36
Fraud likely contributes to high defect levels; Department enhancing fraud detection efforts.
Recommendation
We pushed Ofgem and the Department on what they were doing to actively look for fraud, and highlighted that fraud is likely contributing to the high level of defects on external and internal wall insulation.85 Written evidence submitted by members of the Green Homes Group (Ashden, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Citizens Advice, E3G, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace) reported that people have experienced fraud and intentional bad practice as part of their faulty retrofits.86 The Department assured us that it is “bringing together the parties that might have information that would allow Ofgem to identify cases of potential fraud.” It explained that it is working to make sure data about households—such as their likely eligibility for schemes—can be shared across the system. It also told us that TrustMark had introduced different software systems that enable it to identify potentially fraudulent installations from the data it holds.87 Addressing current issues and reforming the system for the future
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 7 April 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
62nd Report - Faulty energy efficiency installations
23 Jan 2026
HC 1229
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.6 yr
Report published
23 Jan 2026