A GROUP representing RHI claimants in legal action against the Stormont executive has more than quadrupled some of its membership fees.
The Renewable Heat Association of Northern Ireland (RHANI) last month secured a court injunction preventing the economy department from naming its members who are RHI recipients.
It is also challenging in court plans to curb government subsidies paid out under the botched Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
When the group was formed last month, membership was advertised as costing £180 per person and a further £60 per eligible RHI installation.
But now according to its website, the group has increased the RHI installation part of its membership cost to £252 – more than fourfold the previous fee.
A spokeswoman for RHANI, which has more than 500 members, said the fees increase was due to the organisation's growth.
"The membership costs for RHANI have increased since the organisation's inception back on January 9. This is due to the growth of the organisation," she said.
"Membership fees will continually be under review to resource the needs of the new organisation. This means fees can go up or down but always in consultation with members."
A public inquiry has been launched into the RHI scheme after it ran a projected £490m over budget amid claims of abuse – including a farmer allegedly heating an empty shed for profit.
The state-funded scheme was supposed to encourage the use of renewable energy such as wood pellets, but paid out more in subsidies than the cost of fuel.
RHANI was set up as the RHI scandal gathered pace and Stormont faced growing calls to publicly name those who applied to the botched scheme.
The group has faced questions after its chair Michael Doran admitted it's possible that some members could be abusing the botched RHI scheme.
In an interview earlier this month, Mr Doran confirmed there is no vetting process for anyone joining RHANI.
The group saw a spike in applications in the hours before a cut-off point set by a judge for protection under the injunction.
"It is possible that there are some in there who have been acting improperly, who will be found to have been acting improperly. They won't be able to sign up to our code of good practice and we will throw them out," Mr Doran said.
RHANI's interim injunction only prevents the Department for the Economy from naming its members.
But last week it emerged RHANI had threatened to seek a further court injunction to prevent the media publishing details.
It followed questions from BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, which says it has obtained a full list of the RHI scheme beneficiaries.
