The Highland Council has said homeowners in four of its wards are to be offered free energy saving measures as part of a £6.4m project with E.ON.

Under the partnership, those who have homes in the Landward Caithness, Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness Central and Upper Achintore (Fort William) wards will be the first to have their properties assessed for free energy efficiency measures as part of the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland – Area Based Scheme (HEEPS-ABS).

The scheme is primarily aimed at insulating hard-to-treat properties with primary measures, such as cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation.

The HEEPS-ABS is being administered and managed for the Scottish Government by The Highland Council in an arrangement with energy firm E.ON.

Councillor Dave Fallows, Chairman of The Highland Council's Finance, Housing and Resources Committee, welcomed the news.

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He said: "This partnership between Highland Council and E.ON is the only home energy efficiency scheme in the Highlands that is endorsed by the Council. It is a fantastic opportunity for homeowners in the first four wards that E.ON will be targeting."

Councillor David Alston, Vice Chair of the Council's Finance, Housing and Resources Committee, also welcomed the £1.8m funds to Highland Council from the Scottish Government to administer the scheme.

He added: "I am delighted that The Highland Council is in the top quarter of Scottish local authorities receiving Scottish Government funds. Our success in attracting this funding is due to our previous good track record of administering government energy schemes."

Following a tender process, E.ON was chosen by The Highland Council to administer HEEP-ABS in the three year Highland-wide scheme. Over the coming months, homeowners in the relevant wards will be invited to have home energy assessments carried out by E.ON. Measures available will be dependent upon survey results and those that qualify for, and agree to works being carried out in their homes, will need to formally commit to the work being carried out by March 2014, with all installations to be completed by September 2014.

In addition to private home owners, the HEEP-ABS programme also welcomes applications from Registered Social Landlords, Housing Associations and community groups that can match HEEP-ABS funding with community benefit funds to undertake collective community home energy efficiency or carbon reduction projects.

(JP/IT)