A new draft version of the G83/2 regulations has been released for consultation including major changes to the rules about when advance permission is needed for connecting a solar PV system to the grid. These changes have massive implications for the industry as a whole, but particularly for local installation companies with a large local customer base.
The key changes are:-
Definition of 'Close Geographic Region'
Any installations of more than 1 solar PV system by the same installer that fall within either of these categories would require advance permission to be connected, using a revised Appendix 2 multiple installations application form.
These rules wouldn't only apply to new installations, but also to all solar PV system that have ever been installed in that 'close geographic region' by the same installer.
This is a massive change for the industry, that will particularly hit the sort of quality local installers that use this forum who will have most of their work in postcode districts that they've already installed systems in, and will therefore need advance permission to connect them, whereas new start ups, or none local companies could install the same system without needing any advance permission.
Full details and analysis on the Leeds Solar blog please take a few minutes to read this and think about the potential consequences to your business, then email Ofgem to let them know what you think of these proposals before 28th September 2012 [email protected]
The key changes are:-
Definition of 'Close Geographic Region'
Any installations of more than 1 solar PV system by the same installer that fall within either of these categories would require advance permission to be connected, using a revised Appendix 2 multiple installations application form.
1) The postcodes of any of the premises where a SSEG installation is planned by the same organisation are the same when the last two letters are ignored…ie AB1 2xx where xx could be any pair of letters or where x could be any letter.
2) The premises where a SSEG installation is planned by the same organisation are within 500m of each other.
These rules wouldn't only apply to new installations, but also to all solar PV system that have ever been installed in that 'close geographic region' by the same installer.
This procedure (single premises connection procedure) will not apply where an Installer plans or has already installed other SSEGs in
a Close Geographic Region; in this case the procedure in 5.1.2 shall be followed.
So any installer who carried out an installation within the same postcode area AB1 2XX postcode area or within 500m as another installation they'd carried out, and didn't ask for permission in advance would risk the DNO cutting installation off at any time in the future if any problems did arise with the local grid in that area.Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to the disconnection of the Customers Installation under ESQCR (26) or failure of the SSEG to operate as intended.
This is a massive change for the industry, that will particularly hit the sort of quality local installers that use this forum who will have most of their work in postcode districts that they've already installed systems in, and will therefore need advance permission to connect them, whereas new start ups, or none local companies could install the same system without needing any advance permission.
Full details and analysis on the Leeds Solar blog please take a few minutes to read this and think about the potential consequences to your business, then email Ofgem to let them know what you think of these proposals before 28th September 2012 [email protected]