From Tallbloke’s Talkshop

April 2, 2023 by oldbrew

[image credit: newsolarpanels.co.uk]

Councils and energy-related schemes don’t have a great record. Their climate obsessions, mixed with finance, are turning out to be a poor recipe for success.
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to protect customers and prevent any losses resulting from Green Energy Together UK’s inability to deliver, reports Energy Live News.

Green Energy Together (GET UK), the primary installer for Mayor Sadiq Khan‘s Solar Together programme, has suspended operations and lost its trade body accreditation after an investigation [by the Evening Standard] – see below.

The investigation uncovered that hundreds of London homeowners were facing significant delays and difficulty recovering large deposits.

A spokesperson for the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) told ELN: “We can confirm that GET UK has been suspended from NICEIC’s MCS Scheme pending the results of an internal investigation.

“While we cannot comment on the specifics relating to any internal review, please rest assured NICEIC is committed to upholding the technical standards expected from our profession.”

Green London Assembly member Sian Berry told ELN: “It is great to see that a company which has been creating huge financial burdens for so many residents across London has finally been suspended as a result of my investigation.

“I will continue to raise problems with outsourcing procurement with the Mayor, as this is proof that a lack of oversight and transparency has allowed this company to sully the reputation of both the solar industry and the Mayor of London.

“I hope there will be compensation for customers who have suffered at the hands of GET UK. This is a lesson to improve the Mayor’s procurement strategy to help restore the faith of Londoners in the process of installing solar panels.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told ELN: “The Mayor was appalled to hear about the continuing issues affecting customers of the Solar Together programme and is furious that they have been let down in this way.”

Full report here.
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The Evening Standard says:
Last month, the Standard reported serious questions over why the “pre-vetted” company run by Nicolas Elbourne, 36, was contracted despite negative reviews, debt and even a warning by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Elbourne, 36, and father David Elbourne, 58, were directors of green energy supplier Solarplicity which collapsed in 2019 with losses of £4.4million.

Siân Berry, a Green member of the London Assembly, was contacted by scores of residents complaining about awful customer service.
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