14 November 2025 (London): Speaking on the importance of continued funding and delivery of Government incentives including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, David Cowdrey, Director of External Affairs at The MCS Foundation, said, “Every UK household needs access to secure, affordable, clean energy. Government grants and incentives have played a significant role in our progress towards this mission and fueled a rapid increase in confidence in home-grown energy. 

“Confidence and certainty for households and the renewable industry alike is critical to continued progress and economic resilience – and the delivery of the Government’s own Industrial Strategy. Any cut to the funding or delivery of impactful government incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme would be economically damaging to the heat pump sector, stifle growth and disrupt supply chains that are already experiencing challenges. 

“With some of the highest electricity costs in Europe, affordability is rightly a priority for the UK Government and the public. But what we need is the right application – not abolition – of the levies that fund government grants and incentives.  

“Moving social and environmental levies from electricity bills and into general taxation could save households as much as £300 a year according to research by The MCS Foundation – tackling fuel poverty and increasing affordability, without putting the Government’s legally binding net zero target and a major industry in jeopardy.”