Consumer Energy Solutions (CES), a green energy company that retrofitted properties under the UK government's ECO4 scheme, entered administration last Friday, leaving numerous customers with what they describe as "botched" and incomplete work. The ECO4 scheme provides grant funding to low-income, vulnerable households for energy-efficient upgrades like insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels.

Jane Wallbank, 36, from Penrhiwceibr in Rhondda Cynon Taf, told the BBC that signing up for wall insulation with CES in October 2025 was "the worst decision she's ever made." She recounted how the insulation work led to flooding in her home, leaving it uninhabitable and forcing her to try and "rebuild" her life. Wallbank is one of several CES customers who have come forward to detail their experiences with the company, alleging that the substandard work has turned their lives into a "nightmare."

KR8 Advisory Limited, the administrator for CES, has directed affected customers to insurance-backed guarantee providers for assistance. The collapse of CES follows admissions from ministers that approximately 30,000 homes were fitted with substandard insulation under various government schemes. The company's failure also resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs.

The ECO4 scheme, funded by obligated energy suppliers, aims to improve the energy efficiency of homes occupied by low-income households, contributing to the UK's carbon reduction targets. The failure of CES raises questions about the oversight and quality control mechanisms in place to ensure that government-funded retrofitting projects are completed to a satisfactory standard. The long-term impact on the market for green energy solutions remains to be seen, but the negative experiences of CES customers could erode public trust in such initiatives.