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I’ve halved my energy bills by using a little-known council scheme – it’s saved me over £600
We explain how the scheme works and how to apply
WHEN Patricia Owen saw her neighbour install solar panels on her roof, she wasn't convinced about the benefits.
But when she found out they could slash her bills by 50%, she decided to give it a go herself.
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Retiree Patricia, 72, from near Swindon, used Wiltshire Council's Solar Together scheme to install 12 solar panels on her roof with a 4.6kWh battery storage system, and she's now on track to save almost £600 in her first year of use.
Her system generates an average of 4,302 kWh of electricity annually, which has cut her monthly electricity bills from £225 to £94.21.
Watching her bills go down so significantly has now motivated her to make other energy-efficiency changes, including getting loft insulation to keep the heat in her home this winter.
"If you can afford the initial investment or get the help of a local scheme like I did, I actually think solar panels are an amazing investment long-term," she said.
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"The financial benefits are so much bigger than I would have realised. I'd encourage anyone who can afford it to apply."
Launched in 2022, Wiltshire's Solar Together scheme is a government-backed scheme that means homeowners can apply for solar panels as a group, meaning they can get the panels around a third cheaper than usual.
Patricia bought her 12 panels plus the battery for £9,000 in total, saving her thousands of pounds off the typical market rate.
The deadline to apply this year's Wiltshire scheme has passed, but the council has been running it every year since it launched, so applications should open again next year.
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Solar Together has also worked with other councils across the UK including Surrey, Suffolk, Kent, Essex and Cambridgeshire - so it's worth checking with your local council if it's partnering with the firm next year.
You can register for free and will just need to give details about your house including its size and your electricity usage.
You'll then get a personal offer with a price quote, and you can then decide if you want to go ahead with buying the panels.
The scheme asks for a £150 deposit if you accept your offer.
Visit solartogether.co.uk for more information on the scheme.
How do solar panels save money?
Solar panels are usually fitted on your roof and are angled towards the sun to absorb the rays and turn them into electricity that can power your home.
The average home needs around ten solar panels at a typical cost of £5,000 to £6,000, according to energy firm Ovo.
If you want to store extra energy, you'll also need to pay an average of £5,000 to £8,000, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates.
But the idea is that you will save money over time through savings on your energy bills.
According to the EST, someone in London should break even on their solar panel investment in around 11 years.
The cash saved will depend on the size of your system, where you live and whether there is anyone at home during the day, the company said.
Changes in daylight mean there is quite a big difference between the amount of power generated in summer and winter, too, but they do still work on cloudy days.
If you produce more energy than you need to power your home, this can be sold back to the energy grid, or stored in a battery for you to use later.
The amount you can sell energy for depends on your provider - typically it’s 20-30p a unit.
If you're able to sell some energy back to the grid, this could offset your energy bills even further or even have you earning extra cash.
Other ways to save on solar panel costs
There are plenty of other schemes on offer to save cash on installing solar panels.
For example, Ovo is offering eligible customers the opportunity to get solar panels through its reward programme.
Up to five panels can be collected over five years, and then redeemed and fitted by signing up to Ova's solar and battery package.
Another energy firm, Egg, is offering interest-free loans for up to five years to cover the cost of solar panels.
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Some mortgage firms including Coventry Building Society are also offering customers funds at low interest rates if the money is being used to make energy saving home improvements, like getting solar panels.
And Halifax or Lloyds current account and mortgage customers can also get up to £1,000 in cashback for installing solar panels or a battery as part of its Green Living Reward scheme.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
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