The changes, which were published on 30^th January 2017, will ensure energy companies provide support to people struggling to meet their heating bills.

Plans to extend the scheme from April 2017 to September 2018 have also been published.

In the new changes, energy suppliers will be required to install a minimum of 21,000 solid wall insulations per year.

Eligibility for the scheme will also extend to social housing tenets in EPC bands E, F and G, with local councils also helping to match people with energy suppliers.

In rural areas, it will be a requirement that 15% of suppliers’ Carbon Emission Reduction Obligation is delivered.

Jesse Norman, the minister for energy and industry, said: “The government is committed to tackling fuel poverty, and a key part of that is to help people keep bills down by living in more energy efficient homes.

“These changes will move the UK a further step towards the goal of insulating a further 1 million homes by 2020.”

Between 2013 and the end of November 2016, ECO has ensured that over 2 million measures were installed in around 1.6 million properties.