Low Carbon Heating Incentive

• air source heat pump (air to air)
  
• hybrid systems such as an air source heat pump with gas or oil
  
• replacement systems for those already using a low carbon heating system such as electric for electric
  
• replacement of a fossil fuel boiler that is only for the heating of a swimming pool or pool house
  

In situations where multiple contractors apply for one property, the property owner can only give their consent to one of them. Once consent is given, the Scheme Administrator will reject any applications from other contractors.

If the property owner is applying for low income funding due to being in receipt of certain benefits, the Scheme Administrator will check their eligibility with Employment, Social Security and Housing​​.

If the information in the submission is incomplete or inaccurate, further verification will be required by the Scheme Administrator. This may result in grant rejection or delay.

Expiry of incentives

Once the incentive has been approved, the installation can take place.

The agreed incentive will be valid for a 16 week period from the date of approval. The grant must be redeemed before this date.

Extensions will only be permitted under extenuating circumstances. If there are any delays, the contractor must get in touch with Scheme Administrator directly before the expiry date to request an extension.​

Payment of incentives​

The va​lue of the grant will be paid directly to the contractor. The property owner will be responsib​le for paying the remainder of the cost directly to the contractor.

The value of the grant will be paid once:

• confirmation is received that the installation has been registered through CQS
• the contractor has successfully completed the redemption form through the Scheme Administrator

Match funding from the Government of Jersey should be calculated based upon the total installation cost inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST). The contractor is responsible for collecting the full value of the GST on the goods / service. Property owners will need to pay GST as normal.

As it is a grant payment, GST should not be itemised on the invoice sent to Government.

Deposit payments

Deposits may be paid by the Government of Jersey to cover the value of goods that need to be ordered in advance.

For match-funded applications this only applies to applications for heat pumps where the grant being applied for exceeds £6,000.

The following deposit value limits apply: ​

Deposits will only be approved once the following have been received by the Scheme Administrator:

• ​evidence of the order for the goods up to the total value of the deposit being sought
• evidence that the goods have been received on-Island
• completion of a part-redemption form to the Scheme Administrator

Upon receipt of the deposit payment from Government of Jersey, the contractor should pay their supplier within 7 days. If no such payment is made, Government of Jersey reserves the right to recover the deposit amount. 

If the installation is not completed within the 16-week grant period, Government of Jersey reserves the right to recover the deposit.

Until the point that the goods covered by the deposit payment are installed in the customer's property they remain the property of Government of Jersey.  

​Clawback Provision

​​You may need to pay us back if you install a low carbon heating system using the grant and replace it with a fossil fuel system within 12 months. This can be up to the full value of your grant.

Where the comprehensive scheme quality control processes have found that the system had been incorrectly designed or installed the Government of Jersey reserves the right to reclaim up to the full value of the grant from the contractor.​

Fraudulent applications or claims

Where fraudulent consent or applications are made, the application will be rejected, and the case may be referred to the police.

Where grant money is paid, and the terms and conditions of the scheme are subsequently found to have been breached, the Government of Jersey reserves the right to recover any fraudulently obtained funding and to refuse future grant applications.

Roles across organisations

Role of Government

The Carbon Neutral Roadmap outlined the low carbon heating incentive and was agreed by the States Assembly in April 2022.

The Government of Jersey is responsible for:

• setting up the scheme
• creating the terms and conditions which the Scheme Administrator, applicants and contractors must follow
• determining the requirements of the Contractor Quality Scheme
• creating a complaints process
• processing payments to contractors

Role of Jersey Electricity

Jersey Electricity have been engaged to administer the scheme on behalf of the government. They hold responsibility for grant processing and approvals.

Their functions include but are not limited to:

• processing applications
• providing feedback to government on how the scheme is operating
• reporting on delivery of the scheme to Government

Role of the Contractor Quality Scheme

The Contractor Quality Scheme is responsible for:

• ensuring contractors within the scheme provide high quality installations
• defining and maintaining standards
• providing confidence to consumers who wish to invest in low carbon heating

Contractors wishing to join the CQS approved contractor list should contact hello@cqs.je.

A CQS committee is in place to oversee contractor appeals around the CQS process and agree any changes to the CQS documentation. Representatives from MSSCO, Government of Jersey and the Jersey Consumer Council sit on this committee.

Role of property owner

Property owners need to do the following:

• confirm eligibility details
• ensure any information or confirmation they provide as part of the application process is accurate
• confirm their consent for an incentive application to be made on their behalf by their chosen contractor
• ensuring that the property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate
• reply to the Scheme Administrator so their confirmation can be verified
• take part in audit and compliance processes as requested
• obtain planning permission for the works as required. Information on whether the work requires permission

Role of contractors

Contractors play a key role in the scheme and are the primary point of contact for home owners wishing to participate in the scheme. A list of ap​proved CSQ contractors.

Contractors are responsible for:

• obtaining approval onto Contractor Quality Scheme (CQS)
• registering installations with CQS
• submitting applications and paperwork required to obtain funds at the end of work
• submitting an Energy Supply Enquiry (ESE) for the property to Jersey Electricity plc 
• confirming information provided is accurate
• providing property owners with advice on the best-suited technology for their property
• providing property owners with the likely changes to running costs
• retaining a copy of any information relied upon for the submission of applications for the next six years. This does not include personal information for those on low income. Data such as copies of self-declared asset forms must be deleted after the installation is complete
• providing further information related to installations upon request
• engaging with audit and compliance processes as requested
• providing true and accurate costs of the work, value for money
• notifying building control of the notifiable works. The usual route for notifying building control, as with non-funded installations, still applies

Heating, water and electrical systems: permissions needed

Contractor Quality Scheme

Only contractors that belong to the CQS can access funding through the incentive scheme. This ensures that only installations of the highest quality are funded by public money and provides assurance and protection to customers that take part in the scheme.

The CQS scheme remains open to new contractors. Any Jersey-based business able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the scheme can join.

If you are a contractor who would like to become part of this scheme, contact CQS directly on hello@cqs.je.

Audit and compliance

The Contractor Quality Scheme holds the responsibility for ensuring high quality installations.

Audits help ensure that the public money that funds the scheme has been used correctly and in line with eligibility criteria.

Both Jersey Electricity, as the Scheme Administrator, and CQS or the Government of Jersey may contact the contractor or the property owners to carry out their own checks.

CQS carry out both site and desk audits. These are both done either on a statistical or a targeted basis. Desk audits can be by phone or email. CQS may need more information from the property owner or the contractor as assurance that the installation is compliant.

CQS may request access to inspect a property which relates to an application or has had the grant paid. CQS will give property owners no less than two days notice ahead of a site audit taking place. For more information on audits, read the CQS guidance.

Information will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

More information on how the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department handles data.

Who to contact about the scheme

• speak to an 'approved contractor' to apply for the incentive scheme. A list of approved contractors can be found at Contractor​ Quality Scheme (CQS)
  
• if a grant application has been made on your behalf and you have a problem or complaint about the work or the contractor, in first instance speak to your contractor
  
• if problems are unresolved, then contact the Contractor Quality Scheme directly on hello@cqs.je. Any continued disputes will be escalated to the CQS committee
  
• if you wish to provide general feedback about the Low Carbon Heating Incentive
  
  Give us your ​feedback
  
• if you have any further questions or would like to appeal a rejected application, contact the Environment and Climate team on climateemergency@gov.je
  

As a current CQS contractor:

• if you have questions about an application you have made, contact the Scheme Administrator on applicationLCHI@jec.co.uk
• if you have questions about a redemption you have made, contact the Scheme Administrator on redemptionLCHI@jec.co.uk

As a non-CQS contractor:

If you are a contractor and are interested in joining the CQS scheme contact them directly on hello@cqs.je.

Data protection

Personal information collected by approved contractors and the Scheme Administrator will be kept to a minimum. It is necessary for contractors and the Scheme Administrator to collect some information to administer the scheme successfully.

Property owners will need to provide Approved Contractors with personal information including:

• name
• date of birth
• contact details
• address

Those applying for additional low income funding may also need to provide the contractor with:

• a form of identification to prove date of birth 
• a copy of a self-declared asset form 
• proof of receipt of letter from the Government of Jersey detailing eligibility. The contractor is not required to hold a copy of this letter within their own records

The approved contractor will apply for the scheme on the property owner’s behalf through Jersey Electricity as Scheme Administrator. This means that the property owners personal data will be shared with Jersey Electricity as Scheme Administrator. Only Jersey Electricity employees working within the Scheme Administration team will have access to this data.  It will not be shared more widely across Jersey Electricity, Government of Jersey or anyone else related to the scheme. Your data will not be used for any other purpose other than administration and monitoring of the low carbon heating incentive scheme.

As Data Controller, Government of Jersey reserve the right to become Scheme Administrators in the future and to access necessary data to carry out this function.

The approved contractor will also need to share personal information with the Contractor Quality Scheme (CQS). This will not include any sensitive information related to eligibility for low income funding. Property owners may be contacted by CQS for audit and compliance checks.​

A​ll data held by CQS will be on a secure database and used exclusively for the purpose of assessment and quality assurance of CQS approved installations. Property owners can object to the processing of their personal data by emailing hello@cqs.je.  Objecting to the processing of data may result in CQS not being able to approve the installation.

Approved contractors must delete all sensitive information related to income status once the installation is complete. Approved contractors must delete all other information held on customers after 6 years. Any information held on customers must not be used for any other purpose unrelated to this incentive scheme.

Audit and compliance checks on Approved Contactors will be necessary on occasion. Property owners will be contacted by the Scheme Administrator to ask for consent for their contact information to be passed onto CQS for a check to be carried out.

If you would like more information on how the Government of Jersey handles data, see the Strategic Planning, Policy and Performance privacy policies​.