RHI reviews
The government periodically review the Renewable Heat Incentive
The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is periodically reviewed by the government.
The original intention was that this would be reveiewed every four years, with the first review in 2014, with any changes suggested becoming effective in April 2015.
However (as with so much else concerning the RHI and the FITs) this has changed:
Early reviews
July 2012 consultation on ‘cost control’
The government made proposals on controlling the cost of the RHI. It eventually responded to the inputs it received in February 2013 with this document.
This sets out the proposed approach to degression.
It also covers biomass sustainability, air quality, metering and biomethane injection.
September 2012 – three consultations on the RHI
On 20th September 2012 the government announced three consultations:
- Proposals for the domestic scheme of the RHI – see more here
- Proposals to extend the non-domestic scheme – see more here
- Consultation on air-to-water heat pumps and energy from waste – see more here
The February 2013 response to the July review above said that the government would respond to these later consultations “later this year”.
Reviews look at the whole scheme and how it is working
The government has retained a very wide remit for the scope of the reviews.
The list of eligible energy sources might also be extended at the reviews.
But existing installations are ‘grand-fathered’
However any tariff level changes adopted at reviews will not affect installations that are already registered, and may not affect those under construction.
2014 review
The proposed timetable for what was originally intended to be the first review was:
| January 2014 | Review formally initiated |
| January to June 2014 | Informal consultation with stakeholders and analysis |
| July to September 2014 | Formal consultation on proposed changes |
| December 2014 | Final decisions and draft regulations published |
| January 2015 | Draft regulations laid before Parliament |
| April 2015 | Review changes implemented through regulation |
Early review
The government has reserved the right to call an early review, and has in effect already done so more than once!
