Gemserv, with its partner REAL, has been chosen to provide these services on behalf of Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for the next three years following an open competition. Both Gemserv and REAL currently operate the MCS scheme for DECC so are well acquainted with the challenges and requirements involved in operating a scheme of this nature.
The service will start in early August ahead of the staged introduction of the Green Deal later in the year.
Following feedback from industry and consumers DECC has also confirmed that there will be no fees for assessors, installers and providers who wish to get the official Green Deal stamp of approval during the first two years of the scheme. DECC will fund all costs associated with the registration and oversight service for the first two years, with the intention of moving to a fee-based approach from year three onwards, when the Green Deal has become established.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: 'We need to make sure all the Green Deal assessors, installers and providers get our stamp of approval to ensure the highest level of consumer protection for householders and businesses under this scheme. I am delighted that Gemserv has risen to the challenge and is going to take on this very important role.
'No registration fees for the first two years will remove burdensome admin costs at a time when many can least afford them, helping encourage organisations to get onboard and offering more freedom of choice for consumers.'
David Thorne CEO of Gemserv said: 'We are delighted to have been appointed as the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body and are looking forward to playing a central role in implementing and developing this ground breaking programme.
'Gemserv will be able to draw on our strong experience of delivering the MCS scheme, maximising the synergies, and we hope to begin discussions shortly with key industry participants to ensure we are prepared for the Green Deal's launch. We are working closely with our delivery partner REAL utilising their extensive consumer protection experience.'
Virginia Graham CEO of REAL said: 'We are committed to ensuring a high level of consumer protection in the energy efficiency sector as part of the UK's transitions to a low carbon economy.
'We look forward to putting the lessons we've learnt into practice in order so that the Green Deal Consumer Code successfully ensures a high quality experience for consumers looking to cut their carbon and fuel bills through energy efficiency measures.'
DECC has also announced the appointment of the Ombudsman Services as the provider of the Green Deal Ombudsman and Investigation Service. This will be a free service for customers who cannot reach an agreement with their Green Deal Provider over a complaint.
Chief Ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said: 'The Green Deal is a new concept to householders. Consumers taking up the Green Deal can be confident that if something goes wrong they will have easy access to independent and effective redress.
'We already provide the ombudsman service for the energy (supply and network) industry and its customers, to it makes sense for complaints about Green Deal providers to come to us. We're looking forward to working with DECC on the details of the scheme.'
This new service will be up and running by October 2012 and is an important part of the Government's approach to assuring consumer protection under the Green Deal.
