Incorrect pricing and returns for PV on all EPC certificates

[jerriais]

Hi,

Just wondering if any of you installers out there are annoyed every time you see an EPC certificate and the following line comes up in the recommendations:



Solar Photovoltaics 2.5kW | Cost £9,000 - £14,000 | Typical Savings £265


It must put a lot of people off and also give ammunition to those who hear about a friend doing it and then put them off by saying it will never pay back, by those figures it would take 52 years to pay back £14,000 at £265 a year and we all know that's far from the truth!

Is the STA or BPVA doing anything to lobby whoever puts together the data on the EPCs (who is it anyway, Landmark?) We really need some up to date pricing on there and a proper analysis of the savings and Feed In Tariff payments to show people that it's more like an 8-10 year payback for a properly designed system.

Matt
SunSmart Energy

 

[Gavin A]

good point, I've been annoyed about this for a while as well, but had kinda forgotten about it.

 

[Energetic]

Agree with this also, we have a new EPC since the green deal but that wasn't amended. Not really seen any of our industry bodies fight our corner...

 

[SpitfireW'sale]

That really is out of date. £14K for 2.5kWP? That sounds like a price from 2008. £14K would have been fairly expensive for a 4kWP system even in 2011

 

[Ian-LS]

Our EPC assessor tried to use this to our advantage with a marketing campaign about how much cheaper PV actually is than forecast on their EPC. He got nothing back from any of his previous clients.

 

[The Solar King]

I take it you are not a member of either the STA or the BPVA.

 

[The Solar King]

I take it from the lack of response you are not a member of either organisation.

If you are not a member, why should they do anything on your behalf? Either do it yourself or join.

I am a member of the STA for this very reason. We have constructive, positive dialogue promoting and protecting the industry. The very recent announcement of retention of the Merton Rule despite Eric Pickles misguided 'Bonfire of Red Tape' did not happen by accident, but as a direct result of intervention by the STA. Had we not countered the threat from the big house builders, this section of the industry would have disappeared.

Yes we are on the case as far as EPCs are concerned. It is a complex issue due to a number of factors. The process of updating default values is less simple than one would imagine it to be. This is likely to involve more than one agency.

Importantly, had you been a member of the STA, you could have provided evidence on the impact of what is a non financial barrier to increased deployment of solar PV. By becoming involved your expertese can be used to help in such issues.

If not membership of the STA, you could make a far greater commitment as Gavin A has, and make the time to be an active member of the MCS PV Working Group.

 

[bugsyuk]

The reason that the figure remains at £9000 to £14000 is for the Green Deal Package. If a client wishes to purchase their solar install via the Green Deal then these are the figures that they are working to. The figures are taking into account interest added to the green deal packages.

 

[Badged01]

So is this green deal another type of scam where a middle-man is making money between the customer and installer?

 

[Gavin A]

The reason that the figure remains at £9000 to £14000 is for the Green Deal Package. If a client wishes to purchase their solar install via the Green Deal then these are the figures that they are working to. The figures are taking into account interest added to the green deal packages.

so how come the figures were the same before the green deal existed?

more like it being a license for green deal folk to rip unwitting customers off.

 

[Gavin A]

So is this green deal another type of scam where a middle-man is making money between the customer and installer?

no no no, have you not heard, it's the best thing since sliced bread and will save the planet all by itself.

but in reality you'll be lucky to only have one middle person between the customer and installer, and only those installers who've been arsed to jump through all the hoops are able to do the work, so there's not much competition so.....