Soldato
I have an existing system that is MCS installed, could I get on Octopus prior to doing a self install of another array and battery, wonder whether they'd notice????
Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
Soldato
Having a proper battle with my insurance company over notifying of them of the work being done to install the solar panels.
After some back and forth, this is what the Insurance company has said:
Ultimately if I can't get this information from the Solar installers, then they will be unable to provide me with home insurance full stop.
My home insurance runs until 08/08 so I need to sort something out by then.
Last time I sent the same 3 questions to the Solar Installer I got the impression it annoyed them, they said they've never had to answer questions like it before, and they presumably don't just have the information to hand for some reason.
Could do with some additional thoughts here as to the best approach? What have other people done in regards to notifying insurance about solar installations taking place?
After some back and forth, this is what the Insurance company has said:
Ultimately if I can't get this information from the Solar installers, then they will be unable to provide me with home insurance full stop.
My home insurance runs until 08/08 so I need to sort something out by then.
Last time I sent the same 3 questions to the Solar Installer I got the impression it annoyed them, they said they've never had to answer questions like it before, and they presumably don't just have the information to hand for some reason.
Could do with some additional thoughts here as to the best approach? What have other people done in regards to notifying insurance about solar installations taking place?
Soldato
I suspect most people don't even think about it, so don't.
Any company should be able to provide their insurance details, seems odd that they can't or won't.
Perhaps get new house insurance early, I used to use Hiscox as they just covered pretty much everything, but they became just too expensive.
Any company should be able to provide their insurance details, seems odd that they can't or won't.
Perhaps get new house insurance early, I used to use Hiscox as they just covered pretty much everything, but they became just too expensive.
Soldato
Their quote to me says to inform them, so you'd think they'd want the info to hand, this is what their quote says:
I can pivot to a new company, but then I'd probably officially be in the same position of "I should tell my new home insurance about the work". If I tell them and they ask the same sort of questions, it's catch #22.
if I pivot to a new company and then don't tell them, do I then risk invalidating the insurance should it somehow burn my house down?
It's about £800 for a manual switch over with my installer.
Soldato
@HungryHippos I'd ask them for a copy of their insurance certificate as stated in their quote, perhaps speak to someone different to last time.
Soldato
Will do, interested to hear from other people who've had installs lately, have any of you lot bothered to notify home insurance?
Soldato
Yeah agree to be honest whenever undertaking significant works you should ensure that the supplying part is insured for public and professional liability.
A copy of their business insurance certificate should cover/provide that.
Beyond that I don't see why your insurance company would need to know until works started, at that point you should declare a higher insured value (after checking your insurer does class solar as buildings not contents), as I said previously if you dont do this there is a chance they may deem you underinsured should you need to make a claim (for anything buildings related).
The worst case in the highly unlikely event of anything happening is that your insurer would fight it out with their insurer as to liability.
If it ultimately ends up with your insurer then they would check they are happy that you have adequate cover in regards replacement value and if not, per above, scale it back if your deemed under insured, which is standard practice.
Edit, I can see one angle from your insurers point. If there is no or inadequate insurance on the part of your installer and whilst undertaking they cause damage to yours or someone elses property then disappear (go bankrupt etc) then your insurer would likely end up on the hook for the issues caused as you will have public liability with your household policy.
A copy of their business insurance certificate should cover/provide that.
Beyond that I don't see why your insurance company would need to know until works started, at that point you should declare a higher insured value (after checking your insurer does class solar as buildings not contents), as I said previously if you dont do this there is a chance they may deem you underinsured should you need to make a claim (for anything buildings related).
The worst case in the highly unlikely event of anything happening is that your insurer would fight it out with their insurer as to liability.
If it ultimately ends up with your insurer then they would check they are happy that you have adequate cover in regards replacement value and if not, per above, scale it back if your deemed under insured, which is standard practice.
Edit, I can see one angle from your insurers point. If there is no or inadequate insurance on the part of your installer and whilst undertaking they cause damage to yours or someone elses property then disappear (go bankrupt etc) then your insurer would likely end up on the hook for the issues caused as you will have public liability with your household policy.
Soldato
No, but it is something that does somewhat concern me. The Mrs sorts the home insurance out not me though.
Our installers were not MCS but certified the electrical work through building control and registered the install with something called flexiorb. I am confident that it was done to a professional enough level by a qualified electrician, but seems a bit of a minefield, like new technology and the insurers dont really have anything written policy or dont know how to cover it.
So I dont really know, I see some other comments on here that "new" insurerers simply didnt ask the question on a new quote, so cant see how there could be any issue with your cover otherwise? I mean, people get electrical equipment and stuff put into there house all the time, like a new oven etc that needs to be installed by minimum "part P" qualified elctrician etc, and provided you get the electrical install done I believe you are ok?
I must admit, I dont know the answers......
Soldato
So, are you not exporting?
Soldato
Well, our installer said we could, we don't have a smart meter and given we'd get maybe £30 a year back I'm not sure it's worth it, the Mrs is really against a smart meter, as am I to a certain extent. But they said if we got one to let them know and they could sort it out, I don't disbelieve them either.
Soldato
Did they install an export meter?
Soldato
If you are asking me no, we have a meter seperate to the inverter which records generation but I believe it's just total net generation.
Soldato
I don't think you could export without MCS cert, but as you say paid rates are very low. You're better off with local battery to capture as much as you can from generation.
Soldato
Been a while since I was installing meters. I think it is down to the supplier to help out or if your lucky a smart meter that can do this.
Soldato
Evening all.
So my quest for solar is lurching on. Just been given rough outlines of system and cost.
5kw inverter
1820w on front
5600 on back
13kw batteries
£16 installed. A Growatt kit.
Finding it hard to workout the financials though for myself at the miinute but the way things are going I think it will increasingly stack up as a good option?
So my quest for solar is lurching on. Just been given rough outlines of system and cost.
5kw inverter
1820w on front
5600 on back
13kw batteries
£16 installed. A Growatt kit.
Finding it hard to workout the financials though for myself at the miinute but the way things are going I think it will increasingly stack up as a good option?
Associate
Just spent hours reading through the last 40 pages of this. Thanks for everyone’s contribution.
I’ve been debating solar and storage for some time and obviously prices have gone up in that period but I think I have a quote I’m happy with now.
One thing I’m not sure about is the whole G98/G99 thing. I know if I get a 3.6kw inverter then the install should be covered by G98 so all good there. But that 3.6kw inverter also limits the draw on the battery to 3.6kw or less.
If i went for a 5kw inverter can it be limited to 3.6kw as far as solar is concerned but draw up to 5kw from the battery but even if it could, does that still require G99? Or have I got the claggy end of the stick as we say up north?
I’ve been debating solar and storage for some time and obviously prices have gone up in that period but I think I have a quote I’m happy with now.
One thing I’m not sure about is the whole G98/G99 thing. I know if I get a 3.6kw inverter then the install should be covered by G98 so all good there. But that 3.6kw inverter also limits the draw on the battery to 3.6kw or less.
If i went for a 5kw inverter can it be limited to 3.6kw as far as solar is concerned but draw up to 5kw from the battery but even if it could, does that still require G99? Or have I got the claggy end of the stick as we say up north?
Soldato
Why not just apply for the full 5kW, if you get it happy days, if not you can look at limiting your export to 3.68kW. I think export limitation is G100.