Chicken bald back

[Snowy]

The ones where the fitting company get money from the energy suppliers and you get cheap electricity? I've only just heard of this and it sounds too good to be true! Has anyone had it done?

[Space Chick]

It's not too good to be true for the companies the feed in tariffs are generous, so the companies can make the money back in about 7 years which means they get 18 years of pure profit from your roof.

 

A word of caution, you will probably be tied to the electricity company for the 25 years, and it could be the electricity supplier the company wants. They will also need access to your meter box on a quarterly basis to submit the generation readings. Also I have heard stories about it affecting house sales/prices, as you are basically committing your roof to someone else for 25 years.

 

I have solar panels, but we bought them ourselves with the proceeds from a maturing endowment policy.... We are making the money from the feed in tariff

 

Bear in mind that you will only benefit from "free" electricity in the day time, you'll still be paying after dark!

[keyhole kate]

I have heard snippetts about this but havn't looked in to it at any length however my concern would be on trying to sell your property it may put buyers off as they will then be tied into what for you may be a good thing but not for them ??

[Snowy]

Yes, I'd read about the possible resale issues. And the fact that the company make money from your roof!

Debs - that sounds great, if we had the money, it would be a good investment, don't blame you!

Thanks.

[Patricia W]

And don't forget the generous tariffs are disappearing.

[yvonne]

We were actually thinking of buying a house which had done this and I was very put off and certainly reduced our offer as there were issues of access, roof maintenance etc - basically the roof is not really your own.

I would far prefer to invest in the panels myself.

[Leicester_H]

I've heard/read of problems when people want to move as the electricity company actually owns the roof (maybe not in all cases).

I think I agree with yvonne - do your own thing and don't get locked into a long term deal (the companies aren't in it for your good - unfortunately).

This site looks interesting

http://info.cat.org.uk/questions/pv/are-there-companies-install-pv-photoelectric-solar-panels-free

 

H

[Snowy]

Thats a great site, thanks Hazel

And thanks for everyones input - I figured it couldn't be quite as good as it's made out to be - at least we have some questions to ask now.