Solar energy

A question about : Solar energy

Most people who've installed solar panels in the last 18 months or so will be claiming Feed-in tariff payments from electricity suppliers.

Some suppliers are paying fairly quickly after the claim goes in - but some aren't. E.on, for example, used to pay within a few days but are now delaying payments for up to a month.

Great for companies' cashflow - but not for the individuals claiming.

Experiences with various companies shared here would be useful in helping people to decide which company to go with - and whether to switch away from companies that delay payments due.

Best answers:

• npower meter reading need to be in by the 25th and i got my payment on the 5th the next month
• Yes, E.on's new T&Cs do say "payment within 30 days" but in my experience they are a lot quicker than that so no complaints from me so far.
• British Gas said "within 28 days" but took nearer 40!
• Atlantic Gas & Electric are quoting 65 days!!!!!
• Centrica Via British Gas payment by cheque on Sept 19th exactly one month after sending them my meter reading 1290 units = Ј578....happy.
• Just out of curiosity, why are people apparently 'happy' at a delay of a month in paying them the money due to them? Particularly when it's several hundred pounds that could be in your account, rather than the power company's.
• EDF. My first reading took 43 days until payment. Second reading is currently being processed, 27 days and counting......
• With NPower I sent in first reading on 21st. May and got payment cheque dated 4th. JUly! Sent in second reading on 28th. August [ 3 months after May closing date] and received no acknowledgement despite phone calls and e-mails. They then requested a reading by 25th. Sept [so much for quarterly readings] which I sent in on 23rd. Sept.. It would appear that their admin. is still chaotic but at least the PV panels are doing well and have already exceeded their estimated annual 1850kWh having started in early February. I intend to persist with NPower to see if they can sort themselves out but it's all been an eye opener and if I could be sure of finding a better company then I'd think about changing.
• I've just had the first request for a meter reading from EDF and they have now said they will pay within 90 days from the end of the reading month. Doesn't mean that they will take that long, judging by other posters, but it could still be up to 180 days from when they consumed the first exported electricity.
  Been in touch with Consumer Direct, who directed me to EST. EST directed me to OFGEM who told me 90 days was not unusual, as the companies tended to wait until the "levelisation" was completed before paying (whatever that is).
  I'm trying to determine whether we are selling the energy back to the power company on a commercial basis - as in business to business - because then the Late Payment Legislation could be applied if the terms were not clear in the contract.
  Anyone have any thoughts on this?
• Hi do the energy company request a reading? I had a very prompt response from e-on when I registered but have not heard anything from them since sending the other documentation (proof of ID etc)
• I've just received my latest FIT payment from E.ON. The time line was as follows:
  06/10 - Sent e-mail to E.ON containing the generation meter reading
  08/10 - Received e-mail from E.ON confirming receipt of generation meter reading
  12/10 - Received e-mail from E.ON containing quarterly FIT statement
  21/10 - FIT payment received into nominated bank account
  So the whole process took just over 2 weeks, which I don't think is too shabby, and everything was handled electronically.
• We've only had two payments so far, with British Gas. On both occasions I emailed the reading, had a reply by email within 24hrs and the cheque arrived in two weeks.
• Scottish Power 2 weeks.