DAVID MONK, Kingsbridge, writes:

I  was surprised to read reports suggesting solar panel projects could be a 'power station' of the future.  

You also report our local MP Sarah Wollaston as saying that she is 'delighted that the South Hams is high in the national league table for solar panels on roofs', and she praised the impact that solar panel projects could have.  In your paper the previous week you reported all the problems that the Kingsbridge Methodist Church have had obtaining any tariff receipts over the past year for the energy their panels have produced.  

Ofgem have overruled the independent assessor to stop any payments for the electricity and classified the church, which is about to celebrate its 200 year anniversary, as a day centre in order to justify it's actions.  

The church, and the local company who installed the panels, met all the regulatory requirements yet find Ofgem trying to introduce additional requirements to justify their actions.  

Since the report in the paper a number of other projects have reported similar problems with Ofgem and a charity named Carbon Leapfrog is attempting to negotiate with Ofgem regarding their difficulties.  

The church has also received calls from prospective installers querying the problems the church has experienced and they have been honestly informed that the church would not have started their project had they known the problems they have subsequently encountered.  

The church wanted to support alternative energy production and the wider sustainability issue but now find themselves forced into discouraging such projects.  

The church has sought the assistance of Sarah Wollaston and also the energy minister but neither have been able to address the issues they have raised and neither have been able to challenge Ofgem over their actions.   

Failing to do this is resulting in lost projects that are really needed. Ofgem is a government appointed body so surely should be accountable to MPs and ministers.   

On May 22, the Daily Telegraph reported that the energy select cCommittee of the House of Commons had suggested that Ofgem were acting in a 'ridiculous' manner.  

Tim Yeo, the select committee chairman, reported that Ofgem had commissioned financial advice from an independent auditor and then completely ignored their recommendations.   Almost a carbon copy of the position of Kingsbridge Methodist Church.  

If our local MP and the energy minister cannot take Ofgem to task for their unjust and unfair treatment of the church who can, and what is the future of the solar panel projects they profess to want to promote?