EPC on communal area in a block of flats

[Somecamel]

Hi,

Anyone have any idea on this one.

Have a customer that lives in a block of flats, they're all owned and want to install a PV system on the roof.

Have said best to tie it into the communal areas electricity meter etc but bit stumped on the EPC.

There is no heating in the communal areas just lighting, alarms etc.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Earthstore]

My take on this one is; as none of the areas that are used by this supply, are heated or cooled by a source of energy, then it will be exempt from an EPC, however you have to get a DEA to write you a letter to confirm this, and hand that in with the FIT form, but if things go wrong then your customer will only get 9p instead of the 21p, and you can not change the EPC after the FIT form has gone in.
I hope this helps.

Added. Not too sure how they would benifit from PV in this situation though, as communal areas would only need power for lights, and this would be at night, so the only gain would be the generation tariff @21p, Just a thought.

 

[sedgy34]

It's going to be exempt in a communal area

 

[Somecamel]

excellent, thanks for all the replies

 

[SolarRoofSols]

Has anyone had any issue with EPCs exemptions recently?

Having a phone battle with BG about a 4kw install on a block of flats where the array is only feeding into the communal supply where there is no heating or cooling. BG are telling me it needs a commercial EPC, but Ofgem may let it go with a epc unattainable declaration and photos to back up the claim. Ofgem are telling me it is up to british gas whether they accept a declaration.

Frustrated!

Can you guys offer any advice?

 

[Somecamel]

Has anyone had any issue with EPCs exemptions recently?

Having a phone battle with BG about a 4kw install on a block of flats where the array is only feeding into the communal supply where there is no heating or cooling. BG are telling me it needs a commercial EPC, but Ofgem may let it go with a epc unattainable declaration and photos to back up the claim. Ofgem are telling me it is up to british gas whether they accept a declaration.

Frustrated!

Can you guys offer any advice?

Might help to get an exemption letter from an EPC assessor, I've done this in the past and was Ok

 

[SolarRoofSols]

That is what I was planning as that is how i interpret the Ofgem guide - point 2.82. Thought I would check with BG who have now sent me an email saying that the whole building should be assessed and a link to a document from 2008 which does not refer to FIT or Solar!! Spoke to 2 people now with the same outcome - laughable.

 

[SolarRoofSols]

Does anyone have a copy of an exemption cert that has been granted FIT please that you can email me? Blank out contact details etc. My EPC assessor has not done one before and just wants to make sure that he has but the right amount of detail in.

 

[jason121]

Does anyone have a copy of an exemption cert that has been granted FIT please that you can email me? Blank out contact details etc. My EPC assessor has not done one before and just wants to make sure that he has but the right amount of detail in.

I have had my exemption letter refused my EON for a church with no heating. Do it properly else you could end up with the lower rate FIT if rejected. Commercial EPC are not expensive.

 

[SolarRoofSols]

I have had my exemption letter refused my EON for a church with no heating. Do it properly else you could end up with the lower rate FIT if rejected. Commercial EPC are not expensive.

Thanks for the tip - talking to EPC assessor now to get a gist of where to go from here. What reason did EON give you for refusing?

 

[Ian-LS]

Why are Ofgem letting energy companies decide what constitutes what needs an EPC of D? Any way of not paying a higher FIT rate out then they'll do it imo

 

[jason121]

Thanks for the tip - talking to EPC assessor now to get a gist of where to go from here. What reason did EON give you for refusing?

No reason in general, preferred a registered document rather than a piece of paper signed by an assessor. £180.00 cost me

 

[Earthstore]

Ask a different FIT provider, why use the big boys??

Try Good Energy, ring them up and discuss it with them, it is only a phone call and could save you lots of hassle....

 

[Worcester]

We asked Good Energy specifically what words they needed from an assesor for a 'domestic' installtion. - Single owner, so not a "communal area" power supply on dedicated MPAN to an unheated, uncooled 'summer house' and garage / workshop legally not classed as a dwelling the words they wanted were:

If a building is not required to have an EPC then we must see a letter from an authorised EPC assessor who has stated that "the building is not a ‘relevant building’ and therefore does not need an EPC."

This was of course not quite same as your problem, as no parts of these buildings were even relevant for an EPC, though hopefully it will help some others.