Solar installation Nc6 not gone in on time

We had solar panels on our house installed back about 36 months ago. Paid up in full at the time , then applied to my electricity supplier for microgeneration payments . My installer assured me that the appropriate documentation ( including an important form called an NC6) was sent in to the ESB to ensure that I would be able sell back surplus electricity to the grid. To make a long story short , after more than a dozen phone calls , about a month ago , a "copy" of the NC6 was finally sent in by the solar installer to the ESB even though assured me back in March 2022 that all documentation had been sent to them.

They said they posted it to the ESB in March 2022, ( the ESB had no record of receipt of it) because "that was the system at the time "but when I pushed them , they had no receipt of posting ( I would have assumed that there would be a professional login /portal type system for this) and that the lady who posted the NC6 three years ago had emigrated so they couldn't check with her (yeah I know , just quoting what they said !! )

Anyway I'm out of pocket for almost 3 years of microgeneration. I have to take this further as my supplier is now ignoring my calls and emails. Does the CRU deal with this or what would you guys say would be my best course of action. Has anybody else been caught in a similar way ?

submit the NC6 yourself, with aid of a register electrian. Whilst an extra cost, it wil end the saga.

Did you receive a grant ? Surely Revenue would not pay the grant until your Solar guy had ticked all boxes ?

marsaday said:

Surely Revenue would not pay the grant until your Solar guy had ticked all boxes ?

Click to expand...

Revenue don't care whether you register for FIT or not.

I understand that if somebody has a complaint regarding an electricity supplier you contact the CRU but who does one contact if not getting satisfaction on an issue with a solar panel installer ?

Why is this only surfacing now? Did you not notice that you weren't being paid for the electricity being sent back to grid for the last 3 years?

I just had my panels commissioned last week and I'm already following up on completion of this form. The form is really technical, so you will need help from the installer to complete section 5. It seems suppliers of these services can't be trusted to do all the admin work. You need to really sit on them to ensure it's all done.

CPM_81 said:

It seems suppliers of these services can't be trusted to do all the admin work. You need to really sit on them to ensure it's all done.

Click to expand...

You do. Or, better still, withhold a percentage of the installation fee until they can prove to your satisfaction that it's been sent in.

Thanks lads. I know I wasn't dilligent about it at the time because I trusted the professionals , hands up . Mea Culpa . But that's water under the bridge. Does anybody have an answer to my question though or do I just give up on the problem ? Thats why I asked the question.

If they said they posted it in March 2022, then I dont think there is much you can do about it now. They had no way of knowing if it was received or not if you didnt follow up. I'd say you'll have to just move on now. How big is your system?

The governing body for all registered electrical contractors is Safeelectric. Any registered contractor has to be a member of Safeelectric to be able to issue certs All electrical certs are issued under the umbrella of Safeelectric.

You should be able to calculate what you actually sent back to the grid using your data from ESB networks. At least then you'll have a definite figure to work with.

Thanks for the replies , lads. Safeelectric is for electrical contractors but surely its the actual solar installer thats accountable ? Is there any regulator for installers. I have tried the Ombudsman and CRU already and they have washed their hands of the issue.

Hasbeen said:

Does anybody have an answer to my question though or do I just give up on the problem ? Thats why I asked the question.

Click to expand...

There is no regulator for solar installers, so you don't have the additional options you would have with a regulated industry like energy supply.

You could consult a solicitor, depending on the details of the contract you signed with the supplier there might be scope to go after them for failure to comply fully. Going down that route may cost more than you are owed though. The problem you have though is that you can't prove they didn't post the form, so there's likely little chance of you succeeding. It's not the supplier's responsibility to follow up after that and ensure you are getting the payments.

This is likely one best put down to experience.