Free solar panel discussion

slacky555

Cardew wrote: »

It is a disgraceful deal!

Any reasons why?

I know they are making a lot of money but I really wouldn't use my roof for anything else.

And at least they have a steady buy out price.

HalloweenJack

why are you paying them £60 a year for them to earn the FIT export from you?

slacky555

:A

HalloweenJack wrote: »

why are you paying them £60 a year for them to earn the FIT export from you?

I guess because they normally fit 3.3kw systems and as my roof isn't big enough so I can only have a 2.6kw system so they earn less from the FIT.

Cardew

You pay them £60 a year and it is possible that you might not save that much in electricity.

There are plenty of sources on the internet where people accurately measure what they use in the house and between 500kWh and 1,000kWh per year is quite normal.

Even if you use 1,000kWh per year, what does that save you? £80 to £100?

slacky555

Cardew wrote: »

You pay them £60 a year and it is possible that you might not save that much in electricity.

There are plenty of sources on the internet where people accurately measure what they use in the house and between 500kWh and 1,000kWh per year is quite normal.

Even if you use 1,000kWh per year, what does that save you? £80 to £100?

Ok I do see your point but I am still saving money even if I can't get the £5 dropped also if I bought the system after 5 years it would only cost me £8.5k which I think is a great price.

JenR8

EddyB wrote: »

Jen, thanks for that reply.

During the call the Homesun rep made no mention of a £100 fee for the survey. Jen, was it mentioned to you PRIOR to the surveyor's visit? If not, thanks for the warning!
.

The 'rep' phoned and said our roof looked suitable for the free system. He arranged a meeting at which he took the money as a 'returnable deposit'. The EAGA surveyor came later, after which we were phoned by the rep to say the roof was not big enough for free but have £500 plus £5 p.m.

We got the £100 back under the law of misrepresentation. The rep misled us.
'

Cardew

slacky555 wrote: »

Ok I do see your point but I am still saving money even if I can't get the £5 dropped also if I bought the system after 5 years it would only cost me £8.5k which I think is a great price.

If you do intend to buy, you would be better buying a system now by borrowing some money.(extend your mortgage?) The income from FITs and selling back to grid would come close to your payments.

I can't believe people will contemplate paying people monthly so they can earn £1,000+ pa from YOUR roof.

grahamc2003

Slacky, You don't happen to have a spare room going in your gaff do you?

I have a friend looking for somehwre to rent, and if you pay me £5 per month, I'll rent out your room to him. I keep the rent though. Tell you what, to make things fair, I'll give you £4 per month contribution to you electricity bill. Fair dos?

Oh, he wants a 26 year let though, the agreement being registered at the land registry, just so he can't be evicted even if he gets on your nerves after 20 years.

slacky555

Cardew wrote: »

If you do intend to buy, you would be better buying a system now by borrowing some money.(extend your mortgage?) The income from FITs and selling back to grid would come close to your payments.

I can't believe people will contemplate paying people monthly so they can earn £1,000+ pa from YOUR roof.

I see what you are saying but this way I can keep an eye on what is generated from the system in the first few years to see is it is viable to buy the system in the future, yeah if I had 10-15k in the bank I would install my own system but at the moment I don't, so they only other option is a loan which like you say the FIT's should cover the loan, but aren't we getting to the point where people say to you what if it doesn't cover the cost of the loan. Then I am out of pocket by alot.

Also while I track it for a few year it is also lossing value so means it is cheaper and a safer investment for me to make, once I know the actual figures my system will produce, we can all guess all we like at what it will produce and that it is better that I get a loan but that isn't a risk I would take, I would rather have actual figures.

And your last point what else do probably 99% of people in the uk use there roof for NOTHING. So what difference does it make to me if some one uses it and I save a little on my electric bill.

EddyB

Slacky555 wrote: »

I paid the £100 for a Eaga person to come round

Slacky, were you warned at all, before the Eaga surveyor visited you, that you would have to pay £100 to have your roof examined?

As I said yesterday, the Homesun rep did not mention this fee to me at all.