Solar panel owners encounter delays in feed in tariff payments

A report by Which? has revealed that in excess of a third (36 per cent) of their subscribers who are part of the solar panel feed in tariff scheme have encountered problems in respect of the feed in tariff payment scheme for the electricity produced.

Apparently Eon is the worst at paying with some energy companies taking as long as 90 days or more to pay yet their customers are expected to pay their bills promptly.

Interestingly and, it has to be said, rather disturbingly, 82 per cent of those who had a problem of some kind claim to have encountered payment delays with 20 per cent stating that payment was taking more than three months longer than anticipated.

The survey undertaken by Which? was done on the Internet in November 2012 and involved 1,700 of their subscribers who have solar panels installed. It was undertaken following a number of complaints from members in relation to the late payment of feed in tariffs.

The figures for Eon were disappointing as 72 per cent of their customers with a solar panel feed in tariff scheme complained of payment problems. The next worst offender was SSE who had 46 per cent of its customers with solar feed in tariff schemes coming across payment problems.

Eon has in fact issued an apology for falling short of the excellent service they claim to normally provide their customers stating that they are aware there had been problems in relation to the transferring of customers to a brand new automated system. The payment problem was due to feed in tariff demand surges following changes in tariff rates. They now believe there has been a considerable improvement in the standard of service.

SSE has commented that it is constantly looking to make improvements and was looking to ensure all payments are made within 28 days as a result of comments from customers.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, confirmed that the suppliers of feed in tariffs should pay every quarter unless stated to the contrary in the contract. However, both Eon’s and SSE’s contracts do not include feed in tariff payment deadlines.

With other companies payment terms vary. EDF allow up to a 90-day maximum period from the last day of the month in which the meter was read in relation to feed in tariff payments. British Gas allows a maximum of 30 working days from the date it receives the reading of the meter.

It would be nice to see some uniformity.