Government cut to solar tariffs blocked as appeal fails

The_Green_Hornet

The government has failed in an appeal against a decision which blocked its attempts to reduce solar subsidies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16721328

Cardew

There are going to further appeal and if they succeed then the reduced FIT stand.

If there is any justice the Government will win.

If they fail, let us hope it is a pyhrric victory for the solar industry and the Government cut FITs even further at the earliest possible opportunity - and save electricity customers money.

jamesingram

well , they claim its a fixed budget , so I guess they'll have to reduce further if there is another gold rush eating up the funds

jamesingram

the whole things been badly managed, whether you're for or against FITs
the gov. have created this problem ; for other to be advantaged or disadvantaged

zeupater

Hi All

'Winning' is not the game at hand, it is to 'not lose' .... all the government need to do is stall, time is on their (/our ?) side - not the installers and scheme operators who are looking to their own profits .....

HTH
Z

benefitquery_2

ecotricity, just to let ou know, is my main electricity supplier (I support solar energy and am attempting to get some on my roof) have excellent customer service and I've so far had zero problem with my bills.

jamesingram

zeupater wrote: »

Hi All

'Winning' is not the game at hand, it is to 'not lose' .... all the government need to do is stall, time is on their (/our ?) side - not the installers and scheme operators who are looking to their own profits .....

HTH
Z

I'd have to agree , though I'd probably profit from a gold rush, as i do the odd install as part of my jobbing builder work.
if the budget is restricted then , the more left in the pot for maximum no. of future installs is best.
What was needed for PV was slow steady support , not the same old boom and bust that we experience all to often elsewhere.

jamesingram

From elsewhere
"the government is taking this to the supreme court who've said it's unlikely they'll even be able to rule on whether they can even allow the appeal for 2 months, with any decision unlikely for several more months."

decc statement http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/huhne_fits/huhne_fits.aspx

bris

The government are not stupid, they are a lot of things, but they know the appeals will buy them the time they need to get their own way.
They have badly managed the whole scheme, letting the RAR big boys abuse the whole industry. The scheme was intended for the average homeowner to do a tiny bit for the green energy scene, but instead the loophole that allowed the RAR to turn it into huge business for the big players has killed it for everyone.

Martyn1981

bris wrote: »

The government are not stupid, they are a lot of things, but they know the appeals will buy them the time they need to get their own way.
They have badly managed the whole scheme, letting the RAR big boys abuse the whole industry. The scheme was intended for the average homeowner to do a tiny bit for the green energy scene, but instead the loophole that allowed the RAR to turn it into huge business for the big players has killed it for everyone.

I think you're spot on Bris.

The govt could have changed the rates much sooner, and could have brought in a reduced rate for RaR's as soon as they spotted the situation developing. I know it's easy to knock the govt 'in hindsight', but they changed the rate for large installs, last August, thus setting the stage for a domestic cut to 35p or so, without any arguments nor complaints.

Now they are stuck in this endless game of catch up, or tail chasing. I can't see how the industry can settle back down, and have stable prices whilst these boom and bust policies exist. Clear 6 monthly reviews should now be set up. Or go for bust and reduce FITs by 2p every 6 months with no review process. Or just apply net metering, prices now would just about make PV viable on that basis!

Mart.