Description
Electric boilers turn electricity directly into heat that is transferred to a home via water in radiators or underfloor heating. They have efficiencies of nearly 100% and modern versions - zero-emission boilers (ZEBs) are paired with a heat battery to store heat during periods when electricity prices are lower. Some electric boilers are able to provide domestic hot water for smaller properties, but ZEBs and larger properties require a water cylinder for domestic hot water provision.
Current status
Around 7 to 8% of households in the UK have electric-only heating, approximately 2.1 million households. Direct electric heating refers to a few different technologies, such as storage heaters, electric radiators, panel heaters or underfloor heating. They are most suited to smaller properties and flats. Households with direct electric heating are more likely to be in deep fuel poverty because of the high running costs. Direct electric heating technologies are not currently eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
| Property size | Upfront cost | Running cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small | £2,200 (*£8,000) | £1,485 (*£800) |
| Medium | £3,000 (*£8,000) | £3,095 (*£1,665) |
| Large | £4,200 (*£8,000) | £4,950 (*£2,665) |
Modern ZEBs cost between £8,000–£9,000 to install with potential additional costs if a hot water cylinder is required. Electric boilers have very high running costs because they are ~3 times less efficient than heat pumps and electricity is expensive. Running costs for ZEBs are significantly lower as they can utilise off-peak electricity prices. Installation disruption is around 1 to 2 days.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ZEBs can make use of time-of-use tariffs | Very high electricity consumption |
| Relatively low upfront costs | Some still require hot water cylinders |
| Less maintenance required than gas boilers, with longer life expectancies | Not suitable for larger properties |
