Posted: 31 August, 2018. Written by Virginia Graham
Virginia Graham, RECC Chief Executive, is one of 200 to add her name to an Open Letter calling on Clare Perry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, to extend the deemed export tariff element of the Feed-In Tariff. Government is proposing that all elements of the Scheme will close to new applicants with systems commissioned after 31 March 2019.
The letter from Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Trade Association, echoes RECC's own calls for fair payment for surplus electricity to be maintained for generators with systems commissioned after 31 March 2019. The letter cites complex regulatory issues which will prevent domestic households from participating in the power market at least in the short term. What this means is that these small-scale generators will be expected to 'spill' their power onto the grid for free, thus subsidising the commercial electricity sector. This will deter such households from generating their own power, and thus from participating in a flexible energy system in the future. Finally, the letter cites the rights of 'prosumers' to be fairly remunerated for surplus power, soon to be enshrined in EU law.
Those wishing to add their names to the letter can still do so here: https://www.solar-trade.org.uk/sign-letter-on-export-tariffs/