Solar Panel Guide Discussion

larkim

slacky555 wrote: »

I have not dug out my contract yet but the way they were talking was in the contract it does not state the vat rate as being 5% so I guess it must just say + vat and there is no figure it is the formula as posted before to work out the buy out price.

Cheers

Yes, that's my point - I think my Eon buyout prices are stated "gross" (without any reference to VAT that I recall, I might be wrong), so my contract has a precise figure in it which I can use to argue with them.

If it said "XX,XXX plus VAT" then there might be little a consumer could do about it if either the VAT rate changed or if the regulations surround the VAT treatment for that specific item changed.

There still might be some mileage in trying to persuade a court (it will be a court, if they are digging their heels in) that they had mislead you about a material aspect of the contract you were signing with them. Whether the clause about buyout and the VAT cost of that is considered to be material by a court is uncertain (IMHO).

Matt

grahamc2003

larkim wrote: »

Yes, that's my point - I think my Eon buyout prices are stated "gross" (without any reference to VAT that I recall, I might be wrong), so my contract has a precise figure in it which I can use to argue with them.

If it said "XX,XXX plus VAT" then there might be little a consumer could do about it if either the VAT rate changed or if the regulations surround the VAT treatment for that specific item changed.

There still might be some mileage in trying to persuade a court (it will be a court, if they are digging their heels in) that they had mislead you about a material aspect of the contract you were signing with them. Whether the clause about buyout and the VAT cost of that is considered to be material by a court is uncertain (IMHO).

Matt

I think this is a legal minefield, with nothing clear cut at all. I'm not legally trained, but can forsee solicitors making a meal out of this - too important for a small claims court imv. I believe there are issues if no money changed hands (i.e. if the op got the panels installed for free), also issues if the op is treated as a business customer instead of a private buyer (in derivatives trading, I am a private client with some brokers, and a business client with others, although I have no company etc, and the protection in law which i get is pretty minimal for the business relationships). It's possible (don't know the likelyhood) that rar scehemes may be deemed to be business to business, or landlord and tenant or possibly other relationships). Of course, the relationship will decide what legislation applies, and that will decide what a spoken '5% vat' means, or what has to be declared in a contract, and how things not written are deemed, or the legal presumptions which apply.

Be great if someone legally qualified could comment. Being a new construct, the details of rar dealings will be unprecedented imv .

Blossom2528

Is there any chance prices could half again in the next few years. i know there are Fits now, but would rather just pay less to start and then forget about the money.

KevinG

Blossom2528 wrote: »

Is there any chance prices could half again in the next few years. i know there are Fits now, but would rather just pay less to start and then forget about the money.

I should think it's the labour cost that puts a floor under the prices, so although the components may well halve in price again, the labour cost will not.

furndire

and unless there is a big mark up on parts/panels/invertors, bigger companies who buy in bulk & keep the prices down will not be interested, as it will not be the cash cow it has been until now.

Martyn1981

Blossom2528 wrote: »

Is there any chance prices could half again in the next few years. i know there are Fits now, but would rather just pay less to start and then forget about the money.

Can't see another halving, but, if panels continue to drop worldwide at around 20%pa, then the approx £4k cost of panels in an £8k system could drop to around £1,200 in 5 years.

Depending on other efficiencies, or upward pressures such as inflation, we may see a price around £5k to £5.5k. Only my guess, and depends largely on the price of silicon where the bottom is.

Unfortunately, the recession has finally hit renewables everywhere, and spending is slowing down. So tough guess what will happen to panel prices.

As the solar PV industry grew in Britain, larger orders were being placed which helped considerably in bringing down prices. Whether this reverts or not is largely in the air at the moment.

May have a better guess in the summer, or may take a couple of years to get a handle on UK prices.

Keep watching and learning, nothing you learn in life is ever wasted.

Mart.

Elainemary

Hi folks. Am I missing something? I can't find a post since 5 January and am wondering if a new thread has been opened that I can't find. Is everybody dumbstruck that the Govt have lost the battle to reduce FITs ( so far )?:eek:
Also can anyone tell me NPowers basic charge per therm/ cubic metre for gas and electric as of today as that's something else I can't find. Thanks for any help.

sly_dog_jonah

Elainemary wrote: »

Hi folks. Am I missing something? I can't find a post since 5 January and am wondering if a new thread has been opened that I can't find. Is everybody dumbstruck that the Govt have lost the battle to reduce FITs ( so far )?:eek:

This thread's just been quiet. Sure there are other threads where the debate about pro's and cons of solar bangs on.

Not surprised about the govt losing their appeal as DECC handled the consultation process incompetantly, with disregard of existing legislation.

Also can anyone tell me NPowers basic charge per therm/ cubic metre for gas and electric as of today as that's something else I can't find. Thanks for any help.

Depends on your tarrif and where you live. Put your postcode, supplier name and tariff type into energyhelpline.com (doesn't matter what usage values you use) and then above the results table you'll see a link to "View your current tariff details including unit rates and kWh usage" which will pop-up a window with the various rates for your region on your tariff.

LittleVermin

On Energy Saving Group website now (at http://www.energysavinggroup.co.uk/) is:

Urgent Notice: The company has ceased trading and all customers must wait to hear from the assigned liquidators.

There's more info - about the bust Energy Saving Group and the newish Energy Reduction UK (set up last August) and their directors (James Michael Manley and Steven Dickson) in this post: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=50568487&postcount=104




UPDATE - the Energy Saving Group website has been replaced by:

Urgent Notice

The company has ceased trading and all customers must wait to hear from the assigned liquidators.

..

orrery

Elainemary wrote: »

Hi folks. Am I missing something? I can't find a post since 5 January and am wondering if a new thread has been opened that I can't find. Is everybody dumbstruck that the Govt have lost the battle to reduce FITs ( so far )?

They haven't lost - they have won.

The court drama isn't important. They have choked off the demand for solar, so have achieved their aim.