Free solar panel discussion

grahamc2003

K4blades wrote: »

Hey M4xmillion, good luck with what you are doing, you and I have the same sort of background and I'm full of admiration for those who work so hard to make their lives a bit better, when so many take the easy option of living off benefits for the rest of their lives. (Not wanting to start a political argument now!) But it sounds like you need a bit of good luck so I hope you get it.

I agree K4, it's very refreshing to see your and M4's efforts.

I think we all agree too that I would like you to keep as much of your earnt money as possible.

I thinkj where we disagree is whether these 'free' schemes help you to do that. (by lowering your electicity bills a little).

You think they do, I think they don't (I'm really on your side if you can believe that).

The reason I think even those taking up the free offer lose out by these and other schemes is quite simple. It's because the cost of these and other schemes are rolled up into our electricirty bills - and the amount in your bill to pay for them is higher than the amount you get back by taking advantage of them. You do realise that there are other schemes, such as the renewables obligation, carbon trading and probably many more that I don't know about, which eventually make their way into your and my bill.

I think the best way of looking at it is that we all lose out financially by these 'initiatives', but if you take up the free solar panel offer, you lose out by fifty or sixty quid less than others who don't.

energysavingexp

Elainemary wrote: »

Use a WHAT? And how would I use it? Told you I was thick:rotfl:

I take it you never did maths at school.
google it.
you can buy them at many corner shops.
stick it along side of your roof joists.
you will find that your roof could be 0'-90':EasterBun

grahamc2003

energysavingexp wrote: »

British Gas are putting the cost of gas and eleccy up by 7% in december

The MD of BG has just been on the news making out this is a good thing for consumers because it gives stability of prices over the winter because they have promised not to raise prices again during the winter!

I feel very fortunate!

The regulator has obviously authorised this increase, maybe partly due to higher input costs to BG, but certainly at least in part the passing on of the costs assoicated with the solar (and many other similar) subsidies which these days are loaded onto our utility bills instead of being paid for from central funds (ie, taxation).

energysavingexp

Elainemary wrote: »

Does anyone know if this point - from yesterday's Daily Mail - is true?
" A recent German news item reported that fire brigades are refusing to fight fires in houses with solar panels fitted, because they generate dangerous voltages. "
If it is, and the same thing might happen over here - count me out of having them fitted. I'd rather pay for ALL my leccy and keep an ( unburnt ) roof over my head.

Just make sure you only set fire to your house at night time when the panals are not working

K4blades

grahamc2003 wrote: »

I think the best way of looking at it is that we all lose out financially by these 'initiatives', but if you take up the free solar panel offer, you lose out by fifty or sixty quid less than others who don't.

Though I might not agree with the amount, I totally agree with this point, and if you are less worse than everyone else, by definition, you are better off, relatively.

K4blades

grahamc2003 wrote: »

The regulator has obviously authorised this increase, maybe partly due to higher input costs to BG, but certainly at least in part the passing on of the costs assoicated with the solar (and many other similar) subsidies which these days are loaded onto our utility bills instead of being paid for from central funds (ie, taxation).

So how come EDF apparently announced that they have no plans to raise prices, they also contribute to FITs. BG blame it on rising price of gas, though they may be looking at raising funds to finance their own solar scheme. So either apply for this or if you don't like it, move to EDF.

jackieblack

energysavingexp wrote: »

British Gas are putting the cost of gas and eleccy up by 7% in december

I'm not surprised...... in Martin's email last week he said energy price hikes are on their way.... where one goes others usually follow......

zeupater

energysavingexp wrote: »

British Gas are putting the cost of gas and eleccy up by 7% in december

Hi All

I have monitored energy usage for a number of years now a byproduct of which is the ability to model how declared price changes differ from reality.

I have never yet found British Gas's claims to be accurate in my particular case. An example of this is the last two gas price reductions of -10%(19/02/09) and -7%(04/02/10) which resulted in calculated savings of -1.1% & -2.4% respectively.

The strange thing is, the difference also works in favour of British Gas when their prices increase ..... perhaps, if the regulator actually stopped taking claims at face value, bought a calculator and learned to use it, they would be able to see the same pattern & do something about it ........

Thought ..... a regulator regulating ! :eek:

JenR8

ilovegreen wrote: »

Did you send homesun a picture of your roof as suggested? I had a similar response from homsun but then I phoned and a fella by the name of Krish at homesun went through everything with me and decided that my property was eligible for thier offers... contact homesun and ask to speak to krish patel, he is one of the senior chaps there i assume. There is no way i could afford to buy a full system.

Ohhh yes!! We were intersted in their free offer. The 'salesman' visited, left with £100 so-called 'returnable deposit', and after survey we were turned down for 'free panels', offered the £500 + £5 per month system, and had the devil's own job getting our £100 back! (But we did).

K4blades

zeupater wrote: »

Hi All

I have monitored energy usage for a number of years now a byproduct of which is the ability to model how declared price changes differ from reality.

I have never yet found British Gas's claims to be accurate in my particular case. An example of this is the last two gas price reductions of -10%(19/02/09) and -7%(04/02/10) which resulted in calculated savings of -1.1% & -2.4% respectively.

The strange thing is, the difference also works in favour of British Gas when their prices increase ..... perhaps, if the regulator actually stopped taking claims at face value, bought a calculator and learned to use it, they would be able to see the same pattern & do something about it ........

Thought ..... a regulator regulating ! :eek:

Excellent post...well said.