Homes with solar panels given a boost
Householders who installed solar panels by December 12 last year have been given a boost to their investment by the Government.
Residents who receive rebates for the electricity they put back into the National Grid will see their Feed-in-Tariff payments increase by 4.8 per cent from next month.
Because of an increase in the Retail Price Index those people receiving 43.3p per kilowatt will now receive 45.4p per kilowatt from April 1, according to a new table published by Ofgem on its website.
“This is excellent news,” said Staffordshire solar panels expert Ron Fox “and a real encouragement to those who went green and invested in solar panels.
“An extra incentive,” added Ron, who runs his own company Noreus Ltd, “is if the Retail Price Index rises each year then householders will get another bonus from the Government next April and every succeeding year.”
However, those who installed solar panels between December 12 and March 3 this year and are receiving the 43.3p may have to await a Supreme Court decision on what increase they will receive.
The Government said it may appeal after the High Court ruled that plans to cut the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), from 43.3p to 21 pence from December 2011 rather than the planned date of April 1, 2012, was illegal because the reduction was made before the end of a consultation period.
If the Government wins the appeal those householders with installations completed on or after December 12, and who are receiving the 43.3p rate, will see the rate changed to 21p on April 1.
If Government loses the appeal, all installations from March 3 will receive the 43.3p rate until April 1, when the rate will still drop to 21p while those who installed and registered before March 3 will receive a Retail Price Index increase.
The solar industry is waiting to hear whether The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will appeal to the Supreme Court, or accept the Court of Appeal ruling that its December 12 reference date was “unlawful.”
One organisation that has gone green and taken advantage of the generous feed-in tariff rates is the Church of England.
A total of 100 vicarages, ten churches and seven church schools in the West Country have had solar panels installed at a cost of more that £1.5m in the past three months which is designed to save up to £60,000 a year in energy costs.
Canon Adrian Slade, the Church’s Director of Social Responsibility, said the Church of England, which is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, was keen that other dioceses followed the South West’s lead.
Church of England procurement officer Russell Stables said: “This is far more than a cost-saving exercise – it is a means of demonstrating good stewardship and releasing money, which can be directed towards mission and ministry.”
Ron Fox added: “I would be delighted if local churches within the Lichfield Diocese were to follow the excellent lead set by those in the West Country.”
For more details ring Ron Fox at 01782 756995.
