Free solar power system. Is it a scam?

HappyCamperKitteh

Sounds like too good of a deal. I'd research the #$@ out of it. ^^;;
The most a company would offer are a few humidifier filters.

Cardew

HappyCamperKitteh wrote: »

Sounds like too good of a deal. I'd research the #$@ out of it. ^^;;
The most a company would offer are a few humidifier filters.

Why 'too good a deal'

As said previously you are simply renting out your roof on a 25 year agreement.

The 'rent' you get is the free electricity you can use from that being generated by the panels during daylight hours.

Assuming that the panels generate in the region of 3,000kWh per year, it would appear that most people might be able to use 40% to 50% of that total - say 1,200kWh to 1,500kWh and save approx £120 to £150 a year at today's electricity prices.

joolsleeds

Have any of the people who have arranged a fitting had their system fitted yet?

I am due to have my system fitted towards the end of the month, so would love to hear peoples experiences of the fit.

Regarding the firm themselves, I can only say so far so good. Their correspondence has been professional and timely, and their surveyor knowledgable and informative.

To be fair, I too come from the 'too good to be true' school of thought, and the first thing I said to the surveyor was 'Is it a con?'. He gave me facts, I checked, and it all seems good.

So, a very good start with the firm, and assuming their installation is as good, I'm looking forward to getting the system installed.

Just to be clear - I have no affinity with ASG, and will post how my installation goes. Happy to answer any questions from any other MSE's during/about installation and if it saves a few ££ too!

Lostrider

joolsleeds wrote: »

Have any of the people who have arranged a fitting had their system fitted yet?

I am due to have my system fitted towards the end of the month, so would love to hear peoples experiences of the fit.

Regarding the firm themselves, I can only say so far so good. Their correspondence has been professional and timely, and their surveyor knowledgable and informative.

To be fair, I too come from the 'too good to be true' school of thought, and the first thing I said to the surveyor was 'Is it a con?'. He gave me facts, I checked, and it all seems good.

So, a very good start with the firm, and assuming their installation is as good, I'm looking forward to getting the system installed.

Just to be clear - I have no affinity with ASG, and will post how my installation goes. Happy to answer any questions from any other MSE's during/about installation and if it saves a few ££ too!

Our installation is now complete. I am happy to answer any questions. Please be aware I am not an expert but i will give an honest & unbiased opinion.
Although it was stated that we would be able to monitor the system, this has not happened (yet). I do have two temporary monitoring device set up by myself, one monitoring the output and one monitoring current consumption. so I can give the following info based on NOW (time and date of message).
3.3kwh panels producing 410 watts - current usage 180w watts.
It is a dull overcast day.

Cardew

Lostrider wrote: »

Our installation is now complete. I am happy to answer any questions. Please be aware I am not an expert but i will give an honest & unbiased opinion.
Although it was stated that we would be able to monitor the system, this has not happened (yet). I do have two temporary monitoring device set up by myself, one monitoring the output and one monitoring current consumption. so I can give the following info based on NOW (time and date of message).
3.3kwh panels producing 410 watts - current usage 180w watts.
It is a dull overcast day.

Does your monitoring device have the facility to measure the cumulative power consumption over a period of time? e.g. in the last 8 days it has produced, say, 53kWh and we have used 20kWh in the house?

Presumably if you switched on the electric kettle, the produced power and present usage would always be the same? e.g. for your example both would read 410 watts.

RedcarD_2

Hi all.

Will be watching this thread with interest. Next week our install is expected to go ahead - weather permitted. I must say that the email responses and information supplied to date has been nothing but exceptional.

I have had friends and even my neighbour who have had their application declined, so that does happen a fair bit by the looks. Seems I might have been one of the fortunate ones.

I will also keep you all posted as to how my install goes.

[Deleted User]

My install is up and running too. I had them put in at the end of april. Been monitoring my leccy meter since i had the economy 7 meter taken out in July so I know my average daily useage wa 16.6. It is now 10.2 so it's taken it down a bit in that short space of time.

Just need to get me some timers now to put everything on charge in the day. And hope for sunny days!!

mysterons

Was having the E7 meter removed a free choice made by yourself or is there something that forbids the use of E7 with grid-tie/FIT's?

[Deleted User]

I removed it in July last year when I went on maternity leave as I was at home all day so would be using my electricity differently. I haven't heard mention of it being a consideration for the panels. I have toyed with the idea of getting it back in now but I need to do some sums as I work part time and i need to be sure I can get max out of the free leccy first.

joolsleeds

Lostrider wrote: »

Our installation is now complete. I am happy to answer any questions. Please be aware I am not an expert but i will give an honest & unbiased opinion.
Although it was stated that we would be able to monitor the system, this has not happened (yet). I do have two temporary monitoring device set up by myself, one monitoring the output and one monitoring current consumption. so I can give the following info based on NOW (time and date of message).
3.3kwh panels producing 410 watts - current usage 180w watts.
It is a dull overcast day.

Thanks to all for letting me know that you've had your systems installed. All the feedback looks positive too.

A question I have is about the installation.....can you go through it - is it very intrusive, is the power off for long etc etc?

And thanks to shelvis - will be interesting to see the results on the electric bill!!