The Power Of Three - anyone going?

[SolarCity]

We'll be there tomorrow. I wonder if we'll hear anything interesting.

 

[Worcester]

I'll be there

 

[SolarCity]

Give me a call and I'll buy you a drink

 

[SolarCity]

Back already. Couldn't get in to the talks that I wanted to as they rooms were far too small and everyone wanted to be in there. Very few people exhibiting PV stuff so all in all it was a waste of time.

 

[MorganPVI]

Ahhh, but the big question is did you by Worcs a drink!!

 

[SolarCity]

No I didn't! Which makes it the second event that we've been to yet missed each other. We left pretty early. It was really shoddily thrown together and if you didn't get in for the talks then you were, frankly, buggered.

 

[Noshocks]

I was there as well, like Biggs says the rooms were way to small for the talks, I couldent get into several of the ones I wanted, it wasent like it was that busy around the stands either.

It was useful for me as I want to diversify in 2012 into one of the other renewable technologies, still doing my research as to the most viable ones in the long term, some of the tech talks were quite useful in that regard.

 

[Worcester]

Long chats with Virginia Graham of Real, NAPIT, NICEIC, plus the people from MCS / Gemserv

The formal talks were a little 'lightweight', however the discussions were illuminating.

REAL respond to complaints from members of the public rather than other installers, as it is a consumer organisation. Both they and MCS will follow up on comments / reports / complaints from other installers, however they need hard facts rather than heresay, hence it is much better if the affected member of the public writes in, unfortunately we all know how intimidated they can feel, so often don't.

Installer Standards:
Quite illuminating! MCS are very aware of the problem of both cowboy and 'ignorant' (meant in the real use of the word) installers, and hence the new MCS standards will also include standards relating to workmanship

Sales:
As above, both REAL and MCS are aware of the sales 'loophole' this is being closed and the new standards will require all sales companies to be MCS registered and all contracts for installation to be with MCS regsistered companies, both are also absolutely clear than an MCS installer WILL take responsibility for the actions of anyone outsourced or otherwise that negotiates or completes a contract for them.

They are already pursuing the company(s) mentioned on You and Yours and Watchdog and are holding them liable for the actions of the likes of Energy Saving Group, so as the REAL member they are having to pay out, in the meantime it appears that Mr Dickson has disappearedoff to Spain.

They are also not happy about the actions of som eof the so-called 'comparison' / lead gen sites and companies out there.

Onto the BIG ONE - :drummer: - Feed in Tariff,

Whilst discussing generally about the Strategic Review of FiTs, and the number of projects we had lined up going into the new year, it came out that this is likely to be late (i.e. not published for consultation in January) and so could well be a fair few months delayed. The BIG NOD and WINK though was DECC's insistance that none of that mattered as the legislation already in place allows them to change the FiT Rates AT ANY TIME, and that that was actually more than likely to happen a lot sooner rather than later, this was definitely a well crafted message that January could be too late and could see new rates already in place. :icon9:

 

[Worcester]

Oh one more thing,

MCS love small installers!

They would like to make it so that with proper training anyone that wanted to could get MCS certified, and would rather have small companies than big ones!

 

[Noshocks]

I'm booked up till xmas, however I was going to do an install on my own house in january, sounds like I better get my skates on just in case.

 

[SolarCity]

Whilst discussing generally about the Strategic Review of FiTs, and the number of projects we had lined up going into the new year, it came out that this is likely to be late (i.e. not published for consultation in January) and so could well be a fair few months delayed. The BIG NOD and WINK though was DECC's insistance that none of that mattered as the legislation already in place allows them to change the FiT Rates AT ANY TIME, and that that was actually more than likely to happen a lot sooner rather than later, this was definitely a well crafted message that January could be too late and could see new rates already in place. :icon9:

Are you saying that the FITs rate may be cut before April 1st?

 

[TedM]

Gordon, any ideas on timescale for the new MCS standards?

 

[Worcester]

@BiggsSolar That was definitely the gist of the big hint that they were making without actually saying it, they wouldn't be pushed further, they just kept repeating the same message, the key thing was they wouldn't say no, and kept hinting that I should look at ways of moving my projects along faster rather than assume that I had time between January and March

@TedM Early next year was all I could get - you know what it's like trying to tie some of these guys down, I would expect April / May.

 

[SRE]

Am I missing something? If the MCS standards are being reviewed then surely it's less likely that the rumours about fit being removed completely (because there's no funding and fuel poverty is top priority again so the cash added to utility bills is less palatable) have any substance ..

 

[Worcester]

@SRE,

There are two topics here, FiTs and MCS

I don't see the FiTs Being removed cmpletely - the Banks won't allow it as it would destroy ALL investment in the UK completely


MCS want to tighten up on standards - both they and REAL are concerned about poor quality installations

MCS, and DECC talk regularly, MCS would be enhancing the scheme if FiTs was about to be dropped. The relationship between MCS and REAL is interesting as to where the consumer protection comes in - hence REAL are also pushing for improved standards documentation from MCS

The 3rd Edition is an example, instead of just being the QMS side of things, this is likely to published under the MCS banner (defining standards) - They really do want comments back on the 3rd Edition please!