ScottishPower has been forced to pay a customer £1,575 in backdated solar panel payments plus £200 in goodwill after an administrative error left the customer waiting for more than 10 months.
Customer's 14-month ordeal
The customer, who moved into a new house 14 months ago, applied to ScottishPower to transfer ownership of the solar panels and the feed-in tariff (FIT). Despite providing all required information, the customer received no payments for over 10 months, accumulating an owed amount of more than £1,000.
“I moved into my new house 14 months ago, and soon afterwards applied to ScottishPower, with whom the solar panels are registered for a feed-in tariff (Fit), for transfer of ownership of the panels and the tariff,” the customer said. “After many emails back and forth, I got a response saying they had all the information required. That was 10 months ago and I’ve yet to receive any payment. I should be owed more than £1,000 by now.”
Resolution after media involvement
After the Guardian contacted ScottishPower on the customer's behalf, the energy provider called the customer the next day and promised an instant resolution. The customer received £1,575 in backdated payments plus £200 in goodwill. ScottishPower attributed the delay to an “administrative error.”
ScottishPower's solar offerings
On its website, ScottishPower states: “We can help at every stage of your solar journey – from quote to expert installation. You can also maximise your savings with our Solar Saver tariff or get paid for any surplus electricity you generate with our Smart Export Guarantee tariffs. With prices for panels and installation starting from £4,295, there’s no better time to start generating your own green electricity. Don’t miss out - chat to us today.”
Benefits of solar panels
Solar panels capture energy from daylight and convert it into electricity for home use. Solar energy is sustainable, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and produces low carbon emissions. The more panels installed, the greater the electricity generation and home efficiency. In the south of England, a 10-panel system can save almost one tonne of CO2 emissions per year; in Scotland, it can save over 0.7 tonnes.
Homeowners may also be eligible for upgrades through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.
