The Utility Regulator has published three documents for the 2023-2025 Northern Ireland Energy Sustainable Programme (NISEP). NISEP funding is available for energy efficiency schemes, which must be implemented in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 programme years.
The total NISEP funding available for both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 is £7,941,946 per year. Please note that while the bids will be for two years, scheme delivery and reporting will still be on an annual basis. 80% of the funding available for schemes targets priority (vulnerable) domestic properties, i.e. low income households deemed to be in, or at risk of, fuel poverty. The remaining 20% of the funding can be used for schemes aimed at non-priority customers, including both domestic and non-domestic customers, with the exception of innovative schemes, which may include priority customers. Within these two main categories, there are further ring-fenced divisions of the funding which are detailed in section 1.7 of the Framework Document.
All companies licensed by the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland, who accept the terms and sign the Accedence Agreement, alongside other organisations that meet the required criteria, are eligible to register with the Programme Administrator (currently the Energy Saving Trust), to become Primary Bidders and bid for NISEP funding.
All Primary Bidders intending to bid for funding for the coming year must:
- Complete the Call for Schemes Registration Form and return it to Energy Saving Trust by 14 October 2022;
- Sign and return the Accedence Document to Energy Saving Trust by 4 November 2022;
- Send a copy of their organisation’s fraud policy and fraud response plan, including a statement of zero tolerance to fraud, to Energy Saving Trust by 4 November 2022;
- Provide a statement to confirm that all staff entering customer homes will be Access NI checked to Energy Saving Trust 4 November 2022;
- Send a copy of the organisation’s draft safeguarding policy to Energy Saving Trust 4 November 2022; and
- Provide a statement to confirm the organisation has or is working towards a Diversity and Inclusion Policy to Energy Saving Trust by 4 November 2022.
Copies of the Registration Form and Accedence Document are available from the Energy Saving Trust. Failure to submit any of the documents listed on time may result in scheme submissions being rejected.
The NISEP Framework Document, published in October 2022 is an updated version and provides the rules and procedures for organisations wishing to participate in the 2023-2025 NISEP. There have been a number of changes to the previous version of the document, including that this bidding round will cover two financial years (each year to operate and be reported upon separately).
All changes to the Framework Document have been highlighted and the main changes are also summarised in the key changes document. Please read the Framework Document in full to understand all changes as it contains detailed information relating to the operation of the NISEP and also to the process for submitting scheme proposals.
Primary Bidders must ensure that they adhere to all the requirements for submitting a bid, as set out in Section 4 of the Framework Document, and include all the necessary information within their submission.
Any organisations that are interested in submitting schemes, but have not yet registered to become a Primary Bidder, should contact the Programme Administrator as soon as possible and at the latest by 14 October 2022 (to allow time for the registration process). The criteria that must be met in order for an organisation to be allowed to register are set out in section 1.4 of the Framework Document.
Submissions for scheme funding should be sent to Energy Saving Trust, which as Programme Administrator, evaluates schemes on the Utility Regulator’s behalf. Contact details for Energy Saving Trust are provided below. Following receipt of the completed registration form, Energy Saving Trust will send out a submission pack including electronic copies of the most up-to-date versions of the submission summary form and excel spreadsheet/s, which must be used for scheme submissions.
The deadline for the submission of schemes is 2 December 2022.
Energy Saving Trust will give advice and guidance to Primary Bidders up until this date but schemes must be in their final and complete format by the deadline. Any bids received after 2 December 2022 may not be considered for funding and any submissions that are incomplete or of insufficient quality may also be rejected. Please note that it is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that the information provided within their scheme submissions is accurate and fully compliant with the Framework Document.
Energy Saving Trust will evaluate the proposals for schemes, as part of a competitive process, and make recommendations to the Utility Regulator for approval.
The Utility Regulator will hope to formally notify applicants by March 2023 whether or not their submissions have been successful in obtaining funding. However, please note that delays to the approvals process may occur if the Programme Administrator is required to seek clarification and/or further information on points within any of the scheme submissions.
Bids for funding should be emailed to: nisep@est.org.uk