Solar energy - Feed-in Tariff payment delays - your experiences?

greengrow

The feed-in tariff agreement has a rule that supply companies must not discriminate between customers on the tariff and those that are not.

If then they are delaying sending payments longer than sending bills, that could count as discrimination and should be challenged.

I got my system installed only last Thursday and came here to discover if there are deliberate delays afoot in processing my details. It looks now almost certain that I'll have to wait over a week just to get an invoice and details back from the installer and I'm worried.

I feel like I'm waiting only to be let down and then it's too late. I know that there's considerable and probably deliberate confusion and uncertaintly over the whole thing just now, the rate and all. I suspect interferance from on high. I suspect a rat.

What do yer all think?

don0301

greengrow wrote: »

The feed-in tariff agreement has a rule that supply companies must not discriminate between customers on the tariff and those that are not.

If then they are delaying sending payments longer than sending bills, that could count as discrimination and should be challenged.

I got my system installed only last Thursday and came here to discover if there are deliberate delays afoot in processing my details. It looks now almost certain that I'll have to wait over a week just to get an invoice and details back from the installer and I'm worried.

I feel like I'm waiting only to be let down and then it's too late. I know that there's considerable and probably deliberate confusion and uncertaintly over the whole thing just now, the rate and all. I suspect interferance from on high. I suspect a rat.

What do yer all think?

as long as you sent your paperwork special delivery, they will accept that as proof. the date goes from receipt of paperwork, not when processed.

if you didnt, i would advise calling them and getting some proof that they have received it before the deadline.

PeedieKat

We got our solar panels fitted last Tuesday and got the company to email us our proof of ownership and MCS certificate. We then emailed it on to our electricity company with a read receipt so we knew when they received it. We got an email yesterday saying that they have received it and it is now being processed and that delays due to the amount of applications will not affect us as it is from the date they receive the application. Good job as we still haven't received the written paperwork from the company (although we'll also send that recorded delivery when it finally arrives to be doubly sure!).

greengrow

Thanks don0301 I've just sent a letter now by email, and it will be in the post tomorrow. It states my request to apply for FIT from SSE. I suppose I should be alright if they open that tomorrow.
But I can't send in the MCSE certificate or proof of ownership just yet as I haven't recieved them. I think there is a fine for sending incomplete information so I'm holding the actual FIT applilcation form until I get that documention. I just feel better now after a sending the letter. I hope that's OK.

don0301

greengrow wrote: »

Thanks don0301 I've just sent a letter now by email, and it will be in the post tomorrow. It states my request to apply for FIT from SSE. I suppose I should be alright if they open that tomorrow.
But I can't send in the MCSE certificate or proof of ownership just yet as I haven't recieved them. I think there is a fine for sending incomplete information so I'm holding the actual FIT applilcation form until I get that documention. I just feel better now after a sending the letter. I hope that's OK.

just to clarify, its the date of receipt of the relevant documents that counts!

mcs registration is done online by your installer, so theres no reason your installers cant do it on the day of completion.

you really need to chase your installers for the relevant paperwork, and then i would advise to special delivery it to your chosen FiT provider.

don0301

PeedieKat wrote: »

We got our solar panels fitted last Tuesday and got the company to email us our proof of ownership and MCS certificate. We then emailed it on to our electricity company with a read receipt so we knew when they received it. We got an email yesterday saying that they have received it and it is now being processed and that delays due to the amount of applications will not affect us as it is from the date they receive the application. Good job as we still haven't received the written paperwork from the company (although we'll also send that recorded delivery when it finally arrives to be doubly sure!).

I would recommend Special Delivery, as it's gauranteed next day delivery before 1pm.

but ofc do your own research

John_Pierpoint

don0301 wrote: »

you really need to chase your installers for the relevant paperwork, and then i would advise to special delivery it to your chosen FiT provider.

Do we get a choice these days? I get the impression that the only firm that will take me is NPower because I am their customer, and even they are not friendly - give the impression of wanting to find a uncrossed T or non dotted I on the application form so they can reject it.

greengrow wrote: »

The feed-in tariff agreement has a rule that supply companies must not discriminate between customers on the tariff and those that are not.

If then they are delaying sending payments longer than sending bills, that could count as discrimination and should be challenged.

I got my system installed only last Thursday and came here to discover if there are deliberate delays afoot in processing my details. It looks now almost certain that I'll have to wait over a week just to get an invoice and details back from the installer and I'm worried.

I feel like I'm waiting only to be let down and then it's too late. I know that there's considerable and probably deliberate confusion and uncertainty over the whole thing just now, the rate and all. I suspect interference from on high. I suspect a rat.

What do yer all think?

I felt paranoid like that, but I now have all the paperwork - the reality was that I had found a small firm in order to beat the 03March deadline and their MCS registered supervisor is chasing his tail trying to keep up with the 03 march deadline. Lucky it is a leap year !

PeedieKat wrote: »

We got our solar panels fitted last Tuesday and got the company to email us our proof of ownership and MCS certificate. We then emailed it on to our electricity company with a read receipt so we knew when they received it.

Which company, I wish I was with them

My struggles with the nPower form and supporting paperwork:

There are two questions on the application form and I am not sure if I/my installers have the correct answer to these questions:

Installed Capacity (kW}
&
Declared net capacity (kW)

Now I have 18 panels nominally rated at 205 watts each.
so 18 x 205 = 3.690. So does that go down as the answer to both questions?

I also notice that a data item in the commissioning certificate has been left blank:
MAXIMUM PEAK SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT (A)

From the USA installation manual, it would appear the answer is 20 amps per string for a nominally 3.6 kWp inverter (presumably both strings would not short out at the same time).

Barter

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Do we get a choice these days? I get the impression that the only firm that will take me is NPower because I am their customer, and even they are not friendly - give the impression of wanting to find a uncrossed T or non dotted I on the application form so they can reject it.
...

I'm with npower for our supply of dual fuels, but was unimpressed by them for FiT registration. So, back in December when the previous chaotic deadline was approaching, I called British Gas (free/quickly answered) and was readily accepted by them. I rang them again to check about an answer on the form, then all paperwork sent by email, confirmed by phone call.

Maybe they've recently closed to non-customers, but I'd give it a try as I couldn't fault them!

orrery

don0301 wrote: »

I would recommend Special Delivery, as it's gauranteed next day delivery before 1pm.

Agreed.

Special Delivery has to be signed for to prove the time. Recorded can just be handed over with the normal mail with no signature. It has happened to me twice now.

KevinG

orrery wrote: »

Recorded can just be handed over with the normal mail with no signature.

But they shouldn't be - that is kind of the whole point of it!