So the news that householders have been waiting for….and as always, there is disappointment for some and rewards for others.
In announcing the new feed in tariffs, the government has reneged on its original plan to radically alter the landscape for renewable energy. Instead, what most commentators see is in its proposed levels of support scheme for small-scale renewable energy schemes, is a distinct lack of ambition to tackle climate change.
Unveiling the new so-called feed-in tariffs (FITs) paid to people, communities or businesses who generate electricity from solar PV panels, wind turbines or other renewable sources, the governments energy secretary Ed Miliband said the government still only intends that this sector would eventually supply only 2% of the country’s electricity by 2020 – incredibly, and in spite of mounting evidence for rampant climate change, that’s the same figure he proposed in mid 2009.
But the sweeteners are that Some new technologies, such as solar photovoltaic panels on household roofs will get a higher feed-in tariff, and, importantly, all tariffs will be continually updated to adjust for inflation each year. But large-scale community wind turbines will now get a lower feed in tariff than proposed last year, leaving the overall level of support to the industry little changed.
And as with everything, this could all change after the election with the Conservative Party pledging to introduce a much higher rate of feed in tariff to match those in Germany. Either way, the time has come for renewables and for those of you who need to gain insight into PV, we will be offering the NIC Certification PV Installers course, from Mid April onwards – for more details on this, check out our courses section on the main web site www.totalelectricaltraining.com
Dazed and Confused………
This is a tale of two (or several) “august” bodies.
We had an interesting series of events recently which we feel you might be interested in, and yes, it’s that hoary old chestnut; when do you need to be qualified to the 17th edition.
According to the document that is in the public domain, otherwise known as the Electrotechnical assessment specification (EAS) published by the IET. Amongst other things, it provides useful guidance on things like scope and responsibilities as well as information on test equipment. Bedtime reading it isn’t but, in the sub text and on page 9, paragraph 11.11 (sorry if we are sounding like Judge John Deed!), it highlights the requirements relating to a Qualified Supervisor, and in particular, the requirements to have adequate knowledge, and to quote directly from the document, paragraph 11.11 states very clearly:
“A proposed Qualified Supervisor shall be required to hold an appropriate BS 7671: 2008 qualification awarded by a body regulated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority or the Scottish Qualifications Authority within 12 months of acceptance by the Certification or Registration Body”…….and here it get interesting, because paragraph 11.12 goes onto to say “Registered Qualified Supervisors shall be required to hold an appropriate BS 7671: 2008 qualification awarded by a body regulated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority or the Scottish Qualifications Authority by the first surveillance visit after 31 December 2010, but by no later than 31 December 2011″…….
And it gets even better!. To quote Alan Wells, head of the electrotechnical business unit at the NICEIC, he says in the very latest issue of Electrical Engineering, “we should all maintain continuous professional development and keep abreast of changes to regulations whilst striving to improve and raise standards of fixed electrical installation work.”. But that wasn’t all. Hew went on to say something else which was a critical comment, it may have slipped under the radar so to speak; what he confirmed was that as we had suspected all along, that the NICEIC requires that all qualified supervisors will have to undertaken and achieved (passed!) a qualification that shows that the person concerned has a good understanding of the 17th edition.
So there you have it………and please don’t shoot the messenger….we are only here to try and clarify what is at the very least a confusing picture.
We will be back next month with another gem, no doubt!
It’s a simple fact of life that we humans always take the least line of resistance……..
We have a cautionary tale for you and yes, it may sound a bit like eggs and suck but please heed our advice!
It goes a bit like this………
A guy calls us……he asks us “how much do we charge for just sitting a City and Guilds 2382-10 examination – that’s the full certificate for the 17th edition no less…..we tell him, “that’s £120.00 plus VAT”….he then says….”that’s a bit steep, I only paid £14.00 for the whole course!”….we say…”what…a full course for £14.00….where is absolute bargain of a course?”…..”Oh….I downloaded it from a really good internet site called www xxxx !”…(we wont name names here, really to protect any embarrassment)………..he carries on “So, is that it….I got through the exam on the download and passed with flying colours”………so we asked him a few basic questions about the number of parts in the 17th…you know the sort of thing….what is a TT system…nothing to heavy mind you……..after that little discussion, it dawned on us and more importantly on him….he really didn’t know his way around the 17th edition – whets more, the questions that he said the download contained were not only badly worded, the answers to 4 questions, that this so called programme gave him, were just plain wrong!
Now I am not here to say, come to us and you will get through the exam……no, and for the record, there is absolutely no such thing as a 100 % pass mark for any training provider….but if you go to a reputable City and Guilds approved centre, then you will be thoroughly prepared for the exam and hopefully pass…….
So, if you are someone that really wants to pass the 17th edition, please, please be wary of downloaded “17th edition” exam questions……you may be wasting a lot of your time………
We has a good time at the annual Elex exhbition, held at Sandown during the early part of Dec 2009. We had a chance to meet clients and customers, both old and new and of course, we had a chance to catch up with Tony Cable and the crew from the NICEIC.
As 2009 draws to a close, we would like to thank everyone who has attended a course with us over the last decade and we look forward to entering into the second decade of the 21st. Century with perhaps a much improved business atmosphere.
A global switch to efficient lighting systems would trim the world’s electricity bill by nearly one-tenth.
That is the conclusion of a study from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which it says is the first global survey of lighting uses and costs.
The carbon dioxide emissions saved by such a switch would, it concludes, dwarf cuts so far achieved by adopting wind and solar power.
And so fellow electricians, this is the next big thing and my guess is, the one true (forgive the pun) light at the end of the tunnel.
With the updated “part L” of the building regulations, place emphasis on energy saving and effeciencies, the massive savings offered by changing lighting in the home and office to new LED lighting technologies could pave the way to more installations and more profit.
We are introducing a new course on energy effeciency in buildings soon………..watch this space and web site !
Like most companies, we send out the odd press release every now and again.
We had an interesting response to something that appeared in a well known trade magazine – the response basically accused us of trying to “scare monger” and “frighten” electricians.
Well, I know that Halloween happens every year, but we aren’t in the business of scaring anyone – lets get a couple of things straight shall we!
The IET has a thing called the EAS – stands for Electrotechnical Assessment Specification – in simple terms, it is a template for all of us that work in the electrical industry – and yes that includes me!
So why am I rattling on about the 17th edition again…..(yawn)……… well it seems as though there is some confusion as to when you have to have achieved the 17th edition – well according to a number of callers out there to some of the larger enrolment bodies and competent persons schemes, and I quote “You do not have to have the 17th edition….yet”…..
Well according to the IET and one of major enrolment bodies, they are saying and publishing articles called “the clock is ticking”………. and that compliance with the 17th edition is required by the end of 2010 or by the next assessment visit – and if there is still anyone out there that is still the doubting sceptic why not check out the IET web site……http://www.theiet.org/publishing/wiring-regulations/eas
We return again in this post, to the somewhat misunderstood area of Testing and Inspecting.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAW Regulations) have been in force since the
1st of April 1990. This important regulation requires that all electrical systems to be installed and crucially, maintained to a safe standard and to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities.
These Regulations are made under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act), with the onus of absolute responsibility resting with employers, who are ultimately responsible for ensuring the health and safety of their employees But what is sometimes disregarded, is that this responsibility is extended to any member of the public who may be on the premises, and to ensure that they too, are not at risk from their activities – there is no exception.
Lets be very clear at this stage – Electricity is a killer and regrettably, even now, there are many avoidable deaths that occur because of unsafe installations.
We see here many instances of unsafe working practices where serious injury or death could arise – amongst those that we hear of are:
• Control of site earthworks, and buried cables
• Use of poorly maintained electrical equipment
• Dangerous Mains electricity supplies
• Use of unsuitable electrical equipment in explosive areas such as car paint spraying booths
• Fires started by poor electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances – all of which cause
many additional deaths and injuries.
We are now calling upon the great and the good in the electrical industry to try and lobby for a change of attitude and if needs be, a change in the law so that ALL premises – commercial, industrial and domestic – are periodically inspected and tested to the necessary standard to ensure that electrical safety is not compromised.
It came to late though for a single mother of 2 children, who died because of corrosion of the main cpc – to repeat the words of the coroner, “Anyone who has listened to the evidence today cannot but have been starkly reminded of the potential perils of electricity in our homes. But there is no requirement for periodic inspections of electricity in our homes, and that to me, seems inexplicable”
This tragic death can and should have been avoided – please post your comments on this blog
Kevin Brennan, Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship Skills and Consumer Affairs at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, recently made what some may see as a radical approach to increasing the skills sets amongst the M & E community at large.
The minister has said, at a recent industry gathering, that he was considering new rules which could be built into all future public sector projects, and which would stress the duty on contractors to invest in the training of staff and apprentices.
What this would mean in practice is still somewhat vague but our investigations suggest that any public sector building and second fixing contracts offered to tender by the government, local authorities and other public organisations will have clauses which will “stress” that all staff must have received some vocational training. The spokesperson went on to say that this might include nationally recognised qualifications as inclusions in any such clauses.
So there you have it…..another solid reason to get that all important qualification!
The news is beginning to sound a lot better for all of us.
A recent announcement by the housing minister John Heal, and as reported on the BBC news website, the housing industry is in line for a significant financial boost.
Dubbed “Kickstart”, the news is all good. With sums of money in the order of £925m earmarked, the minister stated on the 27th of July 2009, that “We’ve pledged to use the power of Government investment to help Britain through the recession. This billion pound Kickstart programme will get stalled building work back on track, create jobs and help build the quality homes we need. he went onto say “I want to see builders back on these sites within weeks. So I will be calling on successful developers to pull out all the stops so construction can restart as quickly as possible.
For once, and not before time, HM Gov. is helping all of us who are involved in the house building industry – including domestic electricians.
So come on, theres a job to be done, no time for idle hands…..lets get to work and start building Britain again.
Yes…. we are radio stars for a day…
Local radio station, Ten-17 visited us today and carried out a quick interview with Chris Atkin……he was asked by the presenter, “how are things working out for you”…to which Chris replied, “We are doing just great here, and with more and more electricians needing our help, we are only to pleased to help”