Solar panels included in house purchase, how to get payments?

Frostybrook

I've looked all over the panels and the boxes but can't seem to find the wattage or rather anything that makes sense!

I've found two metres one in the shed next to the panels and one next to the electric boxes/meters in the house. A woman I spoke to from EON confirmed the one near our other meter is the one to take readings from.

I tried the links to see if we are registered but they won't download but thanks anyway......

I will contact the estate agent today to see if they can help in any way.

nigelpm

Interesting discussion. This is exactly the sort of problem I expected would start occurring as home ownership changes and both the buyer and solicitor are not fully up to speed with how these things work in practice.

Personally, I think you should have investigated it yourself before committing to buying the property. It's easy to blame a solicitor but you ultimately made the purchase.

This may sound harsh but ultimately it's your purchase and your cold hard cash not the solicitors'

I'd investigate a bit further but unless you've signed the transfer over before purchase there's not a lot you are going to be able to do.

At least you have the free electricity.

groovyf

Frostybrook wrote: »

...I tried the links to see if we are registered but they won't download but thanks anyway......

They're both large files - 23MB and 29MB (I downloaded to verify my application was on there). Maybe try again.
You can search by first part of postcode to nail it down to your area.

Frostybrook

Thanks groovyf, I've managed to download the file and filter on my postcode but from there I'm stuck! The information doesn't have any meaning to me....

nigelpm, thank you for your comments, I realise now I should have been more on the ball, believe me next time I move I'll have it sussed out....

How do you mean free electricity?

I thought I would still have to pay my provider for any electricity I use and any fit payment would be sent to me for the electricity the panels generated. Two seperate things?

I'm confused!!

nigelpm

Frostybrook wrote: »

Thanks groovyf, I've managed to download the file and filter on my postcode but from there I'm stuck! The information doesn't have any meaning to me....

nigelpm, thank you for your comments, I realise now I should have been more on the ball, believe me next time I move I'll have it sussed out....

How do you mean free electricity?

I thought I would still have to pay my provider for any electricity I use and any fit payment would be sent to me for the electricity the panels generated. Two seperate things?

I'm confused!!

There are two separate elements to it.

1) Your panels will generate electricity - you can make use of this as much as you like.

2) The FIT payments - you must register for these and you'll be paid based on the amount of electricity you generate.

Martyn1981

Frostybrook wrote: »

I've looked all over the panels and the boxes but can't seem to find the wattage or rather anything that makes sense!

Hiya. What a pain!

Could you try, once more, to have a look at the back of the panels if possible. There should be a silver sticker with all the leccy stats/facts (like the ones on the back of a telly).

Hopefully that sticker will have a panel reference number that'll include the wattage of the panel, something like:

AB-250xxxxx

The 250 bit is the wattage, could be anything from around 160 to 330. 10* that will give you your system size. Also, the inverter should have a model number on it, and a sticker too, the size of the inverter, say 2500 should hint towards the array size.

Regarding income streams, take a look at section 1 of the FAQ, about half way down, savings and income:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3872445

If registered for FiT (the subsidy paid for generation) then it should transfer with the house, unless specified differently. But you will, of course, need to inform the FiT provider and submit meter readings ...... but how to track down the FiT provider, tricky!!!

Mart.

groovyf

All I can think of is to call each of the "big 6" energy providers' FiT Applications team - you have a meter serial number which is important and they should be able to let you know if it's on their books (assuming data privacy doesn't come into force).

Frostybrook

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice.

I called the estate agents who contacted the daughter of the previous owner and she said all the paperwork had been left at the house....if it had I'm sure I would have noticed! However, I haven't thrown anything away she left, just in case. So I'll go through it again.

She's taken my phone number and said she will call me.

I can see a sticker on the panels which says
CSUN200-72M
Maximum power 200w

I assume this means they are 200w x 10 = 2000w?

The panel in the shed says
Eversol TL-200
And then specifications and values.

rustyg

If the solar panels are in the garden, do you know if the previous owner applied for planning permission?

jimjames

It sounds like you're getting somewhere. If it helps to identify the components this is a link to some photos of the different bits

http://uk-solarpanels.blogspot.co.uk/p/our-solar-pv-setup.html

As well as the panels you have an inverter and a generation meter which could be close together or the generation meter may be near your main electricity meter.

It is the readings from the generation meter that determine how much you are paid for the FITS. If it was an install before March 2012 you'll be on a rate of 49.9p per kWh generated so a reasonable sum every year.