The Honest Answer: Do you pay upfront and get the BUS grant back, or is it deducted from your invoice?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is deducted from your final invoice. You never pay the full installation cost and then wait for a refund. At AES, the figure you pay at the end of the job already reflects the £7,500 BUS contribution. We apply to Ofgem after installation, and the payment comes directly to us.
This is one of the questions I am asked at almost every survey, and I welcome it, because it tells me the customer is thinking carefully about the process. Through the Renewable Heat Incentive, its various iterations, and now the BUS, I have managed this process for hundreds of Hampshire homeowners. The mechanism is consistent: you pay net, we handle Ofgem.
Walk me through exactly what happens
Here is the sequence at AES, from survey to final invoice.
Survey and quote. We carry out a free site survey and room-by-room heat loss calculation. The quotation shows the full installation cost, the BUS grant deduction, and the net amount you pay. You see exactly what the grant is worth before you commit to anything.
Installation. Once you confirm you want to proceed, we schedule the installation. A typical heat pump replacement in a Hampshire home takes three to five days.
Completion and MCS registration. When the installation is complete, we register it with MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. This registration is a requirement for the BUS application and confirms the work was carried out to MCS standards by a certified installer.
BUS application to Ofgem. We submit the application to Ofgem on your behalf. You do not need to contact Ofgem directly or complete any paperwork yourself.
Grant payment and invoice. Ofgem pays the £7,500 directly to AES. Your final invoice reflects this deduction. You pay the net amount, your total cost minus the grant.
What does the invoice actually look like?
Your final AES invoice shows the full installation cost, the BUS grant as a separate deduction line, and the net balance owed. It is transparent and clearly documented.
At AES, we charge the same price whether the BUS grant is available or not. The grant does not change what we charge, it changes what you pay. I make this point clearly at every survey because some customers assume that because the money goes to the installer, there might be an incentive to inflate the price. Our pricing reflects the work involved. Full stop.
How quickly does Ofgem process the payment?
Ofgem typically processes approved BUS applications within a few weeks of submission. The grant is paid directly to AES. This happens after installation, so it does not affect your payment timeline as a customer, you pay the net invoice amount, and the Ofgem process runs in the background. If there is any query on the application, AES handles it. You would not normally be involved in any back-and-forth with Ofgem.
What if the grant amount changes between survey and installation?
The BUS grant amount is confirmed at the point the application is submitted to Ofgem, which happens after installation. If the grant value changed between your survey and your installation, we would notify you immediately and adjust the quotation accordingly. If it increases, we apply the higher amount. If it decreases, we discuss the position transparently before proceeding.
Related reading:
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and who is it actually for?
Does the £7,500 BUS grant cover the full cost of a heat pump?
Is the BUS grant going to run out, should you apply now?
If you want to understand exactly what you would pay, before committing to anything, book a free survey. We will give you the full cost picture, including the grant deduction and the net figure, in writing.
Call AES Limited on 01794 830 404 or contact us to book your free survey.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for the BUS grant myself?
No. The application is made by AES on your behalf after installation is complete. You do not need to contact Ofgem directly or complete any grant paperwork.
Can I get the grant if I pay for the installation in instalments?
The BUS grant is deducted from your final invoice regardless of how you finance the net balance. If you are using a finance product for the remaining cost, the grant is applied first and the finance covers the net amount.
What happens if my BUS application is rejected?
AES has a strong track record of successful BUS applications. In the rare event of a query or issue, we handle it directly with Ofgem. We only submit applications for installations we are confident meet all eligibility requirements, we check this thoroughly at survey stage.
Is the BUS grant taxable?
For homeowners installing in their primary residence, the BUS grant is generally not considered taxable income. For landlords installing in rental properties, the position may differ depending on your tax situation. AES recommends speaking to your accountant about the tax treatment for rental property improvements.
Does AES charge the same price regardless of whether the BUS grant is available?
Yes. Our pricing reflects the work involved, the survey, heat loss calculation, equipment, and installation. The BUS grant does not affect what we charge. It affects what you pay. Those are different things, and I think being transparent about that matters.
