Carmichael raises frustrations with overdue feed-in tariff payments

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has raised frustrations with repeated failures by energy companies to deliver large amounts to people entitled to “feed-in tariff” payments for producing renewable energy. Speaking in a parliamentary debate on energy last week, Mr Carmichael noted a recent case of a payment of £72,000 to a constituent which was recently resolved after delays in SSE’s willingness to pay. He has now called for other constituents who may be waiting on feed-in payments to contact his office.

Speaking in the debate Mr Carmichael said:

“Let me just vent parenthetically for a second or two about the energy company SSE and its occasional choice simply to stop paying people who are entitled to feed-in tariff payments. I always seem to have at least one such case on the go among my constituency casework.

“Just last week, I was able to secure eventual, long-overdue repayment from SSE of £72,000 to one farmer in my constituency. That was money that SSE owed him and there was absolutely no reason for it not to pay, but for arbitrary and unaccountable reasons it seems occasionally just to decide to stop paying people.

“To my mind, that is an abuse of the privilege that it has been given by successive Governments.”

Speaking following the debate, Mr Carmichael said:

“Too often energy companies seem to think that they can slow roll what amount to quite considerable sums owed to individuals. When it is the customer who owes they are never slow to crack the whip so the same should apply in reverse. If there is anyone else in the isles who is waiting on delayed feed-in tariff payments for producing renewable energy I would urge them to get in touch.”