stakeholders will therefore be watching for clearer eligibility details, a published delivery timetable and, crucially, any indication of multi-year funding that could turn pilot-style boosts into a comprehensive retrofit programme.