About Feed-In Tariffs
Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) are payments to ordinary energy users for the renewable energy they generate.
The FIT scheme is a new scheme that was introduced by the government on 1st April 2010 to encourage greater use of micro-generation (normally home based generation of less than 5MW net capacity) like Solar PV (solar panels), wind turbines and hydro.
The introduction of this scheme is linked in to the government's commitment to produce 15% of all our electricity from renewable sources by 2020. As the UK only produce 1.5% currently the FIT scheme is here to make installing this more attractive by providing a guaranteed payment for every kWh of electricty generated, and every kWh of electricity exported back to the grid.
First Utility is a voluntary licensee of the FIT scheme, we are at present supporting our existing customer base, unfortunately we are not be able to accept FIT applications from non First Utility customers.
If you have any further questions about the FIT scheme please see our FAQs below.
Participate in the FIT scheme
If you are an existing customer of First Utility you can participate in the FIT scheme. First you need to completing the Generator Agreement form, available to download below. The account holder will need to sign the Agreement.
A generation read needs to be taken within 5 working days of the signed Agreement being received by us. Please ensure that this read has been added to the second page of the agreement (at the bottom of the form) with the date and read. The date that we received the completed generation form and MCS certificate is the eligibility date for your installation. Your installation will be eligible for FIT payments from this date. We are happy to receive this paperwork via email as long as there is an actual signature on the Agreement.
At the moment we are deeming the export so please select the ‘Deemed’ option on the Agreement.
When you have your MCS certificate from your installer, please send a copy of the certificate with the completed Generator Agreement (which you can download below). We also need to establish that you are the owner of the installation. We will require copies of the following documentation:
- A receipt or other documentation stating ownership of the technology installed. For example the values on the invoice from the installer can be redacted to protect commercial interest.
And if required
- A copy of the sale and purchase agreement transferring ownership from one party to another as part of a property sale, or equivalent documentation.
When you have your MCS certificate from your installer, please forward a copy of the certificate together with the completed Generator Agreement (which you can download below) by email to feedintariffs@first-utility.com or by post to;
Feed-in Tariffs scheme
First Utility
PO Box 4360
Warwick
CV34 9DB
Once the Generator Agreement and the MCS certificate have been received you will then be entered onto the Central FIT Register. Once accepted by Ofgem, you will be eligible for payments.
The Scheme
As the generator it is your responsibility to ensure that you provide an accurate read from the generator meter when required by First Utility.
In line with Ofgem guidelines we will be collecting the generator reads on a quarterly basis. FIT Year 2 readings will be required in June 2011, September 2011, December 2011 and March 2012.
We will notify you nearer the time via email when we require these reads. However you can always submit a generation read to feedintariffs@first-utility.com. Any reads that are submitted will be validated and an email sent back to the recipient confirming that the read is acceptable. If you do not receive a confirmation email from First Utility, your read has not been submitted for payment by the scheme and you will not receive any money for the quarter.
If you have any questions regarding the FIT scheme please email the above email address, where we will respond to the query within 14 days.
Downloads
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FIT standard terms and conditions |
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FIT Generation Agreement form |
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FIT change of tenancy form |
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Guidance notes for completing the Generation Agreement |
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You may need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the above documents
Questions about Feed In Tariffs (FITs)
- What to do if you are installing Solar PV
Complete by 11th December 2011 to be eligible for the current rate
If you are in the process of installing solar PV panels, or are about to start doing so, then we advise that you ensure your installation is completed and that we have received your completed application for FITs, together with a valid MCS certificate before midnight on 11 December 2011. This means you will be eligible to receive the current rate for each kWh of electricity you generate.
If you do not meet the above deadline then, unfortunately, you will only be eligible for the current generation rate until 31st March 2012. From 1 April 2012 you will be on a lower rate for the remainder of the 25 years eligibility period.
These proposed changes only affect people who are applying to join the FIT scheme with Solar Photovoltaic Panels.
- Who will be affected by the proposed changes to the FIT's scheme?
The proposed changes announced on 31st October 2011 will only affect people who generate energy with Solar Photovoltaic Panels.
If you are currently generating energy using Solar Photovoltaic Panels then you will not be affected by the changes if;
- You are already a First Utility FITs customer this proposal will not affect you and you will carry on your current tariff.
- You have applied to participate in the scheme, and we have received the Generation Agreement and MCS Certificate then this proposal will not affect you. We will register you on the existing rates.
- Are underground/ground source heat source heat pumps included in FITs?
Unfortunately ground source heat pumps aren’t micro generation so they don’t qualify for FITs. Heat pumps don’t generate electricity they move heat from one place to another to warm or cool your house. Although they are not in FITs they are likely to get included in a scheme called the Renewable Heat Incentive next year, subject to government legislation.
- How will I receive payments?
We will make payments on a quarterly basis and these will be separate to your monthly energy bill. To receive payment you will need to email your generation meter read to us.
- How do I qualify?
The easiest way is for you to use a MCS (Micro-generation Certification Scheme) installer, who can give you an MCS-FIT certificate once your micro-generation is commissioned. This shows us that you have accredited generation equipment and we are required to register you on the scheme. You will also need to sign up to our FITs Statement of Terms, which is a standard agreement setting out how the scheme works.
- How does it work in practice?
- You can install solar panels or wind turbines and start generating your own renewable energy.
- You use the 'free' electricity generated in your home, and get paid for every unit that you generate.
- When your electricity requirement is greater than your generation you can then buy the extra energy from us.
- When your electricity requirement is less than you generate you sell any extra electricity back to us.
- What are the FITs tariffs?
This depends on the technology, its size and the date that the technology is installed, the important part is that the tariff will be fixed for a given number of years once the micro-generation is registered.
For more information please email feedintariffs@first-utility.com
- Do I need another meter?
You will need a generation meter fitted as part of the installation, this measures the total amount of electricity generated. If we have already fitted a smart meter then this will have an export register which we can read. If you don't have a smart meter and your generation is less than 30kW we can deem (estimate) your export at a fixed percentage.
- Who pays for the subsidy?
Effectively this cost is spread across all electricity suppliers in the UK, collected by the government and then paid back to you through your supplier.