Adding more panels to a system and crossing the tariff boundaries

[SolarBoy Steve]

Hi,

Thanks for reading this and for your help in this matter.

i have a customer that has 4kW on their property and would now like more installed.

the case used to be that they would keep the higher tariff for the 4kW and receive a/the reduced tariff for the remainder.

there was talk this was going to change so the whole system would receive the lower tariff and an option where i would need to install a second generation meter to record the additional system independently​.

either way i can't find any ruling determining what the case actually is. can anyone please advise and tell me where i can get the ruling from.
i know this will get sticky when we need to talk to the supplier!

 

[TedM]

Any system installed under FiTs gets a tariff set only once, when the system is installed. If an extension is added later then that has its own separate tariff based on whatever rate is current at that time and does not affect the original installation tariff.

If you have a 4kW system then that is in the 0-4 kW tariff band. If you add, say, 2 kW to it then that 2kW is rated in the 4-10kW band. You can use a single meter, when the readings will be pro-rated between the two parts. Or you can install a second inverter and meter.

As part of the current consultations DECC have plans to change this so that extensions are not eligible for FiTs at all, but that has not been introduced yet.

You can find all the relevant info in the current OFGEM guidance documents for suppliers. The latest, Version 7.0, is here:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/defa...e_for_licensed_electricity_suppliers_v7.0.pdf

Starts on page 42, but specifically section 5.76 onwards applies.

If you carry out an extension to an older FiTs system (that was accredited before the EPC rules came in to force) then be sure you understand the EPC requirements as they apply to extensions and the relevant dates.