Battery Owners Beware! The Tax Man Is Coming...

Owners of solar and battery systems must tell the tax authorities if they’re earning significant money selling energy…

…the family of a man electrocuted by a lamppost asks why the supervising electrician hasn’t been arrested…

…and the blind electrician who says he’s struggling to get work…

Welcome to Electrical News Weekly in association with Sungrow , making every Watt count since 1997 , whether you're listening in the van, on site, or down at the wholesale counter.

======================
Show Notes:

Catch all the stories, links, and product info from this episode - it’s all waiting for you in the show notes at 👉 https://www.efixx.co.uk/battery-owners-beware-the-tax-man-is-coming

===============================================
Thanks to our premium partners:
Ledvance 👉 https://hub.efixx.co.uk/LedvanceDirectEasy
CHUMPTools 👉https://hub.efixx.co.uk/ChumpfixENW
Doncaster Cables 👉 http://hub.efixx.co.uk/doncastercables-enw
=======================================
Time Stamps ⏱️
00:00 Electrical News Weekly 09/02/2026
00:55 Battery Owners Beware! The Tax Man Is Coming...
02:00 Do You Need To Tell Insurers About Solar?
03:30 Govt Changes Feed In Tariff Calculation
04:18 'No Justice' For Electrocuted Workers Family
05:05 Blind Electrician Struggling To Get Work
05:50 Sync Energy Unveils £50 Install Bonus
06:24 Early Bird Access To The Popular Smartcraft Spark
07:06 Din Rail Mountable Fire Extinguishing Device
07:36 Have You Tried The CHUMPFix Yet?
09:05 Paul Russells Lamp of the Week
09:44 Learner of the Week
10:39 Tea Break With Quickwire
11:24 eFIXX Fantasy League Roundup
13:42 Thanks To Our Premium Partners
14:10 Challenge Words & Winners
=============================================

#enw #electricians #electricalinstallation

Transcript

Coming up on this week's news, owners of solar and battery systems must tell the tax authorities if they're earning significant money selling energy. The family of a man electrocuted by a lamp post asks why the supervising electrician hasn't been arrested. And the blind electrician who says he's struggling to get work. Welcome to Electrical News Weekly in association with Sungrow, making every Watt count, literally since 1997. Whether you're listening in the van, on site, or down at the wholesale counter, I'm Joe Robinson, and I've been through the best of the electrical industry news to save you the trouble. We're being lit by Flex 7 with their lightning fast pre-wired modular lighting connection system that keeps your installation times razor sharp. And this week's challenge word competition is supported by the good people at Brady. If you need a label, they've got a printer and so much more. If you think you've spotted the two words I've been challenged to slip into this week's show, comment with them below for a chance to win this exclusive cap branded with friends of the show Quickwire and ChumpTools. And while you're there, click the links in the show notes to check out what our sponsors offer. In news that's going to be as popular as a veruka in a hot tub, householders with solar panel and battery installations must inform the tax man if they're earning significant sums from selling energy. If the PV job is there just to power their home, they can relax. It's exempt from income tax. But if the install is designed to significantly exceed the home's use and the householder is typically earning over £1,000 annually, then it's taxable and must be declared. Equally, if someone is using a battery to import electricity at low rates and export it at higher rates, then according to His Majesty's revenue and customs, that's not microgeneration and it's not tax exempt. The tax experts call this arbitrage, buying low and selling high for profit. If you're earning over £1,000 a year from this practice, then you'll need to declare it and you'll need to pay tax if necessary. Customers also need to be aware that some energy firms may prohibit smart export guarantee payments for battery on installs in their smallprint. That's because the cash is intended for the export of renewable energy. So, some suppliers could refuse payments, require proof of generation, and exclude battery only export from the scheme. The eFIXX advice for householders considering a battery only system. Check with your supplier before you install. What about insurers? Do you need to tell them you've put solar panels on your roof? eFIXX has been investigating this issue and it looks like yes, you should disclose that you have a PV installation. That's because solar panels can alter the structure and risk profile of a building. Roof mounted PV introduces wind loading considerations. Roof penetrations can change how a roof behaves in storms and heavy weather. And with in roof systems, you could also be changing the fire performance of the structure itself. Big brand insurers such as Aviva Safeguard and the post office require customers to tell them about significant alterations to the home and that includes solar panels. The good news, and there is some good news here, is that according to our survey, adding solar panels in particular does not increase premiums. Battery systems, however, are a different matter. Again, we advise you to tell your customer to check with their insurer before installation. One thing insurers won't cover is poor workmanship. If a solar job is faulty, they're highly unlikely to pay out. That's even if the installer is a member of the regulatory body such as the NIC or the MCS. In fact, members of the MCS scheme with a domestic job under the latest scheme will have to buy mandatory insurance from the organisation under a new plan unveiled last week. And the insurance is designed to protect the customer, not you. But MCS boss Ian Ripen says the cover will demonstrate a commitment to aligning with national guidance and best practice which can help to boost the reputation of your business. The insurance policies will also be available to every MCS installer from this month. And speaking of protecting your customers from household hazards, check out this fantastic range from this week's fire sponsor, Fire Angel. They'll keep watch over you and your loved ones even when you can't. Still on solar, it's been announced that householders paid to generate power under the feeding tariff scheme won't get as much as they expect in coming years. There are 800,000 individuals who signed up for the scheme before the government brought the shutters down in 2019. The tariff has been increasing in line with inflation, but from April, ministers are changed the measure of inflation they used to calculate the increase. Instead of the current retail prices index, it will use the stingier consumer prices index instead. It could have been worse. The government were threatening to freeze payments permanently. Now, if you'd like to really cut your costs when it comes to electricity bills, then check out the brand new range of green I motion sensors from Legrand CP Electronics Arm. Designed with ease of install and commissioning and using 75% recycled packaging, they'll cut carbon, reduce costs, and help you specify efficient future ready buildings. It's not just green eye, it'll help to make a green U. In other news, the family of a technician electrocuted by a lamp post has questioned why the supervising electrician was never arrested. Anthony Thomas died in September 2016 while repairing a faulty street light near Merthyr Tydfil. 10 years later, his family has been told there will be no prosecution. His sister Karen Thomas says a breakdown in communication between South Wales police and the health and safety executive is the root of the problem. This meant that key evidence was never secured and investigations were delayed. It's reported that the earth and neutral wires had been mistakenly crossed in the lamppost luminaire. Despite this, prosecutors ruled there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. The HSE has since admitted the length of the investigation was not acceptable, saying the passage of time had affected the reliability of evidence. Karen Thomas says she's considering an appeal, adding that both of her parents died waiting for answers. Meanwhile, in Jamaica, an electrician who's registered blind, says he's struggling to get steady work. Dean White, who lives in the capital, Kingston, says he faces closed doors because of his condition. He lost his sight to glaucoma in 2015, but says he still has a lot to offer. Recently, he's taken to social media to demonstrate his skills. Damian Malan, chairman of Jamaica's Society for the Blind, said white struggle highlights a systemic problem. He says people with disabilities face unemployment rates nine to 10 times higher than the national average. That's because employers have fears, including fear of injury and fear that he will be an additional burden to an organisation. However, Malan says his society can show employers how blind people can operate in the workplace and help advise on any necessary adjustments. Malan has urged potential employees to give White a chance to prove himself. Sync Energy has unveiled a promo which will reward anyone who installs two of the brand's acclaimed EV chargers. The bonus is a crisp 50 quid. If you're registered for the Sync Energy app, you're automatically enrolled in the scheme. To be eligible, all installs must be fully commissioned, set up correctly in the app, and have the end user complete their first charge. You can choose your reward in two ways. A simple digital voucher that you can redeem over 500 outlets including Screwfix and John Lewis. Alternatively, if you do 20 installs and are due over 500 pounds, Sync Energy will give you cash back with an invoice. To do this, you'll need to be set up as a supplier and VAT registered. The promotion runs until April. Meanwhile, a digital work platform for electricians, SmartCraft Spark, is inviting the trade to join its early bird program. This will put you among the first to explore new tech from the brand. You'll be able to see firsthand how the platform is designed to help electrical contractors create fast, accurate quotes and improve their profitability. SmartCraft Spark is already hugely popular with electricians in Norway and Sweden. They say it brings better structure to their daily work. The platform is now inviting Brits to take part and help shape it for the UK market. Early bird participants will be among the first to explore its calculation and quotation capabilities. You can also give feedback to the developers and share your priorities with the team. It's free to register and participation is by selection. I'll put a link to the registration form in the show notes. In product news, Live Electrical has unveiled a clever fire extinguishing device for consumer units. The distinctive red unit is about the size of an MCB and like an MCB is designed to be mounted on the dinrail. It sits alongside the rest of the switch gear, but if it detects heat in excess of 170° C, it will release a cloud of fire killing aerosol in under 6 seconds. It protects volumes of up to 0.4 cubic meters, more than enough for a consumer unit or modest electrical enclosure. It fully complies with the standard BSN 15276-1 and2. Now, if you've ever turned obergine with rage when trying to fix something to plaster board, then Chumpfix is currently marketing its clever gizmo. We're huge fans of it here at eFIXX. It's basically a simple device for speeding up the installation of lighting pendants, pull cords, and smoke alarms. In fact, it helps attach anything to plaster board that requires one or two screws. ChumpFix is a perforated piece of plastic about the size of a small ruler. You push it up through a 25 mil hole, usually the same one for the cable, and then flatten it by pulling the handle. You then screw through the plaster to reach one of its many holes. This secures it nicely to the plaster board. It means you don't have to use wall plugs, and it helps to spread the weight of the light across the ceiling. It also minimises the risk of plasterboard failure caused by drilling near the edges, and we've all been there. It comes in two sizes, 12 and 25 cm. The latter has snap-off sections to reduce the length to either 22 or 19 cm if need be. The longer size is also useful for mounting consumer units, larger enclosures, and light fittings. The company says it's one of the strongest plaster board fixings you can get. That's because it's able to support 25 kilos per screw. So, with two screws, 50 kilos can be supported. And with four screws, a massive 100 kilos will be held up. With a consumer unit, you can typically get one side onto a stud, but the other must be secured to the plaster board. And that's where the chump fix comes into its own. Gary loves it so much, he's always finding new applications for it. He recently used it to patch a hole left in a plasterboard ceiling and ended up using a spare chump fix as a plastering trail. Desperation lasting on a Friday afternoon really is the mother of invention. I've popped links in the show notes so you can see it in action and get your hands on yours. This innovation is available at CF and all good wholesalers. Now to our recently introduced section celebrating the quality light sources illuminating our lives. It's the Paul Russell's lamp of the week. And today we're giving a shout out to a modern classic, the GU10. This workhorse of the ceiling started life with 50 watt tungsten h halogen technology back in the day, but nowadays the source is low energy LED. The Paul Russell's version consumes a mere four and a half watts and delivers 480 lumens. It's perfectly dimmable with no buzz or flicker, even on a dimmer. This one's a warm 2,700 Kelvin, but other colour temperatures are available. It has a lifetime of a whopping 15,000 hours. You could even get to Manchester on the train in that time. So, all in all, I think you'll agree a worthy lamp of the week. Now it's that great moment where we get to celebrate the sterling work being done by the next generation. Our learner of the week slot is brought to you by Viper Clip for rapid, secure, and fireproof installations of cabling. And our learner this week is Ben Coughlan of Riverside College in Widnes and Runcorn. He's been nominated by friend of the show, Matthew Horn. Matt says Ben has been exceptional since the start of the academic year. His attitude is consistently positive and professional, and he approaches both theory and practical work with real commitment. He got a distinction in the 602 science exam, scoring 39 out of 40. His practical work, too, is always to a very high standard with neat and compliant installs. Congratulations, Ben, and all the best from us from eFIXX for your future. Now, if you're looking to break into the industry, we can help. eFIXX has set up a dedicated LinkedIn group for people training in electrical installation. It's aimed at apprentices, full-time learners, and adults training in the evening. Just log on to LinkedIn and search for UK electrician apprenticeships and career support. I'll also put a link in the show notes. And now to the lighter side of the electrical news. Yes, it's time for a tea break with Quickwire and its range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. A vast new ship building facility in Glasgow has been named after an electrician and a female electrician at that. The huge structure has been named the Janet Harvey Hall after one of the many women who took on industrial jobs during the Second World War. In 1940, at just 18 years of age, Janet joined the workforce as an electrician in the Riverclide shipyards. She was one of just a handful of women working as electricians alongside the 100,000 strong male workforce. What a great way to remember this wonderful woman. That's the lighter side of the news in our tea break with QuickWire and their range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. Click the link in the description to check them out for yourself. Now, just before we get to your favorite bit of the show where I reveal last week's challenge words and winners, we want to thank our premium partners. We couldn't make the news without you. First up, empowering their customers to harness power through light with their intelligent energy solutions, solar technology, and advanced lighting systems is Ledvance. One of our favourite new innovations here at eFIXX for rock solid fixings in flimsier materials. Don't just fix it when you can chump fix it. And the best thing to come out of Yorkshire since stainless steel, the home of EV Ultra and other groundbreaking and quality products, it's Doncaster Cables. Click the links in the show notes to find out more about these great brands. If you think you know the words I've smuggled into this week's show, pop your guess into the comments. We'll take all the correct guesses and select one at random to be the winner of an EIX goodie bag prize. Answers submitted after about lunchtime on the Thursday after release will not be entered into the draw. Now, let's reveal the winners of last week's challenge word competition. Last week's words were popo and Wutang. Quite a few put Wutang Clan, which would technically be two words as both of last week's words were hyphenated. But I voted them in anyway because it's my show and I'll do whatever I want. Never has anyone been more drunk on less power. Anyway, the first person to come out of electronic hat was regular listener and commenter Roy Cad. Well done to you, Roy. Make sure you click the get involved link in the show notes to claim your prize. This week, we've been lit by Flex 7 with their lightning fast pre-wired modular lighting connection system that keeps your installation times razor sharp. Don't forget to click the links in the show notes to find out more. Thanks for listening to this episode of Electrical News Weekly in association with Sungrow, making every watt count, literally since 1997. Make sure you subscribe to receive the next update. Thanks for listening and until next time, have a great week. Stay safe out there, and remember, there's no such thing as a torque calibrated arm.