It may seem unusual that a contractor loves their governing body, maybe it is an Irish thing or just a human condition but most of us do not like being told what to do and certainly we do not have masochistic tendencies in Wyse Solar!
Without the SEAI and their auditing team the solar industry would be finished before it started. When we think of the SEAI and their influence on the solar market, immediately, people think of grant monies. Certainly, the grant structure is a dominant factor for the customer, but a knock-on effect of the grants is that the level of payment is so good the nixer man or cash only businesses cannot compete with the price level of the installations when the grant is applied.
As a contractor, to offer these grants all participants must adhere to the same rules and regulations set forward by the SEAI. Staff must be trained in solar installation, be a member of Safe Electric, have insurance, install to their strict codes of practice and all work can be inspected. A win win situation for the customer and injecting confidence in the industry.
Unlike other governing bodies us contractors do not have to pay membership fees, buy certificates, pay for codes of practice which can be updated at a whim and another set bought for over €100. Indeed, the SEAI inspectors can be contacted to answer any queries you have, and you are not made to feel like an errant schoolboy or schoolgirl.
In conclusion if one was to be harsh you could say the SEAI is a necessary evil. Realistically, I would suggest that they have controlled the standard of the PV industry by incentivising customers with the grants to choose contractors that design and install to a good common standard.
My only fear for the future is that the grant value is dropped to a level that invites the customer to face a hard choice to choose the cash offer without regulation or the registered contractor with all the benefits they bring.
Anthony Pryce
Wyse Solar
