Grant Update
MCS INSTALLER UPDATE
Low Carbon Buildings Programme update
Phase 1 - Low Carbon Buildings Programme householder grants for electricity generating technologies will cease on 31st March 2010 when feed in tariffs will take over as the new government incentive for electricity technologies. The programme will continue into 2010 offering grants for heat generating technologies only.
Local Authority grants
Many local authorities are also offering grants to their residents on the back of successful grant applications to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
It may be worth researching what is available for customers in the areas you work in as this could be the extra incentive they need to install microgeneration technologies.
You and your customers may find it useful to contact our Energy Saving Trust helpline on 0800 512 012 to find out about other renewables grants that may be available, and the eligibility criteria that apply.
NIE SMART programme - top up grants
As you may already know, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) operate a Northern Ireland top up grant to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme householder grants for solar water heating, solar PV and wind turbines.
Please be aware that householders need to have made a successful application to the LCBP and have received a householder grant offer. Grants will not be paid retrospectively for completed installations.
When a successful LCBP application is made for an installation address in Northern Ireland an application form for the NIE top up will be posted to the applicant by the LCBP team. Householders will be required to provide the LCBP grant offer letter for NIE to validate the additional support.
For more information including funding guidelines and grant levels please visit
Low Carbon Buildings Programme website
Our new look website has been launched including a page of information for installers http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/Information-for-Installers
You will be able to access template documents and resources such as our installer extranet. (the previous link you may have used will need to be updated)
Installer extranet
The installer extranet enables accredited installers to view all the applications that have been received for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme where they are the named installer. Details include the applicants name, installation address, grant acceptance date, current status, technology and the grant amount offered.
To be able to access this information you will need your username and password. If you do not have this information please contact us at grants@est.org.uk.
Helping your customers with grant claim documents
You can help customers to receive their grant payment sooner by ensuring that they have all the correct documentation to send to us with their grant claim. This will also help to prevent claims being rejected by understanding the rules of the programme.
Rules of the programme
· The customer needs to apply and receive a grant offer letter from us before they pay for the installation (a deposit of up to 25% is permitted in accordance with REAL)
· The installation should not have commenced prior to the customer receiving their grant offer letter
· The customer must apply for the grant themselves – an installer must not apply on the customers behalf.
(This is so that the customer receives a copy and understands the terms and conditions of the grant)
- Grant offers are time limited with set expiry dates so always encourage customers to contact us if there are delays to the installation
Claim documents
You will need to provide your customer with -
- An EST completion certificate – for each technology product installed.
Correspondence and Installation address details must be entered correctly and match up to the address for which the grant offer has been made.
The certificate must be signed, dated and completed with all technical details.
- All Receipted invoices – relating to each technology product installed.
We require proof that all costs have been paid in full and this must be documented clearly – please see attached notes on ‘Receipted invoices’
If you (the accredited installer) have commissioned the technology but sub-contracted any of the work to another company, we will need to see all invoices within the chain relating to eligible costs.
The customer must also send us their Grant claim form completed, signed and dated. (This form is available to the customer at the foot of their grant offer letter, sent by e-mail)
Clear Skies & PV programme accredited products
At the end of December 2009, all products previously accredited via Clear Skies or PV programmes, and not yet MCS accredited, will be removed from the accredited list of products published on the MCS website. These products will no longer be available for Low Carbon Buildings Programme grant funding from the beginning of January 2010. MCS has announced a transition period will be in place for products which may be currently in the process of becoming accredited, and these qualifying products will remain on the list during this period. (please refer to MCS update).
Solar Key mark products will continue to be eligible for solar thermal installations.
All successful applications made prior to this date using Clear Skies or PV programme accredited products in receipt of grant offers, will still be honoured.