Solar FiT costs half original estimates, Barker admits

[confounded]

solar fit news | Solar FiT costs half original estimates, Barker admits


5th March 2012
Energy Minister Greg Barker has announced the revised costs of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme for solar electricity will actually be half his department's original estimates.
In a written answer to Parliament, Barker said the new calculated costs of the extension of the 43.3 pence FiT rate for solar PV show the extended scheme will now have a lifetime bill of £750 million and not the £1.5 billion his department first forecast.

The Energy Minister said the big reduction was because the Department of Energy and Climate change had appealed to the Supreme Court in an attempt to overrule an original High Court judgement and the installation figures were up to the contingency March 3 deadline.

But David Hunt of Eco Environments said the "massive margin of error" was another example of "Keystone Kop" policy-making.

"Once again we see that DECC seem to generate forecasts and financial figures based on the message they want to put out," he added. "Message comes first, then the numbers to match the message.

"As we saw with the figures quoted by Barker and DECC about the cost of FiT to household energy bills, the numbers changed by the day, with little connection, corroboration or substantiation.

"Now we see forecasts of the cost of FiT extension out by 50 per cent, that is a massive margin of error which just goes to show DECC as a 'Keystone Kops' department, they lurch from one farce to another, whilst industry and consumers suffer."

And Seb Berry, head of public affairs at Solarcentury, commented: "The shock tactics figures of '£100 million a year and £1.5 billion' clearly didn't stand up to scrutiny. Analysis and decision making like this just undermines trust in Government."

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[SolarCity]

"The Energy Minister said the big reduction was because the Department of Energy and Climate change had appealed to the Supreme Court in an attempt to overrule an original High Court judgement"

As if there were any doubt about the motive of the DECC's Supreme Court appeal?

What are we to think about a government body that would adopt tactics like this to achieve its goals?

 

[Energetic]

Time to resign Barker, if this was a mishap you've got absolutely every single thing wrong since you took the role and should resign as a failure.

If it was deliberate you are a lying, cheating, power mad to55er and should resign as such. Or is this a prerequisite of the cabinet these days?

 

[Eco Deal]

getting really fed up with this rolller coaster now, why should we put up with this ,
His aim is to destroy the solar pv industry !! you could not plan the mistakes and descisions better if you tried.

 

[confounded]

As if there were any doubt about the motive of the DECC's Supreme Court appeal?

What are we to think about a government body that would adopt tactics like this to achieve its goals?

It is exactly how I interpreted their actions, putting out spoilers to quell demand until they could legally cut on the 3rd March. Lets hope that the Supreme court deny them the appeal and that the industry is allow to move on.

I can just see them all sitting in their London offices looking at the latest installation figures in September and discussing how they could suppress demand until they could get a legal cut point in. Tactically they have done pretty well but if only they could grasp the impact they have had on us, our customers and the industry at large they may be a little less smug. All to save a few £100M that on a normal day between them and the bankers could ****(urinate..) up the wall by their morning coffee break.

 

[The Solar King]

i need to contain my anger and try and stay on topic. This Guardian article shows a great deal of the big picture. Who is in charge of Britain's energy policy? | Catherine Mitchell | Environment | guardian.co.uk

We all need to revisit lobbying our MPs and respond vigorously to the Phase Two Consultation.

Incidentally, how would you feel if the bankers had 80 plus staff working in the Treasury? Why is it OK for the Big 6 energy companies to have the same number in DECC? This is corruption in Government of the worst kind. Why are the police not involved?

i have started a new thread on Phase 2 Consultation.

 

[Vegelen]

You couldn't make this up if you tried.....

 

[moggy1968]

If it was deliberate you are a lying, cheating, power mad to55er and should resign as such. Or is this a prerequisite of the cabinet these days?

err,yes, fraid so!!

 

[finchy]

Thanks for the post confounded ! but has your tag says is exactly how we all feel !!

The government is making it all up !! Nothing new to us, however the chaps at DECC get a nice wage and pension whilst the people on the ground have to change our business model every 5 minutes, do they realise we are not the enemy! Does Solar PV make power or are we just making it all up....

Anti-corruption and Bribery ACT !! DECC its under your noises, send in Internal audit ...oh ....are they as coerced like everyone else !!

in the mean time no sales !