Mitigation of risk - from a customer perspective

[series530]

Firstly, I would like to offer sincere best wishes to all of the people on this forum who have helped me. I have learned so much and now, with this latest news, I feel so saddened for the PV companies who have invested heavily on a promise and have been so severely kicked in the teeth. A correction was always inevitable but I feel that the cut is too deep, too quick, and with the added issue of energy rating for properties following the reduction, it is also a severe dilution of a diminished customer pool.

My installer convinced me to have my panels installed ahead of the Enecsys inverter delivery. As many of you know, Enecsys have been playing silly games with the PV industry while they assess their products. I am promised inverters today and have an installation and commissioning date for early next week. Unless Enecsys screw up, I should be OK. Thank goodness I agreed to have the panels installed ahead of time. I fear that, had I not done so, I could have missed the boat as a result of the inevitable rush.

Now, I have until December 12th (realistically, December 9th) to get my system in and to get the top rate FIT. I want to be 100% sure of achieving that by mitigating any conceivable risk. Given the danger of a stampede in the coming months there is every opportunity for errors and I don't want to be a casualty of this. I should be fine - but let's not tempt fate.

So, I am a little confused as to the steps that take place between the system first being switched on and tested and me getting an approval from SSE for my FIT. I wonder if somebody could summarise what has to happen in between and who should do what. Things like the

• Commissioning (who does what, does it have to be independently checked... that sort of thing)
• The checking of the installation (who does what, does it have to be independently checked... that sort of thing).
• What paper work I need to submit with my FIT application. What shortfalls in paper work could throw up an issue and kill off my application?
• If I pay the invoice early, can I submit early just to be sure of getting the application in?
• Any other things that I can do so as to mitigate risk.

Belt and braces, I know... I just cannot afford to take any chances.

Many thanks

 

[SolarCity]

Commissioning, checking etc. will be done by the installation company. They will also provide you with an MCS certificate. There is no reason why they can't do this the same day. We normally do this on site after we have commissioned the system.

Different energy suppliers ask for different documentation. Eon (whom I would strongly recommend) will ask for just the MCS certificate and the completed FIT form. Your installer should be able to help you out with filling the form out. It is a good idea to send the documentation by recorded delivery straight away.

Paying the invoice early will make no difference. You will still need the MCS certificate which can only be awarded after completion.

If you do all this, you should be fine.

 

[kate.harrison1]

Scottish Power didn't ask for an invoice, just the completed forms with all the meter numbers etc, MCS cert and Vat declaration.

 

[Scooby]

Sorry to high-jack the thread, but it is connected.

How quickly would you expect your chosen energy provider (E-ON in my case...) to acknowledge receipt/ send the 'approval' back? And does the FIT payment begin from the PV system commission date, or when they receive the FIT application, or when they approve the application?!

Thanks.

 

[TedM]

It's from when they receive the complete set of paperwork (assuming the installation has been commissioned).

 

[series530]

Thanks everyone - I doubt I could take a FIT with EON as they probably don't want SSE customers.

 

[Scooby]

Thanks, Ted.

How long do they tend to take to acknowledge/confirm an application? Mine was sent recorded delivery one month ago...

 

[SolarCity]

Sounds like a long time, Scoob. It might be worth giving them a call to make sure they have it on record.

I hope E-on haven't 'dropped the ball'. I have been recommending them to all our customers for months.

 

[Scooby]

Cheers, Biggs. Yeah, I sent them an email last week and they claim to reply within 5 days. I'll get on the phone...!

 

[SolarCity]

Let me know how you get on.

 

[langstroth2]

3 weeks so far for EON with me. To be fair though when I rang after a week to confirm receipt I got through quickly to someone who clearly knew what they were doing, checked my address and confirmed they had received the form - and advised what I'd need to send back when paper work does eventually arrive - which they said would 4-6 weeks. But that could be the play it safe response, or it could be they've been snowed under with applications...

 

[Yanman]

Series530. I am sure you know this already but the Enecsys inverters are fitted under the panels so they will have to be removed again.

 

[TedM]

If you have trouble with EON get on to them via Twitter. They keep a high profile there and seem to respond to complaints very quickly.

 

[PAGE Renewable]

I cant find the thread at the moment, but I'm sure someone on here mentioned sending FiT applications by special delivery to prove receipt by the energy company could help, I always send in the FiT application, MCS cert and final invoice just to be sure.

 

[PAGE Renewable]

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