DECC launch FIT review

[Worcester]

One to check out:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/98179/draftguidanceonpausingthefitsscheme-pdf
Draft Guidance on Pausing the FITs scheme
Feed-in Tariffs: Commissioned Guide
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/98155/fitcommissionedguide-pdf

Both published on the 16th..

all from here:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme

and another:
Draft MCS Deployment Caps FAQ
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/draft-mcs-deployment-caps-faq

 

[TedM]

There is a nasty 'gotcha' hidden in one of those docs:

Transitional MCS installations
1.11. Installations which have MCS issue dates and commissioning dates before 15 January 2016 but which apply to their FIT licensee on or after this date will not count towards deployment caps. These installations must apply to their licensee before 1 April 2016 or they will not be able to receive FIT payments.

1.12. The “eligibility date” and “tariff date” of these transitional MCS installations will be 8 February 2016.

So someone with an install that is commissioned on the 14th January is going to have to get their FiT application in on the same day or lose out in a big way.

 

[SolarCity]

Are all these changes coming in on 15th Jan?

Or are things like pre-accreditation implemented now? Being able to do that would save a lot of stress for my current customer.

 

[Worcester]

Warning: The MCS database will crash / freeze on the 14th as everyone tries to register them on the same day.
The new concept of the date that the system is registered on the MCS database is one to watch out for, along with the EPC date.

 

[TedM]

Are all these changes coming in on 15th Jan?

Or are things like pre-accreditation implemented now? Being able to do that would save a lot of stress for my current customer.

Normal preliminary accreditation (only available for DNC > 50kW PV, not an extension) is closed and doesn't open again until 8th February.

For a qualifying "community organisation" (only available for a DNC < 50kW PV, not an extension) you can apply before 15th January for pre-registration and the eligibility date will be the later of:
- the date that OFGEM received the pre-registration application
- the date the system is commissioned
and the tariff date will be that same date.

 

[SolarCity]

Thanks Ted.

 

[The Solar King]

Had occasion to speak to the MCS help desk today. Be aware Ofgem are planning quite a number of audits on FIT submissions toward the end of the qualification period to ensure there is no cheating/fraud - paperwork completed but systems not etc. It maybe the householder they go after as it will be easier to trip them up.

 

[Gavin A]

odd that Ofgem have time to do that when they're now 10 months behind processing the paperwork for one of our commercial PV installations.

 

[Somecamel]

They won't be doing this themselves.

I remember talking to our MCS assessor (NAPIT) after the last big rush (2011/12?) and he was telling me that they were trying to get their assessors out there to go and check installs.

I think he refused but I do remember him telling me that one of his colleagues had agreed to do it and he literally got chased off a job that had already been signed off with the install guys on site when he sprung himself on them!!

 

[whinmoor]

Anyone got any hope of a last ditch rescue by Corbyn or Baroness Featherstone? (who!?!):

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Lib Dem peer bid to block feed-in tariff cuts | Solar Power Portal

 

[Somecamel]

The EDM seems pretty weak Early day motion 912 - ELECTRICITY - UK Parliament

Just asking for it to be annulled without any reasoning screams lip service to me.

I've had a flood of commercial enquiries this last week where FITS doesn't really matter but if I'm honest, I've had enough.

I don't know about you guys but I'm kinda looking forward to this 4 week break

 

[SRE]

We fitted our last full system before Christmas and I've got to say I'm pleased to see the back of it. I really hope it works out for you guys but I'm sick of playing by the rules while watching idiots install in gale force winds and rain with no scaffolding, rubbish kit and shoddy installations making more money than us.

We'll really struggle with EPC ratings and domestic rate fit and we're just not geared up for commercial or have any intention of doing so. We have one inverter on a new build to get in before next week and that's us. I'll be keeping an eye on you though ;-)

 

[Gavin A]

frankly I think the sooner we get this over with the better, so far the press coverage has been minimal due to announcement being just before christmas, and we can make the figures stack up with the current FIT levels. Unless there's a late flurry of negative woe is us press coverage, I'm hoping we can avoid the massive irrational drop off of enquiries that happened last time and hit the ground running.

I'm intenting to do a newsletter to send out to all previous customers and inquiries basically highlighting the positives of the situation, to spread the word that solar is still viable and has never been more affordable, and use the quarterly cuts to encourage rapid turnaround from quote to install.

EPC issue could be an opportunity to sell add on energy efficiency measures that probably have better paybacks than PV.

Onward and upward... we all knew the end game was to end up subsidy free, so best we get on with it really.

That being said, I am putting feelers out for a legal challenge to the quarterly caps mechanism, which IMO have been implemented illegally as they restrict the uptake of SSEG's rather than encouraging it, and the energy act 2008 only gives powers to administer FITs scheme to encourage SSEG uptake via SIs, would need full act of parliament to legally change it to restrict uptake in this way not and SI.

 

[Gavin A]

The EDM seems pretty weak Early day motion 912 - ELECTRICITY - UK Parliament

Just asking for it to be annulled without any reasoning screams lip service to me.

I've had a flood of commercial enquiries this last week where FITS doesn't really matter but if I'm honest, I've had enough.

I don't know about you guys but I'm kinda looking forward to this 4 week break

6 signatures?

6?

Is that really the best that Corbyn can manage?

 

[Gavin A]

right, that's all Leeds MPs hit up on twitter to sign that EDM.

If everyone else did their local MPs as well, we could get some momentum going behind that EDM, and at least get it debated in Parliament.