Key terms explained for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is required to keep the operation of the Domestic RHI scheme under review. To evaluate the scheme, they may select specific heating systems to be monitored.

If your heating system is selected for review and evaluation, The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will write to you to let you know. In order to carry out a review, they may request entry to your property in order to:

• inspect the heating system or any associated metering
• install metering (if selected for monitoring and evaluation. This won’t affect your RHI payments)
• carry out meter readings or download metering information
• check, repair or replace any metering equipment.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero may request you to assist in maintaining and reading meters, to keep records, and to provide information relating to the heating system held by you or your installer on request.

If your heating system is selected for scheme review and evaluation you will need to ensure that you comply with any request from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero relating to the above in order to be able to continue to receive payments.

If you had a heat pump installed before scheme and are a ‘legacy applicant’ you will automatically be assigned a Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) of 2.5 (the lowest SPF value allowed – for more information, see Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF). This is because an SPF calculated using the MCS guidance was not included in the calculations by your installer.

If you think your heat pump is likely to be more efficient and achieve a higher SPF value, then you can arrange for an MCS installer (this does not have to be the same installer who originally installed your heat pump) to conduct an assessment of your property and issue a new SPF figure using the Heat Pump SPF calculation template for Legacy applicants, which is based on MCS guidance. If you choose to have your heat pump assessed to obtain a new SPF, you will need to provide a copy of the Heat Pump SPF calculation template filled out by your installer. You must have the reassessment done before you apply, as it's not possible to have your heat pump SPF value changed after you’ve joined. The template should be sent to us after you have applied, so that we can check it against your application number.

Space heating refers to heating rooms in a property. Space heating must be delivered using a liquid medium. The heat is delivered to the property through heat emitters, such as radiators or underfloor heating.