Adam Mitchell, founder of Futureproof, a national network of installers, says that installers are being punished for the ‘good faith’ they placed in the government’s much vaunted carbon reduction initiative.
He said: “There are installers across England and Wales who have not been paid for boilers and other ECO measures such as insulation that were fitted more than six months ago.
“Installers have carried out work in good faith and on the understanding that they would be paid by Green Deal providers upon completion.
“However, they have found themselves the innocent victims of the government’s decision to move the goalposts on ECO earlier this year in which the deadline for hitting ECO targets was extended.
“The result has been that the energy companies have stopped passing funding down to the providers who, in turn, have said their funding has run out.
“Consumers are getting the benefit from the energy saving measures that have been installed, the government is still seeing the benefits of its carbon reduction programme and the energy companies are benefitting from the government’s moving of the goalposts. Meanwhile, the Green Deal providers have reaped the benefits of ECO since it was launched.
“It is breathtakingly arrogant that these participants are now willing to stand by and watch installers go unpaid for many thousands of ECO jobs.
“Unless the government intervenes quickly, we may well be reading stories about installers going to the wall – with the finger of blame being pointed at Ministers, energy companies and providers who have all played their part in allowing this appalling situation to arise.”
Mitchell called on energy secretary Ed Davey to take urgent action, adding: “Hardly a day passes without Futureproof hearing a new horror story about installers who have suffered at the hands of the ECO. I would be more than happy to discuss the extent of the problem with Mr Davey and explain what needs to be done to put matters right.”