Solar Panels-anyone?

renegade

Not sure if this is the correct place for this post but here goes.

Had a letter from my Council housing dept, I may be eligible for free solar panels.

Has anyone got these, did you save much on your Electricity bills, how much disruption did the fitting of these cause you and your family.

Any helpful replies will be gratefully received.

rogerblack

The savings are at most limited.
The fitting is typically a couple of days at most.
Savings vary, with some reporting very high savings.
However - the consensus is it's likely to average around 25% of your electricity bill.
Perhaps a little more if you are in during the day a lot, and can use appliances when it's very sunny, and a lot less if you're out all day.

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/07/solar-panels-cut-electricity-bills-by-just-25-258341/

It can also prompt you to be aware of your actual consumption, which can reduce it.
But that you can do anyway.

As you are not being charged for the installation, unless you don't like the look of solar panels, and maintainance will be done for you - there is little reason not to take it up.

lithopsian

If you're in a council house then I'd suggest you take up the offer unless you have some unusual plans for your roof or simply hate the appearance. The possible downsides will fall on the council if anything weird happens years down the road. Meanwhile for a day or two of disruption you get a chunk of free electricity for many years to come.

You would obviously want to enquire about the details. Almost certainly the council (or their contractor) will be bearing the installation cost and taking the feed-in tariff for the electricity generated, but just possibly you might end up with a rebate for electricity the panels generate but that you don't use.

renegade

The inspectors came today to take photo's check the loft etc etc, I signed for them to go ahead, the work will commence at the end of this month.

As you say, nothing to lose everything to gain,all electricity saved and not used will go back to the National Grid.:j

renegade

Here I am waiting for the work to be done on my council house.

Thought I had better check with the council when it will start, she said there has been a hold-up due to 'legal issues', she could not enlighten me further, I asked her how I can find out what the 'issues' were. She agreed to e mail the Housing Management boss and get him/her to e mail me with the answer to my question.

Anyone know what the 'legal issues' could be?

I qualified because of age, area and suitability for the job.

If the problem is the Solar panels, fair enough but, I still need loft insulation and cavity wall installation, there should be no 'legal issues' with that, should there?

Watt-NRG

Hi renegade,

Seen as you mention the need for cavity wall & loft insulation i would imagine the 'legal issues' is something to do with need to improve your property's EPC rating (Energy Performance Certificate).

Basically what the council is doing is paying for the install to be carried out for free. You then receive free electricity and the council will receive the Feed In Tariff payments which will create a profit for them. A property requires an EPC rating of D or above to qualify for the full FIT rate of 21p per kWh, without this they will only be paid 9p per kWh. In effect it is the difference between whether they make a profit or a loss on installing your system for free!

Hope that helps, Sam.

C_Mababejive

If you had a stored hot water system instead of a combi,you;d be quids in as you could top up the hot water via solar.

renegade

Watt-NRG wrote: »

Hi renegade,

Seen as you mention the need for cavity wall & loft insulation i would imagine the 'legal issues' is something to do with need to improve your property's EPC rating (Energy Performance Certificate).

Basically what the council is doing is paying for the install to be carried out for free. You then receive free electricity and the council will receive the Feed In Tariff payments which will create a profit for them. A property requires an EPC rating of D or above to qualify for the full FIT rate of 21p per kWh, without this they will only be paid 9p per kWh. In effect it is the difference between whether they make a profit or a loss on installing your system for free!

Hope that helps, Sam.

thanks Sam, who decides the EPC rating then? The council./government official?
I have still not even had an acknowledgement of my query from the council GRRRR.