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

Fly_Guy

I have recently had a PV system installed and signed up for FIT with our electricity Supplier Ecotricity. I must say I have been very happy with them so far, and given that they are 'green' thought they would be keen to support the self generation cause.

Got this e-mail in response to submitting my first reading on the 15th June :

I can confirm that the reading has been validated and processed for payment this quarter. Please keep an eye out for your payment statement from the end of July. This will detail the payment due based on the reading you’ve provided.

Subject to us receiving funds from Ofgem, we expect to make the payment to you by the end of August.


Seems a bit rubbish having to wait till the end of August for a reading submitted in mid June !

Is this normal ?

theboylard

Same for Good Energy, (well, don't know if Ecotricity throw random customer data around like Good Energy do?).

I submit reading on 19/6/15, get message on 22/6 advising they had got the reading and payment would be on or around "28/8/15"!!

I knwe there was an 8 week payment window when I signed, but with the data issues I don't think I'll stay with them much longer?

Fly_Guy

Interesting, I was also a little perturbed about the 'Subject to us receiving funds from Ofgem' comment from Ecotricity.

I thought I had a cast iron 20 year contract to get paid for the electricity I produce - in what way is this subject to funds from Ofgem ?

Is my contract with Ecotricity or Ofgem ?

EricMears

Fly_Guy wrote: »

Interesting, I was also a little perturbed about the 'Subject to us receiving funds from Ofgem' comment from Ecotricity.

I thought I had a cast iron 20 year contract to get paid for the electricity I produce - in what way is this subject to funds from Ofgem ?

Is my contract with Ecotricity or Ofgem ?

Contracts are with whichever organisation you chose - but backed by government funds.

I suspect the 'receiving funds from Ofgem' reference refers to their delayed payment schedule. Most of the bigger electricity suppliers collect massive sums from other consumers so can pay SP owners out of their own resources before paying balance to central funds. Smaller ones have to wait until they've been paid.

karmacookie

Just got my first FIT payment from British Gas £188. Only took just over a week to come through

Pity that my car is in the garage this afternoon and I'm expecting a hefty bill!

ispookie666

Just joined the bandwagon of Solar. Not impressed with Scottish power. My installer submitted all the paperwork on time and two weeks later a mail comes through stating - they can only start the FIT from the day of processing the application. In short I lost out on 250Kw.
I know its not much - but just a wrong footing at the start and a Small rant

pinnks

I am not sure that is correct. My understanding is that submitting a properly completed application form is the operative date. That is certainly how E.On dealt with both of my systems.

EricMears

ispookie666 wrote: »

Just joined the bandwagon of Solar. Not impressed with Scottish power. My installer submitted all the paperwork on time and two weeks later a mail comes through stating - they can only start the FIT from the day of processing the application. In short I lost out on 250Kw.
I know its not much - but just a wrong footing at the start and a Small rant

You haven't actually 'lost' two weeks payments. Arguably you've actually gained since you'll get an extra two weeks payments at the end of your contract when your rate should have been increased considerably.

I'm not one to stick up for Scottish Power but it's only fair to point out that it won't have been their idea to delay the start of your contract but a general directive from the FIT scheme administrators. Four years ago they were quite happy to start from the meter reading submitted on installation day.

theboylard

Good Energy - in name only it appears.

I really must move FiT provider, they are abysmal!
They ask for a reading on 20/3 (my anniversary is 21/3), so duly submitted around 22.00 on 20/3.
Based on comments on here and in one email from Good Energy, I also supplied a reading on 31/3 @ 22.19, for the FiT increase on the 1/4.

They then send a statement through dated from the 31/3 to 31/3, generating 16kWh, and from 1/4 to 19/6 with the final reading I supplied!

Wut?

Had a conversation with them today, and find that because their system cannot use the same figure to begin a period as to end it, they calculate an average and apply it!

So all their messages stating to supply a reading by a due date mean you get penalised!
I also have no statement for the Dec/14 to Mar/15 period, so not sure if I've been paid for the 21-31/3!

This is all on top of them passing yours and other customer details around willy nilly and having to wait 8 weeks for payment - reading submitted on 19/6 and payment in bank on 18/8.

Useless cocks.

nobby1963

theboylard wrote: »

Good Energy - in name only it appears.

Useless cocks.

Do you want to phone a friend or shall we put you down as undecided then ?
:rotfl:

Nobby.