Free solar panel discussion

Doc_N

suecoo66 wrote: »

When I spoke to Homesun and enquired about the £5 a month maintenance fee I was told that this is to insure the equipment that Homesun own! I told them quite clearly I would only go ahead if they would install the free system and that they should be insuring their own equipment not me.

Too true - £5 pm would take away a large part, possibly the larger part, of any savings!

ronlizpatsimon

Thank you "

suecoo66

". Yesterday I too tried to get an on-line reaction to an installation by

ecovision

. I filled in all the details they asked for but when I clicked on the final field I was informed that I had not filled everything in. I rechecked and found that the tick I had inserted in "I have read the Landlord Legal Document" had now

disappeared

. I tried 3 times but with the same result. I reported it to their website. By the way, that Legal document - which I printed out, I found difficult to understand and it sounded a bit

worrying

.

zeupater

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

Thank you "

suecoo66

". Yesterday I too tried to get an on-line reaction to an installation by

ecovision

. I filled in all the details they asked for but when I clicked on the final field I was informed that I had not filled everything in. I rechecked and found that the tick I had inserted in "I have read the Landlord Legal Document" had now

disappeared

. I tried 3 times but with the same result. I reported it to their website. By the way, that Legal document - which I printed out, I found difficult to understand and it sounded a bit

worrying

.

Hi

Just checking .... you confirmed that you had read and agreed the conditions of a legal document which you both didn't understand and found to be 'worrying' .... ??????

:wall:
Z

ronlizpatsimon

Hello "

zeupater

".
Yes. I,m not used to that type of legal

jargon

, so perhaps I,m

worrying

unnecessarily

. You can read the document without committing yourself. Just follow the application for a preliminary on-line survey and you will reach the part where you can choose to read the legal document. Then, if you do not really want a survey; just escape after you have read it (or printed it).
By the way, my previous failed attempts to send my application for consideration were made using FF4. Today I applied using I Ex 9 and the application went through without a problem. I now have to await being contacted to arrange a real survey

leicesterlee3

i have found a site bookasurvey that has 2 options for solar .
buy your own system or have it installed for free does anyone no the benifits of each option also it says i can get a free solar survey has anyone had one of these and what does it contain

thanks

any help much appreciated

ronlizpatsimon

Good Morning "leicesterlee3"
Most surveys are free - but check first
They last about 10 minutes (initial ones)
Some are done by a surveyor, others by surveyor/salesman
Read all the posts on this thread to find full details - if you have a year of so to spare!
Basically, if you can afford the full cost of installation, it is better to buy outright - for the best financial returns. If not, rent a roof is okay - you get any electric free as it is being generated by your panels.
Watch out for "Free" installations where you are required to pay for an expensive survey, or an upfrount paymant of about £500, or a continuious maintenance charge.

Gizmosmum_2

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

Good Morning "leicesterlee3"
Most surveys are free - but check first
They last about 10 minutes (initial ones)
Some are done by a surveyor, others by surveyor/salesman
Read all the posts on this thread to find full details - if you have a year of so to spare!
Basically, if you can afford the full cost of installation, it is better to buy outright - for the best financial returns. If not, rent a roof is okay - you get any electric free as it is being generated by your panels.
Watch out for "Free" installations where you are required to pay for an expensive survey, or an upfrount paymant of about £500, or a continuious maintenance charge.

If someone visits your house to do a survey and spends a whole 10 mins doing so - run a mile, they don't know what they are doing!

The survey, regardless of who does it should include accurate measurements of the roof, measurements for structural calculations, assessment of cabling runs and then a comprehensive discussion about the type of panels, inverter, installation period, planning and building regs, after care and maintenance. 45 mins is a reasonable average if you don't get involved in the sales pitch and have researched well before they come, it shouldn't ever be more than 2 hours.

The Energy Saving Trust http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-electricity provide a reasonable, impartial overview of the pros and cons of buying v rent a roof. Ring your local centre for more advice on 0800 512012 they'll tell you what to look for when you invite someone into your home for such a big commitment.

ronlizpatsimon

Good Morning "gizmosmum"
I did say that the 10 minute survey was the initial one - some companies just have someone call round and check orientation, type of roof covering, obstructions causing shadows etc. If they then offer and you accept; then a more detailed survey will follow.

Gizmosmum_2

Yes I did see that - sorry if I sounded a bit blunt :-) but 10 mins even for an initial survey isn't long enough, most of what you've identified above can be done over the phone in addition to reviewing Google Earth while you're on the phone and even doing it that way would take more than 10 mins. It's a major commitment, it surprises me sometimes how easily people sign up to things without really considering the consequences.

Mind you I'm just as guilty, bought 2 houses after viewing for less than 15 mins! I do have a history fo developing properties though ....

khris210

I thought some figures might be interesting. PV SOLAR UK 12 X SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION
No connection with PVSOLAR UK except as a customer.

Installed 17th November 2010 £10500
Npower assumed commissioning date to be 9/12/2010 with a reading of 14.5 KW
We received a payment of £80.46 to cover the period 9/12/2010 to 5/3/2011, made up as follows--
Power generated (we didn't get paid for the 14.5 kw) 188kw x 41.3p = £77.64
Power exported to grid (assumed to be 50%) 94kw x 3p = £2.82
Total £80.46
From 5/3/11 to 26/5/11 we have generated a further 755 kw, therefore if we were to be paid up to date the payment would be 755 x 43.3 ( the price went up on 1/4/11) = £326.91
plus 50% at 3.1p £11.70
Total £338.61
Total paid to date ( assuming reading taken on 1/6/11) £419.07
If you double it for the rest of the year, this represents a return of 838/10500 = 7.98%
(Obviously this is an estimate). Furthermore, our average electricity usage over the past 3 years has been 7.5 kw. per day. Since the panels were installed it dropped to an average of 2.02kw over the
period 17/11/10 to 26/5/11. This is a reduction of 73% in the electricity bill or in our case £197.(for the year) So £838 + £197 = £1035/10500 = 9.86%
However we are lucky enough to have an old fashioned meter with 5 small dials which go in reverse when we export to the grid. So we are being paid twice, once with the assumed 50% at
3.1p and once with the reduction in our bill because the reading goes backwards when we actually export.
READINGS
17/11/10 58563
18/1/11 58813 250 units 62 days 4.03kw per day
16/2/11 58989 176 29 6.06
23/3/11 59114 125 35 3.57
21/4/11 59081 -33 29 -1.14
26/5/11 58949 -132 35 -3.37
__________________________________________________________________
386 190 2.03


The FIT increases by inflation and electricity prices will continue to rise unless they develop fusion! This is a copy of a letter I wrote for a friend to peruse. I don't think it will format correctly but I hope it will be useful.