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What is the Feed-in Tariff?
The Feed-in Tariff or FIT is a payment made to those choosing to generate their own renewable electricity. Once registered, you are entitled to a sum of money for every unit of electricity you generate - even if you use it on site - and a further sum for the units that you export to the grid.
Introduced by the Government in April 2010 to encourage more renewable energy generation in the UK, the FIT has been a huge success.
Customers using renewable technologies equal to or less than 50kW which are wind, solar PV, or hydro based will need to ensure their units are installed and accredited by Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installations under the FIT legislation. Non-MCS certified installations of 50kW or less of wind,solar PV, or hydro will not be eligible for FITs.
Generators will need to contact a FIT supplier once the installation has been commissioned to commence the accreditation and registration process.
All products and installers can be viewed on:
www.microgenerationcertification.org
How to use the Energy Savings Trust Solar PV calculator:
Pdf guide produced by The Greenhouse: click here
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy
Then click on “Solar Energy Calculator” on the right hand side
How do you know who to trust?
Consumers need to look for the following symbols:
The MCS mark shows that the installer offers high quality products
The REAL Assurance Scheme is a Consumer Code and together with MCS covers everything from pre-sales activity, contracts, completion of orders and after-sales activity. REAL Assurance will help consumers if they are unable to resolve complaints with their provider, provided they are members of the REAL Assurance Code.
Installers must NOT:
- remain in the consumer's home for an unreasonable length of time- offer high initial prices followed by large discounts
- offer a discount for signing immediately
- withhold price information until the end of the visit
- make claims that there is limited availability of product
REAL Assurance members also provide all customers with a no penalty seven working day cooling off period after signing a contract.
