Clarification on EPC process

[TedM]

OFGEM have published updated guidance on FiTs that includes details of how the new EPC part is to work. Anyone who has followed my previous posts about this will find no surprises - DECC have decided to implement the same exemption process that I suggested they might use.

Details are here: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Info/Documents1/FIT Supplier Guidance.pdf

EPC details start at para 3.25.

Note that this guidance is written for FiT Licensees. There is separate guidance for anyone submitting >50kW systems via the ROO-FIT process here http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Documents1/FIT generator guidance.pdf

Presumably MCS will issue some guidance of their own soon.

 

[babba]

Great thread Ted and looks like you were spot on again...

 

[Earthstore]

Section 3.29, so a PV system can not add to the EPC points, as it states it has to be band D before the installation.
Thanks Ted we are all grateful for your input.

 

[pww]

No, it states it has to be band D before the ELIGIBILITY date of the installation. You can therefore install pv, get the EPC done and then register for FiT, it is this registration date which is the 'eligibility date'.

 

[Gavin A]

Section 3.29, so a PV system can not add to the EPC points, as it states it has to be band D before the installation.
Thanks Ted we are all grateful for your input.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

It says it must be EPC D before the eligibility date, and the eligibility date is the date at which the FIT application is received by the electricity company.

 

[finchy]

The model I've seem to have in place is our DEA will do a pre-assessment report to us with recommendations then we will feed the PV spec into it if it's a D then proceed. However my chap will have to perform a revisit after to take pictures and varify before producing an epc.

 

[Earthstore]

Sorry, Para2.87 Maybe I am reading this wrong, your thoughts?

 

[prof. popkiss]

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[TedM]

Earthstore, 2.87 is just saying that you cannot submit an EPC 'D' after the FiTs contract has already been put in place. You have to submit it at the same time as making an application for a contract. If you fail to submit one when it is needed then the 9p rate will apply for the entire 25 year term, even if the property is later updated to get a 'D'.

 

[finchy]

I think we all need to be careful how we administer the whole EPC FIT registration, I recommend we have a clear procedure. We may also need to update contracts to cover ourselves.

 

[SRE]

Thought you might be interested to see part of a presentation that some of you may have seen at the last Segen bash:

What are the danger signs in a property (ie what makes them unlikely to hit the D rating)

Solid Brick or Stone built properties can pose a problem as wall insulation is not a viable option
Larger properties 200 sq m+ and detached will be at a disadvantage as they are losing heat from larger areas of wall
The obvious absence of double glazing or loft insulation
Rooms in the roof
Properties with a high number of open fires
Properties with no gas supply – if the property is using oil, LPG, coal , logs or wood pellets and, too a lesser degree, electricity
Clearly some properties will have significantly lower rating and may well have limited opportunities for improvement

That'll be all our customers bar about 5 for the last 18 months then! It's getting more difficult to be optimistic every day.

 

[finchy]

Got two surveys today ! One a terraced house the other Detached !

Had to update all our literature with the EPC info ! It all rests on the DEA now !

 

[SolarCity]

That'll be all our customers bar about 5 for the last 18 months then! It's getting more difficult to be optimistic every day.

That's why I'm glad you responded to the consultation.

The EPC factor appears to affect you more than most and it seems ludicrous for the DECC to effectively shut the door on PV to all those properties.

 

[finchy]

Would the government over turn the EPC condition....it would be the HIPS all over again ! However I'm holding off training to for DEA until we get a bit more certainty !

 

[SRE]

There was an odd question in the consultation that referred to the EPC rating. I thought it was strange because it wasn't part of the consultation but I took the opportunity to point out that rural areas were discriminated against because so many of their properties were off the gas grid. I'm going to go through all of my installations for the last 18 months and clarify the position and then contact all of my MP's in my area and ask them what they are going to do for their constituents.

Finchy - well done for getting 2 surveys. It's 2 more than me!

 

[pvman]

I was on a DEA course last week and as part of the course we went out to various properties and conducted assessments, it wasn't as bad as I had thought.
e.g. A solid stone walled flat, no double glazing or TRVs but with a gas boiler came in at a D. Beforehand I would have guessed it will be much lower.
My thoughts are it will take quite a while before we can be sure but maybe it won't be as bad as people think.

 

[SRE]

as long as you have access to natural gas! We have solid wall properties and oil/lpg heating - we're knackered!

 

[Ian-LS]

just to add another complication. The software for commercial EPCs you cannot input the size of the PV system so it is very hard to accurately know what effect PV will have on a property. For example we have quoted for 10 kW system on a church which will reduce their bills a lot and it came back that Pv would only add a few points to the EPC rating.

At least with commercial EPCs there is a huge flaw in the software with Solar PV

 

[finchy]

How much are the Commercial EPC's ...I thought they came in at £,000 ! Also I dont think from my discussions with experts that Churches (historic not new builds) would be impossible to get a D rating ?

 

[Ian-LS]

Depends what type of church it was. The church hall we are quoting for is quite modern part of the church with a metal roof. Having just gone through the software (albeit free software for local authorities to use NCM: LICENSING CONDITIONS FOR SBEM SOFTWARE) PV actually can make a huge difference to the EPC rating as long as you input the right information for it. I am no expert but the PV side of the EPCs for commercial seems fairly simple to get right