Phone call about free Solar Panels

smc4761

Just received a phone call from a company offering free solar panels. This would help reduce my monthly electricity bills plus I would get paid for surplus I gave to the national grid

Sounds too good to be true. Is it. What are the pros and perhaps more pressing what are the pitfalls What are the questions that I should b e asking when they call again

Thanks

Ectophile

It sounds like a "rent a roof" scheme. You allow them to install their solar panels on your roof. They collect the Feed In Tariff (FIT) payments on the electricity generated, and you get the free electricity.

It only really works for you if you're using a reasonable amount of electricity during the day. If you're out at work all day, you won't be using your free electricity.

Check carefully who gets to keep which payments. I'm surprised that they say you'll get paid anything.

Be aware that you would need to sign a contract giving them use of your roof for many years. This will be binding on the new buyer if you sell the house.