The Future of MCS...

[solarsavings]

There was nothing to stop anyone applying to be a trustee. Thought about it myself but decide I couldn't commit the time. If you didn't apply quit moaning about who was appointed. There are certain qualities, attributes and experience that are required for the role of trustee. What makes you think those appointed will be unable to successfully fulfil the required role?

We are well aware of your very high opinion of.................................yourself and your dickie bow wearing pals.

 

[Gavin A]

There was nothing to stop anyone applying to be a trustee. Thought about it myself but decide I couldn't commit the time. If you didn't apply quit moaning about who was appointed. There are certain qualities, attributes and experience that are required for the role of trustee. What makes you think those appointed will be unable to successfully fulfil the required role?

Here's the requirements from the advert

About the applicantWe are looking for individuals to steer and guide the charity through its initial establishment and implementation following successful registration. We are therefore looking specifically for individuals with skills and expertise in the following areas:

• Strategy establishment and organisational development
• Charity compliance and efficient operations
• Operating at senior committee or board level
• Grant giving
• Consumer and environmental protection

nothing in there at all about wanting anyone on the boards who knows anything even vaguely about renewable energy, so yes we could have applied, but as we'd mostly not have met that spec we'd not have got the role.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have had people on the board to cover the roles listed, but they definitely should also have people on the board to cover the roles relating to the actual remit of the charity, and the reason they don't is because they set it up that way, not because none of us applied.

 

[t4sltd]

This ties in with my experience; when I spoke to the IET (when they were drafting the standard) they were asking about MCS and why it should continue to exist beyond FIT. Many years ago Gryff Thomas talked me into joining MCS as it would be necessary as a CPS.

 

[Worcester]

Ofgem are considering an alternative to MCS for the Domestic RHI

In my mind, the existing CPS providers should be capable of certifying, the challenge is to what standards, which is probably really what MCS aims to deliver.

See here and comment yourselves https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publicatio...ence-domestic-renewable-heat-incentive-scheme

 

[Worcester]

OK, So how many of us saw this and realised it's implications:

MCS Consultations: Certification Body Requirements Document

Microgeneration Certification Scheme - MCS Consultations: Certification Body Requirements Document

Despite their archivng it's difficult to find, also responses had to be in by 4th December.

So what?
Here's the crunch - MCS are proposing to massively up the number of inspection so that you could easily end up with multiple inspections per year - some of the larger installers would end up having one a fortnight!!!

The consultation included two direct questions applicable to microgeneration installers. The first concerns a new method of calculating the number of site inspections an installation business would be required to undergo (Q1). The second relates to a proposed cap on the number of site visits that would be required for larger organisations (Q4).

The new calculation method MCS are proposing could see surveillance visits rise from one a year, up to 20 a year, depending on the number of installations you carry out.

The consultation does not take into consideration the additional time and costs that would be incurred by the installers when determining the impact of the changes – which may be significant.

Nicely hidden whilst we're all busy, the document doesn't even appear on their 'archived consultations page, I can't find any links to it at all, so here's one:
http://www.microgenerationcertifica...ultation_and_Impact_Assessment_v1_0_FINAL.pdf
and the responce document (too late )
http://aemapi.spsend.com/Clicks?Lin...5e&Blast=880d1ebf-3a64-4192-b828-6a042aa38b11

If you're into renewable heat also check this out urgently : https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/defa...ce_consultation_stage_2_v1_0_dec_2015_web.pdf
( Stage 2 consultation on MCS equivalence for the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme )

 

[Worcester]

On top of all that, MCS have just gone out to tender for a compliance audit inspection service - they're proposing to spot check a significant number of installations themselves, key note - the owner of the system has to give approval for the inspection and they can decline.

Net effect, those owners not happy will agree (rightly so), however the inspection sample with therfore be heavily skewed to those with non compliances / poor workmanship, which will them trigger even more inspections based on the new proposals above... So penalising the good guys how are just trying to do their best.

 

[Gavin A]

I didn't see that, will check my emails to see if I got sent anything about it.

Not opposed to the principle of the visits, but am opposed to the costs being born by the companies. At over 100 installs those companies will have put in £3500 or so to MCS in fees, which MCS is making a big profit on, so MCS should front the costs from the existing fees.

 

[SolarCity]

If the inspectors want to come and actually scrutinise my installs then I'd be happy with 6 inspections a year. If I'm going to have the headache/charade of sorting my QMS document out every time then I'm going to be very annoyed indeed.

The industry could be improved many times over with a little bit of common sense. They should speak to a cross section of customers/visit a cross section of installs off their own back (none of this installer choosing nonsense) and poor installs/customer service should be struck off the list.

Our company has been going a long time now while many companies with impeccable QMSs have folded. Really, why is it anyone else's business how I run mine?

 

[SolarCity]

"Average cost per kW 2014 – seehttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-pv-cost-data £2,101.00"

£2,100?!

 

[The Solar King]

"Average cost per kW 2014 – seehttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-pv-cost-data £2,101.00"

£2,100?![/QUOTE)

I wish! We are looking at a max price of £5000.00 for a 4kW system to make it work for the customer. Smaller systems will be more per kW as only equipment costs reduce. This figure may be true in SE England or true on a historic basis. Just as well it formed the basis of DECCs calculations.

 

[TedM]

Digging deeper at https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...eature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data regarding the methodology for that data it says:

Each record contains one cost figure for the installation which is defined as follows:

“Cost of solar photovoltaic generation equipment, plus direct costs of fixing panels to roof/ground mount, any performance displays and connecting to electricity supply, including VAT but excluding (a) the cost of any extended warranty; and (b) the cost of other materials, works or other items whatsoever (such as, but not limited to, any cost of general rewiring at a property or tracker systems).”

It should be noted that the data are therefore wholesale costs and do not represent the cost that the householder has paid for the installation.

Does anyone enter "wholesale" costs in to the MCS database?

Also if you look at data in Table 2 in that report it is obviously complete nonsense.