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

John_Pierpoint

How did you get the paperwork to them on the Thursday 1st March date of installation. The team on my house were delighted to get 0.75 of a kWh on the day, before it got dark, so they could demonstrate they had "commissioned" the installation, without having to come back the next day.

I would have recommended delivering the paper work in person on the next day (Friday) and getting a signature, as a friend of mine did to achieve the December deadline.

The receptionist said he was one of hundreds.

battelaxe

Sorry, just looked at the date of my installation, all done in one day, it was amazing, specially to get in before the deadline. It was on the 29th Feb and they did "commission" the installation on the 29th. Does that have a meaning, as far as them acknowledging the date from which the installation is completed (and therefore within the deadline)?

The company that installed it put the application in to EDF. Thinking about it now, the fitting company said they had loads of installations that day, so I imagine they did the applications in bulk, I didn't do it myself. I have found a letter from EDF dated 8th May confirming receipt of application, but it doesn't give a date of when they received my application.

Martyn1981

Hiya battelaxe, crucially for FITs, your registration date, is the date that a correct and complete application reached the company. The new tariff came into force on the 3/3/12. So as long as EDF received the application before that, then you should get the old rate of 43.3p (now 45.5p).

But if it was submitted (and received) later, then you'll get the 21p. Strangely, after the 1/4/12 the application would also require an EPC. Perhaps you can take some heart from that if EDF didn't mention it in their letter of 8/5/12?

I'd ring the green team on 0800 404 9087 and ask them what is happening, and what dates they have down for your application.

Mart.

battelaxe

Yes, I have just been reading up on it on the ofgen website, it says

"Eligibility Date and Eligibility Period
The date from which a generator is eligible to receive payments for electricity generated and exported is known as the Eligibility Date. The Eligibility Date is defined as the later of the following dates:

a) A FIT supplier received a written request for FIT registration (including MCS certificate),
b) Ofgem received a request for ROO-FIT accreditation, or
c) The commissioning date of the installation"

Interestingly, perhaps for some people it goes on to say

"Ofgem understands there are practical obstacles when a generator makes a written application for FIT; by the time a FIT Licensee receives the application form via post, natural postal delays will mean that the Eligibility Date will be after a generator has taken the start meter reading and completed, signed and dated an application form. Ofgem has advised Licensees that a reasonable postal delay (5 working days) should be allowed. If the application is received up to 5 working days from the date on which the meter readings was taken, Ofgem considers that the meter reading recorded on the application form is acceptable as the start meter reading for FIT payments. For applications received more that 5 working days after the start meter reading was taken, the FIT Licensee should take another start reading from the generator."

So, perhaps for those who put their applications in late, they have grounds for backdating their FIT.

battelaxe

I thought I would post a copy of the email I was sent as follows

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.

I am happy to confirm that you will be sent all the appropriate Feed in Tariff paperwork by email today.

In addition, once the paperwork has been completed and returned to us, we will arrange for the income from the Feed in Tariff to be backdated to 3 March 2012, as the installation certificate we have been provided confirms that your panels were installed on 1 March 2012.

If I can be of any further assistance, please contact me by return email or by calling me on 0845 300 6949*.

Yours sincerely

What do you think?

battelaxe

Sorry to go on, but as the mists clear from my mind, memories keep returning unfortunately after I have clicked on submit. I do remember filling in and signing the application when I agreed to the installation, I have a copy of it filed and dated with my signature on 24th Feb 2012.

Does that sound good?

KevinG

battelaxe wrote: »

I thought I would post a copy of the email I was sent ... What do you think?

Well it would be a heck of a lot better if it said 1st or 2nd March as 3rd March was when the reduced rate took effect.

battelaxe wrote: »

I do remember filling in and signing the application when I agreed to the installation, I have a copy of it filed and dated with my signature on 24th Feb 2012.

Does that sound good?

Not especially - you would not have had all of the information required to submit a FiT application at that time, for example the generation meter serial number.

I think the only thing that really matters is the date they received the FiT application. It is still unclear to me whether you submitted it or your installer did. I know I did mine, on the official form I obtained from my electricity company.

John_Pierpoint

The third of March was a Saturday.
I wonder if the company is rostered to receive a postal delivery on a Saturday?
A normal postal contract is valid at the date and time of the postmark (or the certificate of posting) but in your case the contract terms have been skewed in favour of the electricity company. [Surprise surprise, the little guy always gets skewered (is that a polite word?) by the terms and conditions].

Do this really boils down to when did the post bag get handed across the threshold and did they put on a Saturday overtime shift to try to clear yesterday's massive mail delivery.
The PO probably will refuse to talk to you but you could try to make enquiries on Friday trying to find out if it is possible to deliver a document to the address on the Saturday (or get told there is an individual courier service available for (say) £25).

As a one time hire car driver I have been involved in such disputes, there might be an element of blame accruing to your installers, but you will find it hard to prove that you made "time of the essence" and there were no force majeure excuses.

KevinG

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

The third of March was a Saturday.
I wonder if the company is rostered to receive a postal delivery on a Saturday?

Would it not have had to have been received by the 2nd March, which was a Friday?

battelaxe

"Eligibility Date and Eligibility Period
The date from which a generator is eligible to receive payments for electricity generated and exported is known as the Eligibility Date. The Eligibility Date is defined as the later of the following dates:

a) A FIT supplier received a written request for FIT registration (including MCS certificate),
b) Ofgem received a request for ROO-FIT accreditation, or
c) The commissioning date of the installation"

Implies to me that an application can be received prior to the commission of the installation. I have a copy of the signed application dated 24th Feb and the accompanying data. So the latest of the dates would then be the commissioning which was on the 29th Feb. I think we need a b222y barrister to interpret the contract ;-}

Any further thoughts, or will I have to slog it out with all of the above info that you have given me?