Did you sign up for free solar panels? Feedback wanted

Judith_Proctor

I've changed some of my cooking habits to take maximum advantage of the sun.

Cooking is very heavy on electricity use - needing more than even the best panels are likely to generate. However, you can get maximum benefit when cooking things like casseroles or rice/potatoes by using this trick.

Heat the casserole/pan and simmer for a few minutes. Then switch off the ring and (leaving the pan in place) wrap a fluffy towel over and round it. Come back in a few hours time and it will all be beautifully cooked and still how. (If you have a ceramic hob, make sure that the towel has no contact with the hot part of the surface or you might set your towel on fire.)

If you own a haybox, you can use this. The advantage of a towel is that you don't need any extra space.

Judith

easy12

I e-mailed the two companies that featured on your initial article with a view to applying for this offer. I received no reply to my first application and my second was answered many months later with a refusal but an offer for me to purchase. My house is a 3 bedroomed semi built in the 40's/50's is south facing with nothing shading and is in Sussex. If my roof area is too small then this offer can only apply to Mansions in my view. Totally disillusioned.

rogerblack

Cardew wrote: »

Totally agree with the sentiments in post#3. That point has been made in several threads - the poor paying the venture capitalists who start up firms to cash in on the subsidies.

However to more practical issues. It is impossible to know how much you have saved without having an export meter. i.e If you generate 2,000kWh and export 1100kWh you have used 900kWh in the house. Without an export meter we will get posts of the 'last year I spent £yyy on electricity - this year only £xxx' variety.

A 'simple' solar tarrif that enabled you to simply run the meter backwards, and get half the current FIT or so would vastly simplify metering.
You just pay for your electricity as normal, less the solar generated units.

However, it doesn't mean that you can't fit a secondary non-certified meter to measure the export amount.
As an example - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Eco-Eye-Ecoeye-Mini-Electricity-Energy-Monitor-Meter-/120576839213 clipped over one of the leads to the inverter will fairly accurately measure the exported power.

The only regulated bit of this would be an approved inverter, for safety reasons.

Of course, the solar industry has lobbyists...

Equaliser123

caroline.mccann wrote: »

They're obviously more inclined to install larger systems for more profit than just trying to help the majority.

Welcome to the world of commerce.

They aren't charitable organisations but for-profit businesses.

MSE_Jenny

Hi guys

Please can we keep this thread reserved for people who have had the free panels fitted (or tried to sign up), so we can hear their feedback.

If you don't have the panels, please use the Free Solar Panels thread, where you are very welcome to discuss more general issues. We will delete any more posts that aren't feedback from solar panel users.

Thanks very much
Jenny

avrilaviva

I'm the most sceptical person on the planet and completely against stupid moneymaking schemes that most 'green' ideas stem from. Follow the money trail is my mantra. However, I investigated solar panels as I could see the logic and potential this had (as long as it was free). A company called HomeSun assessed and ultimately arranged for 16 large panels to be installed nearly three months ago and we are, at present, running at approximtely 50% of original consumption with no change of routine. This should be reflected in overall electricity charges but I am confident this is going to be a major saving for us. At last, a system that works:j

boggie40

I signed up for these but somehow they never materialized. When i tried to chase them up they said my application must have become mislaid and i had now missed the deadline.
So if i want to still have them installed i would have to pay £12,000 !
Needless to say i am extremely upset......

damasinnas

Hi, I applied for free solar panels in September 2010 with ISIS solar. I received an email back fairly quickly to say my property was eligible and a contract would be sent out for me to sign. I'm still waiting for the contract.

I have contacted ISIS solar several times and received several emails to say I'm eligible and have even had a phone call to say a contract will arrive in 2 weeks. That was 3 months ago.

Needless to say, I am losing faith in ISIS solar and will have to look elsewhere.

geoffreydanielsen

I also applied to Isis and had a reply that I was eligible on 19/10/2010, they followed up with a message asking for some missing details which I replied to by return. I have since received no further contact despite my email enquiries as to what is happening!

Spsipath

I signed up with 3 compinies of which brit gas came to do a survay.
They told me theve reduced the number of free interlations and now have filled there quota.
After doing the math if I wanted to pay for the syestem myself I find out it will cost me £45 a mth for 15yrs before I brake even.