Owners of boilers accredited under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) continue to report issues with the site audits being conducted by inspectors on behalf of the Department for the Economy.

RHANI, the group representing boiler owners, is now seeking legal advice about which elements of the inspections are compulsory.

The concern is that some of the information gathered could be used in future legal proceedings, or as evidence in the recently opened RHI public inquiry.

“We have reminded the chief auditor that it is unlawful to collect data for one purpose and then use it for another, undeclared reason,” an update circulated among RHANI members last week reads.

RHANI’s executive chair Andrew Trimble has written to the Department’s permanent secretary Andrew McCormick to complain about the manner, which audits are being conducted, and about the appointment of the firm undertaking the initial phase of pilot inspections.

He says that Ricardo AEA should not have been appointed because the consultancy firm was involved in the design of the RHI scheme.

In a letter responding to Trimble’s complaint, McCormick said: “The department has assured itself that no conflict exists.”

There was speculation earlier this month that all 2,126 RHI-accredited boilers would be inspected before Christmas. However, a department spokesperson said this week that a timeline for audits has not yet been established. “To date, 20 site inspections in the first phase of the programme have been undertaken. This included a series of announced and unannounced inspections. An additional 13 sites are currently being progressed in this phase,” the spokesperson said.