27 June 2011

An undercover in investigation by consumer group Which? has discovered that some solar PV installer companies have been flouting the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer standard and the REAL Assurance Scheme Consumer Code.

Virginia Graham, Chief Executive of the REAL Assurance Scheme, commented on Which?’s findings, “Many consumers stand to gain from the Government’s clean energy cash back incentives. It is a great pity that a minority of companies engage in poor practices thereby giving the whole sector a bad name.”

One of the companies implicated were offering a discount to consumers for signing on the day while another were offering a discount in return for customers providing monitoring information, practices which are expressly outlawed in the Consumer Code.  Virginia Graham said the two companies would be referred to the Non-compliance Panel. 

The REAL Assurance Scheme audits its members’ compliance with the Code through mystery shopping and by acting on tip-offs. Its website contains extensive guidance for installers on how to comply with the legislation and the Code. Graham said, “With some 2,000 companies now registered to install solar PV, it is an uphill struggle to ensure 100% compliance with the Code. An organisation such as Which? has a vital role to play in advising consumers what to look out for when considering installing solar electricity.”

She also offered advice for those considering installing PV panels on their property, “We encourage consumers not to sign a contract before they have had a technical site survey. If they do, then our Code requires companies to give them a full refund if they want to cancel for any reason after the survey. Any changes to the specification made by the surveyor must be provided in a written variation to the contract.”