# ECO4 ends 31 December 2026: Birmingham guide | Eco Solar > ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026. Who qualifies, why Ofgem says it is not a grant, how the council's ECO4 Flex route works, and how to spot a cold call. URL: https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/blog/eco4-ends-december-2026/ 1. [Home](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/) 2. [Blog](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/blog/) 3. ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026: what Birmingham households should know News # ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026: what Birmingham households should know [Eco Solar Panel Installation Company](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/) sums up what Ofgem says about ECO4 before it closes at the end of 2026, for Birmingham households who might qualify for help with energy improvements. Published 29 September 2026 · By Eco Solar Panel Installation Company The fourth Energy Company Obligation, known as ECO4, runs until 31 December 2026. It is the scheme behind many adverts for “free” energy improvements, including some for solar panels. If you think you might qualify, the next few months are the time to find out. ## What ECO4 is, and isn’t ECO is an obligation on energy companies to fund energy-efficiency improvements in homes. [Ofgem is clear](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-company-obligation-eco/homeowners-and-tenants/faqs-domestic-consumers-and-landlords) that it is not a grant scheme. The energy companies decide which projects they fund, how much they fund and which installers they work with. So there is no guarantee of any particular measure, and solar panels may or may not be offered. ## Who can qualify - The home is rated EPC D to G. - You qualify through certain benefits, or through ECO4 Flex, where the local council refers households that meet its own criteria. - You may be asked to contribute to the cost. If you are in Birmingham and think you might qualify through ECO4 Flex, ask Birmingham City Council. For the benefits route, contact an energy company that takes part in ECO4. Ofgem notes you can get help from a participating energy company even if you are not its customer. ## Watch out for cold callers Ofgem says installers working on ECO projects may approach people directly. Some approaches are genuine and some aren’t. Before you agree to anything: - ask which energy company is funding the work, then check with that company yourself - don’t agree to work without a written contract, which Ofgem also advises - don’t hand over bank details on the doorstep or over the phone ## If you don’t qualify Most Birmingham homeowners won’t qualify for ECO4, and that is normal. The help most people can use is the [0% VAT rate on home solar until 31 March 2027](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-energy-saving-materials-and-heating-equipment-notice-7086). Birmingham City Council’s [Switch Together Birmingham](https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50282/climate_change/3049/switch_together_birmingham_-_buying_solar_panels_and_battery_storage_made_easy) group-buying scheme is another option to compare, although it is not a grant either. [Are there solar panel grants in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/solar-panel-grants-birmingham/) covers all of it. Not eligible for ECO4? Get a free quote and see what solar would cost and save you. 0121 330 1151 (+441213301151) Sources - [Ofgem: ECO FAQs for domestic consumers and landlords](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-company-obligation-eco/homeowners-and-tenants/faqs-domestic-consumers-and-landlords) ## Related guides - [Learn Are there solar panel grants in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/solar-panel-grants-birmingham/) - [Decision Guide Are solar panels worth it in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/are-solar-panels-worth-it/) - [Decision Guide Is Switch Together Birmingham worth it?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/switch-together-birmingham/) Thinking about solar, or need a repair? Get a free quote. Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 0121 330 1151 (+441213301151) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/contact/)