MSE News: Solar subsidies to be slashed under government plans

cmorgan091

Well 12th Dec looks to be the date that systems must be "eligible for FITs payments".

Can anyone confirm what the eligibility criteria would be? I would presume its that the system is registered with MCS certificate?

sly_dog_jonah

cmorgan091 wrote: »

Well 12th Dec looks to be the date that systems must be "eligible for FITs payments".

Can anyone confirm what the eligibility criteria would be? I would presume its that the system is registered with MCS certificate?

Quoting from the consultation document published today (foot of p.5):

Eligibility date” means the date from which an installation’s eligibility for FIT payments commences. It is defined in Condition 33 of the Standard Conditions of Electricity Supply Licences, and is the later of the date:
(a) as applicable, of
(i) receipt by Ofgem of a FIT generator’s written request for ROO-FIT accreditation in a form acceptable to Ofgem
(for installations with a declared net capacity of over 50kW); or
(ii) receipt by a FIT licensee of a FIT generator’s written request for MCS-certified registration (for installations
with a declared net capacity of up to 50kW); or
(b) on which the eligible installation is commissioned.


So for a domestic Solar PV installation (assuming it is under 50kW) the eligibility date is the LATER of the commissioning date (i.e. when it starts making electricity) OR the date your electricity supplier RECEIVES your FiT application forms (and supporting documentation).

wymondham

oh dear, email sent cancelling our survey etc..... pity i came to the party a bit late... ;-(

nrobinson

It seems utterly amazing and completely wrong that a 50% reduction in the FIT can be introduced (12 Dec 2012) before the completion of the consultation on the changes (23 Dec 2012).

All the indications had been that this would not come until Q2 2012.
Whilst I agree the incentive needs reviewing, the lead time they are giving the implementation, and the fact that they will implemented before the consultation has finished, I think is an extremely concerning precedent to set.
The details of the proposal are here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/fits_review/fits_review.aspx
Which also links to a consultation response page.
It would seem the move is being introduced to at least try to stop rent-a-roof companies profiteering. However it is also penalising the home owner that is looking to improve energy efficiency. And I would say to the dissenters that say it is only the rich that are profiting, and doing so from taxpayers coffers, that if the UK Government does not meet its CO2 reduction and renewable energy targets by the relevant dates, then the penalties of these failures will cost all taxpayers far more than the incentives from this scheme are/will cost.
A petition to only make changes to reduce FIT for new rent-a-roof schemes has been set up:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20672
But I’m not sure if this is the answer, nor if based on the implementation prior close of consultation and legal ratification, any petition will have any impact on these changes.
Cheers,

Nik.

beedydad

nrobinson wrote: »

It seems utterly amazing and completely wrong that a 50% reduction in the FIT can be introduced (12 Dec 2012) before the completion of the consultation on the changes (23 Dec 2012).

All the indications had been that this would not come until Q2 2012.
Whilst I agree the incentive needs reviewing, the lead time they are giving the implementation, and the fact that they will implemented before the consultation has finished, I think is an extremely concerning precedent to set.
The details of the proposal are here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/fits_review/fits_review.aspx
Which also links to a consultation response page.
It would seem the move is being introduced to at least try to stop rent-a-roof companies profiteering. However it is also penalising the home owner that is looking to improve energy efficiency. And I would say to the dissenters that say it is only the rich that are profiting, and doing so from taxpayers coffers, that if the UK Government does not meet its CO2 reduction and renewable energy targets by the relevant dates, then the penalties of these failures will cost all taxpayers far more than the incentives from this scheme are/will cost.
A petition to only make changes to reduce FIT for new rent-a-roof schemes has been set up:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20672
But I’m not sure if this is the answer, nor if based on the implementation prior close of consultation and legal ratification, any petition will have any impact on these changes.
Cheers,

Nik.

The problem is not just the issue in regard to rent a roof mobs - who have distorted the FIT market but it is as much to do with your comment I have boldened/underlined...how is it making home owners more energy efficient? At most as has been well documented on here that approx £75 - £150 would be knocked off your leccie bill by having large bits of solar PV kits on your roof! What your micro generator is doing is effectively providing energy for your neighbours (unbeknown to them!) rather than your own household efficiancy!. Renewables and solar etc is about how you use energy and its efficiency - it is not an investment which seems to be the current and only whinge that you cannot get the same return elsewhere now you cannot do the same from getting money from everyone else who pays their "green tax" thru utility bills

[Deleted User]

Cardew wrote: »

Exactly.

The rent a Roof companies proposed FIT is 16.8p/kWh - still too high IMO. and agree they should be the main target

However I am totally against paying any home owners 43.3p/kWh which is funded in higher electricity prices by:

those who can't afford £10,000+

or who live in rented accomodation

live in flats

have unsuitable roofs

There is absolutely no justification for the poorest in the land paying towards income for the well off.

I certainly won't sign the petition

Roughly £3 is added to each households bill, whoopee.... Less that a packet of fags...

orrery

beedydad wrote: »

...how is it making home owners more energy efficient?

Firstly, those with solar are likely to have a close look at their electricity usage. I've got an install booked next week and I have already, as have others on these forii.

Secondly, many of those fitting solar have also changed their habits to use power when it is available from the sun for free - running washing machines and dishwashers during the day instead of overnight.

In order to do this I've got 2 additional timers on order and a second Owl monitor with an alarm to let me know when free power is available. I've recently bought a new freezer and looked for a very low consumption one - I'd have been happy to buy one with intelligent load shedding, but couldn't find one. Now there is something that the government really could do with legislation, but haven't bothered.

orangefleece30

pardon me for being stupid, but after reading most of the posts on here all i'd like to knowis, is it worth me letting the company thats just visited me put up solar panels on my roof so i can have cheap electric for the next 25years.

I am not envisaging moving as i love where i live.

rogerblack

If you're not paying for the panels - then yes.
If you understand that the electric savings may be modest - 20% absolute tops off your bill.
However, it's quite possible that they may not be interested in installing panels now.

magyar

orangefleece30 wrote: »

pardon me for being stupid, but after reading most of the posts on here all i'd like to knowis, is it worth me letting the company thats just visited me put up solar panels on my roof so i can have cheap electric for the next 25years.

I am not envisaging moving as i love where i live.

In very simple terms, if you can afford the investment yourself then you're better off buying them.

If you can't, then as you say you'll effectively just get cheaper electricity. The risk is basically that you might want to move in the future, however I think in practice this is unlikely going to put too many people off.

It's kind of a win-win really for you and the rental company. (The losers are the people who cannot install anything on their roof, because they're basically paying for you to have cheap power...)

I have not read enough of the threads to know which are the good and bad companies - suffice to say there must be hundreds of them on here - just do a search.