The Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which has undergone four phases, is a policy designed to improve home warmth, reduce household emissions, and hold large energy companies responsible for aiding households with limited income. ECO focuses on energy conservation and provides financial assistance to single parents, individuals with disabilities, and financially struggling families.

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This initiative is tailored to help households, especially the most vulnerable, increase their energy efficiency. Working with local authorities, organisations like UK Energy Support collaborate with Ofgem and energy suppliers to adhere to the strict requirements of the ECO Scheme. A Guardian article highlights the positive feedback from heat pump owners on their new ECO4 installations, noting the benefits of greener, cheaper, and warmer energy solutions. This demonstrates the growing acceptance and advantages of heat pump technology.

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Rooted in primary legislation, the scheme's main goal is to combat fuel poverty. It takes a holistic approach, focusing on heating system upgrades. Since its launch in 2013, ECO has enhanced the energy efficiency of over 2.3 million homes. Following the successful ECO3 scheme, ECO4 was introduced in April 2022.

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For comprehensive understanding, the government's website offers the ECO4 final stage impact assessment, which provides details on recent changes, scoring methods, and requirements for obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This information aids local authority referrals, such as LA Flex – Flexible Eligibility, and energy efficiency experts in navigating the final stage of the ECO consultation to improve properties' energy efficiency ratings.