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

The_Green_Hornet

E.on appear to have toned down their unable to read your FiT meter letters as they no longer threaten to stop your payments, and they now explain more clearly what the next steps are.

Dear The Green Hornet

We recently tried to read your FiT meter, but we couldn't get in.

We'll call again when we're next in your area. If we can't access your meter during our next visit, we'll write to you again and ask you to arrange an appointment for our meter reader to visit.

...

Still seems an inefficient process but fair play to E.on on changing the wording.

1961Nick

The_Green_Hornet wrote: »

E.on appear to have toned down their unable to read your FiT meter letters as they no longer threaten to stop your payments, and they now explain more clearly what the next steps are.



Still seems an inefficient process but fair play to E.on on changing the wording.

I have heard of some people being asked to take a picture of their meter (including the serial number) & uploading it.

KevinG

1961Nick wrote: »

I have heard of some people being asked to take a picture of their meter (including the serial number) & uploading it.

I have to do that once a year for my Micro CHP reading, which is always "over tolerance" for the winter quarter because, shock, horror, I actually use the boiler to heat the house in winter! This despite my only using the heating for a few hours a day even in the depth of winter. I strongly suspect that they don't distinguish between Solar PV and Micro CHP when setting the tolerances.

jimjames

1961Nick wrote: »

I have heard of some people being asked to take a picture of their meter (including the serial number) & uploading it.

I've had to do that previously when our panels have generated what appears to be too much. As we have no shading and are directly south facing we are getting substantially more than PVGIS, over 3000kWh compared to 2400kWh estimate.

Having previously sung the praises of British Gas for their FIT payments they seem to have seriously dropped the ball with the service now. Not sure if it's something that anyone else has noticed but the last 3 payments have all been much slower than before. Having had the cheque through within a week normally it's now taking up to a month. I wonder if they've changed systems or something.

Best company to move to that pays quickly and electronically? EDF?

ChopperST

jimjames wrote: »

I've had to do that previously when our panels have generated what appears to be too much. As we have no shading and are directly south facing we are getting substantially more than PVGIS, over 3000kWh compared to 2400kWh estimate.

Having previously sung the praises of British Gas for their FIT payments they seem to have seriously dropped the ball with the service now. Not sure if it's something that anyone else has noticed but the last 3 payments have all been much slower than before. Having had the cheque through within a week normally it's now taking up to a month. I wonder if they've changed systems or something.

Best company to move to that pays quickly and electronically? EDF?

I've been with Npower for 5 years and find them really efficient. Reminder email with online form, instant email notification with statement generally within 24 hours and BACS payment in 7-10 days. Had to ring once and customer service team know what they were on about and query dealt with quickly.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

The_Green_Hornet wrote: »

E.on appear to have toned down their unable to read your FiT meter letters as they no longer threaten to stop your payments, and they now explain more clearly what the next steps are.



Still seems an inefficient process but fair play to E.on on changing the wording.

Thanks for the update The Green Hornet. Glad we've toned down these letters.

Malc

jimjames

Yet more issues with British Gas. Three weeks after submitting my reading they have decided it was too high and need evidence to confirm.

This is the 3rd time they've said that so it looks like their systems need amendment and frustrating that they've waited so long before raising an issue. Almost like they're deliberating delaying as long as possible to avoid paying out.

KevinG

jimjames wrote: »

This is the 3rd time they've said that so it looks like their systems need amendment

I was told that the tolerances are set by Ofgem and there is nothing the FiT supplier can do about it.

System

Still waiting for my cheque from British Gas has always took about a week, 3 weeks on still no sign

Johnkg

l966dpy wrote: »

Still waiting for my cheque from British Gas has always took about a week, 3 weeks on still no sign

Same here. Also no reminder email sent.