2023-05-17 04:30:00
How does a 72-year-old who wants to buy a photovoltaic system fare? The retired Zeller teacher Willi Nicka gives an insight into his experiences – from the subsidy jungle to the savings euphoria.
Willi Nicka heats his house in Schüttdorf electrically. “30 years ago everyone said it was the best decision.” At the beginning of the year, the huge increase in electricity costs made him worry. “Instead of 2,500 to 3,000 euros, this year I had to reckon with 9,000 to 10,000 euros just for heating. I had already thought regarding my own photovoltaic system in the past few years. The increase in electricity prices finally persuaded me to do so,” says Nicka.
With this decision, an arduous hurdle race began for the 72-year-old athlete. Finding a provider quickly was not easy. He was sometimes put off for at least a year due to the high demand. The company Elektrotechnik Delic was then able to help him more quickly. 36 photovoltaic modules were installed, the acquisition costs amounted to around 30,000 euros, and the system has been up and running for a few weeks. The goal: minus the subsidies from the federal, state and local authorities, it should have “amortized in around five years”.
“But the Matura was easier for me than all applications for funding on the subject of photovoltaics,” describes the former teacher and director of the Zell am See elementary school. On March 23, at 5 p.m. sharp, he was sitting in front of the computer, looking at the atomic clock. The first “funding call” for federal funding was advertised according to the first come, first served principle. A grandson assisted and counted down. Then the data was hammered into the keyboard at lightning speed. A dilemma: With a 31-digit meter number, Nicka entered one zero too many – everything from the beginning. “At exactly 5:17:17 p.m. I managed to successfully pull a ticket,” the pensioner breathed deeply.
“Degrading and extremely frustrating”
15 days before this procedure, he sent an email to the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection. Among other things, with the message: “For us citizens, it is degrading and extremely frustrating to sit in front of the PC at a certain point in time on a certain day and then be disappointed because you didn’t get to it. Older people are totally disadvantaged. The best would be the refund of VAT as in Germany.”
The gauntlet continues
In April, the Ministry of Climate Protection announced that all of the around 90,700 applications for private solar power plants would be funded in the first round. Good news for Willi Nicka – “but the gauntlet continues”. Last week he received an e-mail: “OeMAG – the processing center for green electricity – has already informed you that your application for funding has been sent to us, Kommunalkredit Public Consulting (KPC).” Nicka’s project is registered as part of the “Photovoltaic Systems” funding campaign of the Climate and Energy Fund and the funding is reserved at the same level as with OeMAG. “I had filled out pages and pages of an application for the OeMAG, now a new one with additional data is required – for example proof of the qualification of the electrician. He has already told me that I am the umpteenth person to call him regarding it.”
In the case of the state of Salzburg, the man from Zell is trying – since his system is already in operation – not to get money for his investment through classic PV, but through a renovation subsidy. “I spent another 900 euros on new energy certificates.”
Great joy despite great trouble
In the meantime, he has submitted the application for state funding, and that for the 500 subsidy from the municipality of Zell am See is to follow. “Then I’m slowly hoping that I’ve fought my way through the jungle. All in all, I’m really happy with the system and I’m surprised at how much electricity it produces. On nice days it has produced almost 100 kilowatt hours, on rainy ones how much 36 last Thursday – with a current daily consumption of six to seven kilowatt hours. The heating is currently switched off. It will look different in winter. Overall, however, I will save a lot in the long term.”
Nicka is currently selling the excess electricity to the Viennese company aWATTar”. He would like to see progress in regional storage options. “That requires political will and a lot of money.” And for the citizens, simplifications in the subsidy system are necessary the great facility is not associated with so much trouble.”
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