Ecotricity feed-in tariff targets disgruntled microgenerators

Ecotricity has become the latest green energy supplier to launch a feed-in tariff scheme targeting those existing microgenerators who have been excluded from the government's new Clean Energy Cashback incentive scheme.

Officially launched at the start of April, the government's feed-in tariff scheme requires energy firms to pay households and businesses that install onsite renewable energy technologies a set rate for all the energy they generate.

However, the scheme controversially provides a much lower rate to those who installed wind turbines and solar panels before the feed-in tariff was announced in July 2009.

This has left many "early adopters" feeling "betrayed" by a decision that will result in them receiving significantly lower payments than those neighbours who install renewable energy technologies now.

Ecotricity is attempting to target these potential customers, as well as those planning to install renewable energy systems, with the launch of a new scheme called Microtricity.

Under the scheme, households and businesses installing new technologies will receive the tariffs set by the government, while those which already boast wind turbines or solar panels will be eligible for a feed-in tariff from the company of 16 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh).

"The real pioneers of homemade green energy have been left a bit out in the cold by the new rules, so we're offering the best rate we can to try and close the gap and reward them for their commitment to move Britain from old brown to new green energy," said Dale Vince, founder and managing director of Ecotricity.

The move takes Ecotricity into direct competition with rival Good Energy, which is operating a similar scheme, offering customers with existing renewable energy systems a feed-in tariff of 15p/kWh.

Both companies are offering rates well above the standard rate of 9p/kWh, plus 3p/kWh for any energy exported to the grid.