Ripple energy "strike off"

[NoraBatty]

Ive just written a rather snotty email to Ripple demanding transparency and clarity.
I fully expect to be ignored or fobbed off, but wont be having it.

Looking on the forum it seems as though a few WB investors asked where their investment was and if it was safe. Repeatedly, and were ignored.
A post was deleted, and members asked to adhere to the community guidelines.
Deleting one post does not warrant closing an entire forum.
Infact the ability to delete a supposedly offensive post entirely negates using OSA to close the forum.
Despite seeming to have moderators to police the forum, if they were requiring more moderators, then like any other, they should have asked its members.
https://community.rippleenergy.com/member/pqU8DqSZCx

[Fueltheburn]

I have also asked probing questions and received a very long winded copy and paste reply.
I have started a section 75 based on they have gained Pecuniary Advantage with my funds.

They way Ripple have been conducting themselves towards investors looks like they are busy covering their tracks.

[Joeboy]

That is a sad state of affairs. We are still in it for No1 Son & Daughterly. Fortunately only to a few grand between them which i'll reimburse if the wheels fall off.

To close down a co-ops method of communicating together under the auspice of the online safety act is with hindsight and should have been an expected low end tactic. They don't want to know. They've got the money and they are not interested in dealing with the members beyond 1 way emails letting all their members know just how smashing it all is, gosh!

Hey, maybe in a couple of years it will all be working well and settled down. Fingers .

Even better, Ripple as a management company collapses and a more professional and capable company takes over the management of the assets. Maybe we'll see them up on Octopus collective once the dust settles?

Sarah Merrick had a great idea and did well to get Graig Fatha off the ground with the help of the Welsh Govt. Everyone has their ceiling though and she might have reached her max altitude a while ago?

I had high hopes in the beginning that the management company would develop and grow but they seem to be stuck somewhere around a 1980's family run double glazing firm and not managed to scale up their professionalism.

Maybe shutting down the community side of things will allow them to deploy resources in a beneficial fashion and they can then up their game in other areas? I doubt it though.

I've never lost sight of the excellence of the idea. It's just the static created by the poor communication & management that got in the way. The turbines and panels themselves are great. I am very glad to have been a part of Graig Fatha for a while. It really was 'early days' great.

[cojmh]

It is a very sad state of affairs.

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I can understand human mistakes and I can even understand a bad egg or two in the organisation that may have been found out and they are trying to correct the problem. All of that I can understand and even excuse if they were open, honest and sincere about telling us what is going on and their plan for moving forward.

Unfortunately the one thing I cannot accept ever is being knowingly lied to or them actively obfuscating what is going on. Now whilst I strongly suspect we have been lied to (i.e. the reasons for Kate leaving being one) I am not 100% certain of that..... but I am certain that they are actively trying to hide things and hinder us from finding out what is going on.

To that end we need to draw a line between the Coop and Ripple such that there can never be any questions of conflict of interests. I don't know how the other coops are feeling (such as GF) but it is certainly how I feel about Kirkhill.

Then we can figure out if Ripple should be managing the project.

I also feel really sorry for the WB investors. If the funds were safe and sound and held properly elsewhere it would have taken no more than a sentence or two to confirm that. The fact they are silent on this and ignoring the question can only mean one thing in my mind (again my opinion).

We will have to see what happens.

[cojmh]

Another update from Ripple - for the community forum

Update to the Ripple Community
Yesterday in response to the impending Online Safety Act we removed members’ ability to comment or post. We are hopeful that this change is temporary.

We built the Ripple Community Forum as a way to go much further than most cooperatives in the way we communicate with members, and importantly to allow members to engage with each other in a safe, respectful space.

The next steps that we need to take to ensure we are compliant with the Online Safety Act will take effect later today:

Revised Terms

We will change from being publicly accessible to a private space accessible only to members via their Ripple dashboard

It will be for those aged 18 and over

The next time you access the Ripple Community you will see a new pop-up that will ask you to confirm you are aged 18 or over, and that you have read and agreed to the new Terms.

We will continue to review the guidelines on what is required as part of the legislation to determine on what basis we can safely add back more functionality for members. Please bear with us in the meantime.

While the Community is in this reduced functionality we will post regularly to ensure members are kept up to date. If you would like to receive notifications of posts please ensure the bell icon is clicked in all “spaces” that you would like to receive notifications for.

Thank you so much for being a valued part of the Ripple Community.

[NoraBatty]

Another update from Ripple - for the community forum

Update to the Ripple Community
Yesterday in response to the impending Online Safety Act we removed members’ ability to comment or post. We are hopeful that this change is temporary.

We built the Ripple Community Forum as a way to go much further than most cooperatives in the way we communicate with members, and importantly to allow members to engage with each other in a safe, respectful space.

The next steps that we need to take to ensure we are compliant with the Online Safety Act will take effect later today:

Revised Terms

We will change from being publicly accessible to a private space accessible only to members via their Ripple dashboard

It will be for those aged 18 and over

The next time you access the Ripple Community you will see a new pop-up that will ask you to confirm you are aged 18 or over, and that you have read and agreed to the new Terms.

We will continue to review the guidelines on what is required as part of the legislation to determine on what basis we can safely add back more functionality for members. Please bear with us in the meantime.

While the Community is in this reduced functionality we will post regularly to ensure members are kept up to date. If you would like to receive notifications of posts please ensure the bell icon is clicked in all “spaces” that you would like to receive notifications for.

Thank you so much for being a valued part of the Ripple Community.

As you say above, human error can be understood and acceptrd so ling as it is transparent.
I cannot be the only member to write an excoriating email yesterday and this looks like a massive climb down whilst once again letting legislation do the heavy lifting to cover their own ass.

All it would have taken was a simple message saying somthing to the effect of
"this forum will close to posts next week/ tomorrow whilst we assess how to best implement the needed changes to bring the forum in line with the OSA. We will keep you updated on the progress with a hope to get this forum operational again as soon as possible. Meantime any questions can be directed to us via email... <here>"

Instead, they decided to go the route of censorship in a manner that is clear as mud, and have not liked the response they got.

[cojmh]

Message from the Kirk Hill Coop Board

Dear ,

We firstly want to thank you for your continued support and patience while we work hard to resolve the current situation. It is hard not being able to share the full picture with you, but we are sure you will understand and appreciate the need for confidentiality in the fullness of time.

The accounts and audit issues alongside the shutting down of the community forum have given us cause to assess Ripple's performance, remediation actions and our ongoing relationship and we are in the process of taking legal advice as the situation unfolds.

This week, we attended a meeting with the auditor appointed to deal with Kirk Hill Coop Ltd’s accounts. The meeting was productive and working relationships are now established. A secure data room has been provided so that they have access to all relevant documentation. They have been
involved in auditing processes with Kirk Hill in the past and so are better
placed than one with no previous background experience.

The audit team is working closely with the specialist investigator and the
accounts team, to whom we are very grateful, to ensure that both entities have robust and accurate accounts that can be submitted as soon as possible. This will rectify matters with both Companies House and the FCA. Companies House has given the SPV a date of 23rd April to submit and we await a response from the FCA regarding the Coop accounts.

Some members have asked about Turbine 5 (T5) which was noted to have an issue in the December Board minutes. The issue was not with the turbine itself, but the area surrounding it which had a small amount of natural water flow emerging from the crane hard standing opposite it. This has been raised with the local authority and SEPA and advice has been provided as to how any potential sediment issues may be addressed.

During a recent site visit it was noted that the position has stabilised and will be monitored going forward. There is no suggestion that this might impact the turbine itself, and the contractors have provided written assurances on the structural integrity of the crane pad.

Details about the member meeting scheduled for the 27th March, including how to join the call and how to post questions - either to the Coop board, or to Ripple as the managing agents should be issued this week.

We wish you a good week and will have another update for you
in a week’s time.

Best wishes

Kirk Hill coop board

[nowty]

And from the GF Board, looks like they are looking at an exit from Ripple who's future is now probably existentially finished.

GRAIG FATHA BOARD UPDATE TO MEMBERS MARCH 2025

You may have heard from Kirk Hill updates or elsewhere that there have been changes at Ripple Energy and discussions between Ripple and the Co-ops on both recent events and working together in the future. This note is to update you on the situation as it affects Graig Fatha Co-op and you, our members.

We are working closely with the other co-ops and with Ripple to find a sustainable solution which ensures the smooth operation of Graig Fatha turbine and the financial integrity of the co-op in the future, to the continued benefit of members.

Your investment remains secure as both the Co-op and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in which we hold the majority interest remain financially strong as shown in the latest accounts. Power generation continues to be strong and pricing for power has been agreed with Octopus from April onwards (the annual review); once we have finalised the operating costs and ongoing management services details, we will announce the new member savings rate.

We continue in an open dialogue with Ripple and will provide further information as the situation develops, including any change to business arrangements.

[MrPablo]

Well, crap.
This is not looking great for Whitelaw Brae.

I have paid my monthly payments via credit card, I'm now hoping this would give me some protection, but I'm not sure...

[cojmh]

Well, crap.
This is not looking great for Whitelaw Brae.

I have paid my monthly payments via credit card, I'm now hoping this would give me some protection, but I'm not sure...

I don't know .... best thing to do is keep all documentation so you can speak to your credit card company if the need arises

I would look at section 75 of the consumer credit act for more details if that helps.