Energy regulator Ofgem has published details of the suppliers for the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO).

ECO was introduced by the government to replace the previous CERT and CESP programmes which came to an end at the turn of the year.

Alongside the Green Deal, the aim of ECO is to help deliver energy efficiency measures and insulation and heating packages to low-income households and communities.

Suppliers are required to commission a report from a chartered surveyor to assess what improvements are needed under the terms of the scheme.

A list of contacts at the energy suppliers - British Gas, E.ON Energy, Npower, EDF Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, First Utility - has now been released by Ofgem.

As part of ECO, energy firms are now required to work towards three main targets for improving energy efficiency in residential property: the carbon emissions reduction obligation; the carbon saving community obligation; and the home heating cost reduction obligation.

The first of those targets concerns the installation of measures at hard-to-treat homes not covered by the Green Deal, in particular the addition of solid wall insulation and hard-to-treat cavity wall insulation.

Secondly, the carbon saving community obligation focuses on improvements to district heating systems in areas of low income.

Finally, the home heating cost reduction obligation refers to measures for low-income and vulnerable households to affordably heat their homes, such as through the installation of a new boiler.

Ofgem is acting as administrator for the ECO programme until 31 March 2015, during which time it will monitor the progress of the energy suppliers in meeting their obligations and report its findings to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

The scheme is of course only in its early stages right now, but the residential property market will be watching developments with interest as its impact on the sector becomes clearer over time.

Michael Verity, partner and head of Strutt & Parker's resources and energy team, believes that ECO will be an important part of improving the energy efficiency of property. Development of the scheme and setting up mechanisms to ensure funds can be deployed will be key over the next six months and it is an area that Strutt & Parker is actively engaging with, as ECO will assist properties in rural areas.