For more information is available on the Energy Saving Trust website here and the DECC website here

The new PV Guide has taken some time to develop and represents a significant improvement reflecting the fast changing and developing industry. The key changes are to the  perfomance estimation method, the wind uplift calculations and other design and technical updates.

For more information and to download the new standard and PV Guide please visit the MCS website

The Code is one of the first to be approved by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) since responsibility for approving consumer codes transferred from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the TSI on 1st April 2013, along with other existing codes which had previously been approved by the OFT. More details of the new Consumer Code Approval Scheme are available on the TSI website. Code members are entitled to use the Scheme logo developed by TSI.

All the arrangements in place for administering the Code remain unchanged. The previous name (‘REAL Consumer Code’) will be current and interchangeable with the new one (‘Renewable Energy Consumer Code’) for the rest of the year while REAL updates its materials and while Code members and stakeholders have a chance to update theirs and adjust to the new name. Code members’ materials and certificates showing the old logo will remain valid for the rest of the year.

To reflect these changes REAL has updated the Code’s website and amended the domain name. Traffic to the previous domain name will be automatically redirected to the new one and any links will remain active. In the coming weeks REAL will be changing company email addresses to reflect the new domain name. Once again, all email traffic will be automatically redirected. There should therefore be no perceptible difference to users.

As well as the Renewable Energy Consumer Code, REAL also administers the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme  and Green Gas Certification Scheme in the anaerobic digestion sector; the Compost Certification Scheme, Compostable Packaging Certification and ‘Home Compostable’ Certification in the organics recycling sector; and is responsible, as part of the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body with Gemserv, for the Green Deal Code of Practice. REAL will shortly be launching its own website, distinct from the RECC website, with links to all the schemes it runs.
 

For more information please visit the DECC website here - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-to-cut-emissions-from-heat

Worth noting that going forward new installations may not be automatically increased with inflation. Only installations with an eligibility date before the 31 December will qualify for the RPI increased rate in the immediate April increase. Installations with an eligibilty date from 1 January to the 1 April will only receive an RPI increased tariff rate the following FIT year.

For more information please see the DECC response to the FIT Consultation Phase 2A.

We are writing to remind you about your duties under the Provision of Services Regulations 2009. These duties apply to all providers operating in the UK regardless of where they originate (both EEA and rest of the world). I have added a link to guidance issued by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to the Regulations to the Members’ Guidance section of the website:http://www.realassurance.org.uk/pdf/bis-guidance-for-business-on-the-provision-of-service-regulations.pdf

Because your business falls within the scope of the Regulations you need to observe certain requirements about the provision of information to consumers. The aim of these requirements is to ensure that consumers have access to a minimum amount of information and to a complaints procedure. This should enable consumers to make more informed decisions when considering whether to buy services from a particular provider and is intended to widen the choice of providers available to them. (You should read the Regulations alongside the requirements of the Consumer Protection Regulations and other legislation that may require you to provide information to consumers.)

The requirements are, in general, already common practice, and I do not expect that you will have to make major changes to your procedures. However, please be aware that, as from 1 February 2013, Section 5.6 of the REAL Consumer Code has been updated so as to reflect more fully the information you are required to provide under the Regulations. If you have any questions about the Regulations please do let me know.

REAL Consumer Code and Bye-Laws

Third, as from 1 February 2013 the REAL Consumer Code has been updated in a few other places:
• Sections 6.1.1 and 7.1 to clarify the MCS rules on sub-contracting;
• Section 6.3 to clarify the requirements for deposits and advance payments;
• Section 6.4 to clarify requirements around the setting of delivery and completion dates;
• Sections 9.2 and 9.3 to clarify the application procedures for conciliation and independent arbitration.

As from 1 February 2013 the REAL Consumer Code Bye-Laws have also been updated in order to:
• simplify and shorten them where possible
• provide some additions to the ‘Definitions’ section;
• clarify members’ obligations in respect of complaints being registered against them;
• clarify members’ obligations in respect of probationary status.

OFT report on business practices in the energy efficiency sector
 

Last, you may be aware that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently published a report into business practice in the energy efficiency sector: http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2013/02-13 The report was based on research the OFT carried out among installers of double glazing, home insulation and solar panels. The research uncovered some instances of poor practice towards consumers such as the use of high pressure sales techniques, unclear information about paperwork and cancellations rights and poor quality installations. As a result of this research the OFT has written to the leading firms in the sector asking them to ensure they are providing consistently high standards to consumers. The OFT has also launched an investigation.

Key topics include:

• DECC briefings on the latest tariffs, performance of systems, return on investment, future proofing against electricity price increases
• A full introduction and update to the latest MCS guide
• Top tips on marketing, customer relationship management, business models, warranties and finance options
• The Green Deal evolution and what it means for your business

For more information please follow the link below

http://www.solar-trade.org.uk/events.cfm?id=114

The REAL Consumer Code welcomes the OFT’s review. Virginia Graham, REAL Chief Executive, said:
‘OFT’s reminder to business of the importance of respecting consumers’ legal rights is important and timely, especially where contracts are signed in the home. The REAL Consumer Code exists to promote high standards of consumer protection in the small-scale generation sector. All the examples of poor practice OFT has uncovered are prohibited by the Code. REAL works with our members and consumers to ensure that they understand clearly what their respective rights are, and we encourage all consumers to follow our Top Tips carefully before signing a contract: http://www.realassurance.org.uk/consumers/top-tips ."
 

For more information on the report please follow the link to the OFT website here

This decision does not mean that the products cannot be installed in the UK, simply that they cannot be registered within the MCS installation database. As such from 19th November 2012, no further installations will be allowed to be registered within the MCS installation database, and the product will be unavailable for selection.

For more information please visit the MCS website here

More infomartion on the current tariff rates for solar PV can be found on the Energy Saving trust website here - http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Getting-money-back/Feed-In-Tariffs-scheme-FITs

The RHPP are scheduled to continue until the end of March 2013 before the domestic RHI is launched in the summer of 2013.

The consultaion closes on the 7 December 2012.

There is more information and the consultation document itself is available from the DECC website here - http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/incentive/incentive.aspx

The consultation is open to public comment from now until midnight on 19th October, and can be accessed at the following location:

http://feedback.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/47379

All comments should be submitted to BSI via the above website.
 

REAL members can benefit from a special offer which will allow free access to the conference seminars. To benefit delegates must register in advance through the website and use the promotional code: REALF3

The conference seminars will be covering topics such as products, business models and commercial business opportunities in the UK.

REAL will have a stand at the conference where companies can come to meet the team and discuss any issues.
 

For more information and to register please visit the website here

2nd Floor
25 Eccleston Place
London SW1W 9NF
 

Our telephone and email details remain the same.
 

David is an expert in the management, design and development of energy self-regulation schemes. David was previously Code Manager at Energy UK, the trade association for energy retail and generation. Prior to his work at Energy UK David held senior roles at Npower and Northern Electric energy supply businesses. His background is in engineering and he has previously held roles at Rolls Royce IPG and at Northern Electric Telecom Ltd. as Director and General Manager.
 

Virginia Graham, CE of REAL commented: “We are delighted that David has agreed to take on the role of Chair of the REAL Supervisory Panel. He brings a wealth of experience to the role.”
 

More details about the REAL Consumer Code and the Supervisory Panel can be found on the REAL website: http://www.realassurance.org.uk/scheme/supervisory-panel
 

You can find the Ofgem table of FiT rates here - http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?docid=5&refer=Sustainability/Environment/fits/tariff-tables