Solar panel firm engaged in London Mayor’s ‘green’ scheme suspended as customers cautioned about deposits 

Posted: April 2, 2023 by oldbrew in climate, Energy, government
Tags: ,

[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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Comments
  1. ivan says:

    Maybe one day people will realise that all things ‘green’ are nothing more than a scam.

    For a start most rooftop solar panels are at the wrong vertical angle to produce much electricity and most of them do not face due south, which cuts down their output as well.

    Even here in the south of France solar output is not all it is stated to be.

  2. saighdear says:

    It’s in the name, stoopid! GET UK – we’re comin to get ye!

  3. catweazle666 says:

    So Sad-dick Khant’s pet solar panel company is as bent as a sack of fishhooks…

    What a surprise – NOT!

  4. Phoenix44 says:

    So Khan is going to provide the money from his own pocket? Thought not. Other, less gullible, less Green people will have to pay. Because of his obsessions and incompetence. Great.

  5. Phoenix44 says:

    Another win for regulation! When will we learn that bad/incompetent by humans in the private sector is simply mirrored by bad/incompetent in those regulating and overseeing them? The Left just cannot get out of this “public sector all marvellous angels” mindset.

  6. oldbrew says:

    contracted despite negative reviews, debt and even a warning by the Financial Conduct Authority

    Aka *asking for trouble* – which duly arrived.

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