10/08/2011 Solar Energy Warning
With rising energy costs, roof top solar energy installations are becoming increasingly popular projects with many new companies entering the market offering free solar panels and free or reduced cost electricity.
However, Trading Standards Officers have received complaints from consumers who have paid large deposits of £250 for the installation of solar panels to their properties following door to door visits. In these cases, the panels were not fitted and the trader disappeared.
Warwickshire Trading Standards advises residents not to sign up with the first solar panel trader who visits your property, but seek quotes from at least 3 traders and consider the following:
1) Is the trader local and well established? You can find out how long a limited company has traded for by looking them up at: www.companieshouse.org.uk
2) Traders that offer free solar panels and free electricity can do so because they will receive income from the generation of electricity (the Feed-in tariff scheme) and from any electricity that you do not use and is exported to the grid. It may be more cost effective for you to buy your own solar panels and receive all the income yourself.
3) If a trader is only offering discounted electricity, as opposed to free electricity, the Energy Saving Trust advise that your savings will be less and you may want to consider if it is really worth going ahead.
5) The amount of money you could save will depend upon when you use electricity. You will save if you run your appliances during the day when it is 'sunny' and you are generating electricity and can benefit from it.
4) Residents should also consider what would happen to the solar panels in the event of a house move and who is responsible for their maintenance and insurance.
5) Research solar panel installations at the Energy Saving Trust: http://tinyurl.com/39gjj8x
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