The Folly of EPC

[SolarRoofSols]

I do feel for you chaps, passing an EPC on any of our jobs we get is a given.

I think even if there wasnt this EPC crap, business wouldnt be any better. PV is back to a cottage industry, from 2 week (last yr) now to planning/"hoping" for 1 a month. The mad rushes are getting less and less November was stupidily busy, February was managable, August we're done and dusted although one might come through (pending planning). Some would call it a hobby rather than a business !!

Same here, there is just not that level of interest anymore and we have been advertising!

 

[SRE]

I do feel for you chaps, passing an EPC on any of our jobs we get is a given.

I think even if there wasnt this EPC crap, business wouldnt be any better. PV is back to a cottage industry, from 2 week (last yr) now to planning/"hoping" for 1 a month. The mad rushes are getting less and less November was stupidily busy, February was managable, August we're done and dusted although one might come through (pending planning). Some would call it a hobby rather than a business !!

We'd definitely have more work if we didn't have to deal with EPC's but probably not the same amount as last year. I'd hate to go back to the stresses of November though - a happy medium is all we're asking for.

 

[PengEF]

We had our property EPC'd today.

The Energy Assesor had the same opinion though as like SRE we have a LOT of oil fired properties around here with no mains gas, al lot of old housing stock built in the 30's with no cavity wall insulation, so they struggle to get a D, wheras in his mind it is exactly those properties that would benefit from the PV.. he reckoned it was about face, and the A and B's don't need it .... so the more you need it the higher your FIT should be and make it attractive and easy for those that need it , and not so attractive for those that don't.

That's kind of why I asked Worcester as I would have thought those with lowest EPC are the ones that need it the most.

 

[Worcester]

Me thinks they want to turn the focus off FIT onto their new baby the 'Green Con' oops, Green Deal, which will allow a commercial loan at 7% taken as a second charge on your property to pay for your PV to get you up to a D or better. And of course being green con oops deal, funded means they don't have to allow for FIT (I know who pays FIT they just have to count it in and out..) But then, maybe I'm a cynic..

It definitely is linked up with the Green Deal and overalll energy programme of trying to bring the housing stock up to D, unfortunately they have shot themselves in the foot by making attaining D a minimum requirement.

(See elswhere on Green Deal, all sectors predict a DROP in stalltions of cavity wall, double glazing, loft insulation when the Green Deal comes in...)

So the answhere to you question is Politics, as opposed to carbon / CO2 reduction.

 

[moggy1968]

I disagree worcester

I firmly believe the Government wants centralised energy production so they can stay in the pay of the big 6.
They don't want people generating and using their own electricity, looks bad on the profit and loss you know, upsets the shareholders over their breakfast.

 

[Worcester]

@Moggy1968 OK, but all they have to do to achive that is to modify the FIT like germany where you choose to get to use the power your generate at one rate or export it at another. (another comprehensive review...so I guess they have discounted that)

The reason deemed is set at 50% is that the average export is far higher - probably nearer 75%, as people are yet astute enough to fully manage what is generated, so the big 6 and all the other FIT providers are actually laughing all the way to the FREE Energy Bank ... (I still haven't worked out quite where / who the unmetered export is credited to..)

 

[moggy1968]

I think one thing that is stopping them is the lack of smart metering, they don't want to pay for that.
It also still leaves the fact that people are using their own energy. The big six don't want that, they want to produce everything because thats what makes profits
Personally I would be happy with a lower FiT and better export rate.
If they bought the energy at 10p, they are selling for around 15 so they are still making a tidy pound or 2 on that.

 

[zigawen5]

2
This Christmastide of Ottawa Escorts 1786, with the War settl'd and the Nation bick?ering Ottawa Asian Escort itself into Fragments, wounds Ottawa Escort bodily and ghostly, great and small, go aching on, not Ottawa Asian Escorts ev'ry one commemorated,— nor, too often, even recounted. Snow lies upon all Philadelphia, from River to River, whose further shores have so

 

[LightGEN]

I'd like to see net-metering introduced.

 

[MCS Renewables]

European law says all countries in Europe have to have smart metering by 2018 or pay a significant fine.

Thats every electrical supply in every country in Europe . Sweden nearly completely done and Italy not far behind. France over 30% done. Germans started at the start of this year.

New EU data protection laws could prove expensive for UK smart meter rollout

Smart meter rollout: two speed Europe as Germany lags behind its neighbours - Sentec

 

[moggy1968]

Uk behind everyone else?
Uk unprepared?
UK leaving it til the last minute?
UK Government sticking their heads in the sand?

surely not!

 

[SolarRoofSols]

Got a last minute order, which we can install next week! Down side is that it is a new build without any central heating installed yet so guess what....? No EPC can be done!

So customer is scrambling round trying to get a boiler, tank and controls mounted before the assessor can go in....oh joy of joys!

 

[Somecamel]

I thought an EPC assessor can 'Assume' what is going in and do the EPC on that, might be worth asking

 

[Ian-LS]

I thought an EPC assessor can 'Assume' what is going in and do the EPC on that, might be worth asking

Unfortunately predicted EPCs are not acceptable so it means new builds where the PV is installed at first fit stage will have to wait until the property can get an EPC of D before applying for the feed in tariff, which frankly is ridiculas as building regs mean new builds now have to have at least a C rating I think (it could be B) so its illegal for a house to be built and not ahve an EPC of D or above

 

[MCS Renewables]

Agree with above but the Domestic Energy Assessor is not interested if the equipment works or not, it only has to be fixed on site.

Therefore if the boiler is mounted and the cylinder and stat is in place and the controls are on the wall and can be photographed its good enough.