249

of 500 signatures

To OFGEM and BEIS

Petition text

An open letter to OFGEM and BEIS,

All of the heat pump installers who have signed this letter strongly suggest OFGEM and BEIS extend the 'Renewable Heat Incentive' (RHI) until the new 'Boiler Upgrade Scheme' (BUS) is officially launched on May 23rd 2022 to solve an obvious cash flow disaster for SME heat pump installers.

The 'Renewable Heat Incentive' is set to end on March 31st 2022 leaving a gap of almost 2 months before the new 'Boiler Upgrade Scheme' is officially launched on May 23rd 2022. This gap is a cash flow disaster for SME heat pump installers throughout the UK. Small to medium sized heat pump installers are an essential part of the UK's path to Net Zero Carbon Emissions. Our experience in installing and commissioning heat pump systems is set to play a pivotal role in climate change and yet again we have been let down by BEIS and OFGEM through grant mis-management, maladministration and missed deadlines.

The industry has been plagued with supply issues due to COVID-19, Brexit and an uptake of orders due to the end of the current grant the 'Renewable Heat Incentive' on March 31st 2022; with the supply of some heat pump units having waiting times of over 18 weeks. These supply issues coupled with the maladministered 'Green Homes Grant' of 2020/2021 has caused severe cash flow problems in the industry and led to many installers unable to continue operating. We demand that our important role in the decarbonisation of heat in the UK is duly supported and BEIS and OFGEM support our incredibly vital and fledgling industry by extending the Renewable Heat Incentive until May 23rd 2022 to solve this 2 month cash flow disaster that will surely see even more heat pump installers go out of business.

The current OFGEM advice is for installers to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on May 23rd on behalf of the customer for any installations that have been completed in between April 1st and May 23rd 2022 and then wait for the voucher to be approved by OFGEM and then wait for a further period of time for the £5,000 payment to be made to the installer. This gives a period of 2-3 months where heat pump installers are expected to take the £5,000 hit for every installation with no guarantee that the money will be delivered by OFGEM or when that will be. This makes it impossible for small businesses to manage cash flow, small heat pump installers do not make £5,000 per installation, meaning they will be running at a loss for every installation for over 2 months with no guarantee that this money will be delivered. This is a risk that we simply cannot take. We have staff to pay, they have families to feed, we have overheads to pay, vans to keep on the road, offices to run, equipment to purchase and creditors to pay. We have been promised that installer cash flow will be strongly taken in to account in the administration of the new BUS grant and the catastrophic failings of the Green Homes Grant, administered by 'ICF Consultancy Services Limited' will not be repeated, so far we have no confidence in this! Our industry has been placed between a rock and hard place time and time again, yet we stand strong and ask for the simplest of responses to our unwavering passion to play our role in the UK's path to Net Zero by extending the Renewable Heat Incentive until May 23rd 2022. This will solve the industry wide cash flow disaster!

Installers throughout the UK have been advised by OFGEM to charge our customers the full amount of the contract value and then refund the customer £5,000 once their Boiler Upgrade Scheme voucher has been issued. Our customers have no guarantee that they will qualify or receive this £5,000 voucher and are not willing to take that risk, why would they? As installers we are not willing to take that risk. Our hard earned businesses, our staff's pay and the roofs over their families heads and food on their families tables is at stake as we enter yet another time of intense stress and tribulation for heat pump installers; due to a complete lack of aforethought and planning from Government and grant administers.

The solution is very simple... we know the money is there, we know the process is there... extend the RHI until the BUS scheme has launched on May 23rd. Solve our industry cash flow problem and support the industry you state is so important in the 'Heat and Buildings Strategy' paper and in the current 'climate emergency'.

This open letter to BEIS and OFGEM has been signed by the following UK heat pump installers...

Sign the open letter

Signers list

Gill Court
Ian Ingham
David John Evans
Lesley Keir
Darren Price
Paul Addison
John T. Horsfall
Paul Manfredi
Belindalane Lane
Finola Connor
Samantha Ballington
Donell Walter
Michael Mcleod
Fiona Macey
Andrew Wheatcroft
Vanessa And Frank Rambridge
James Procter
Andrew Ingram
Alex Good
Peter Adnitt
Jacob Newman
Catherine Powell
Philomena Simpson
Scott Tetlow
Kath Jackson
John Bearns
John Stebbing
Paula Murray
Jennifer Elizabeth Anne Kidman
Nigel Stokes
Anthony Donovan
Tracey Jelley
Fergal O Driscoll
Deborah Dobson
Dave Glover
Michal Kotowski
Andrew Cunningham
Caroline Hallam
Rita Ioannou
Louise Sunderland
Fred Rickman
Alan Deeney
Adam Chapman
Laura Mac
Glo S
Vicky Long
Jamie Gardner
Petronela Lungu

OFGEM Should Extend The 'Renewable Heat Incentive' Until The 'Boiler Upgrade Scheme' Is Launched On May 23rd 2022

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OFGEM Should Extend The 'Renewable Heat Incentive' Until The 'Boiler Upgrade Scheme' Is Launched On May 23rd 2022

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