Full list of energy suppliers offering free solar panel grants that could save you £1,678 – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of households could get free solar panel grants that could save them £1,678 a year on their energy bills.
The news comes after government proposals revealed that thousands of new homes in England could be fitted with solar panels within two years under government proposals.
If implemented, the proposals could save homeowners more than £1,000 a year on their energy bills.
But there are ways you can save money now with solar panels.
Although the initial cost to install solar panels is high, they could save you money in the long term.
Here we explain what solar panel grants are available, how you can get the help and if they will save you money.
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E.ON
You may be able to get a free solar panel grant from E.ON, which could save you up to £1,678 a year on your energy bill.
Depending on your eligibility, you could get a grant to help you spread the cost of installing the technology.
Prices start at just £4,995 for six solar panels.
In total six solar panels and a solar battery would save you £677 a year on your energy bill.
This means it would take you seven years to recoup the cost of installing the solar panels.
If you installed twice as many then you would save £1,269 annually.
Meanwhile, 16 solar panels would shave £1,678 off your bill.
The supplier offers a number of grants and funding schemes and works with the government and local councils to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to eligible homes in the UK.
The grants are available to homeowners, private and social housing renters who are on a low income, or those receiving a means-tested benefit to improve the efficiency of their homes.
You can check if you are eligible for the grants at eonnextenergy.com/grant-finder.
What energy bill help is available?
There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
EDF
EDF also offers a scheme to help its customers install solar panels, with no deposit needed.
Solar panel costs can vary but the supplier estimates that it will cost £4,995 to install four of them.
In your first year you would save £564, meaning the panels have a payback period of nearly nine years.
Meanwhile, it would cost you £6,295 to install 12 solar panels.
In total you would save £1,241 a year - which means you would repay back the cost in five years.
EDF estimates that it would cost £8,495 to install ten solar panels onto the roof of a three-bedroom house.
The supplier also offers exclusive tariffs to customers with solar panels.
For example, they can join the Empower Exclusive Tariff, which could mean they do not have to spend any money on their energy bill each year.
To be eligible customers must have solar panels or a battery that they purchased through EDF.
There is no standing charge for a year and no exit fees.
To join the tariff customers need to email the energy supplier.
Utilita
You could save up to £1,225 a year by installing solar panels, according to Utilita.
The supplier offers payment plans which allow you to pay upfront or spread the cost with monthly finance and no deposit.
To get a quote visit home-quote.utilita.co.uk/solar.
You will need to answer a few quick questions and then will be offered a solar package based on your energy use.
A Home Energy Consultant will then walk you through your custom solar design and check if your home is suitable.
Next choose an installation date and the engineers will take care of the rest.
ECO4
You may be eligible for a Government ECO4 grant if you meet certain criteria.
You are likely to qualify if you own or rent a property that is heated with electricity, such as electric storage heaters, and receive income-related benefits.
You can check if you are eligible for the funding by going to: eco4.org.uk/eco-funding/apply-for-eco4-funding/.
After you have applied, ECO4 will arrange for a free survey by one of its certified surveyors.
This will include a ten- to 15-minute inspection of your home’s energy efficiency measures.
After it has identified the measures that can be implemented it will arrange for the works to be carried out, with your approval.
Most of the work is completed in less than three days.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
The Government also offers free home improvements through the Warm Homes scheme.
You could get free energy saving improvements to your home if you are on a low income, get certain benefits or live in a certain postcode.
Your home must be privately owned and have an Energy Performance Certificate of D, E, F or G.
Meanwhile, your household income must be £36,000 or less.
The funding is only available in England but you may be able to get funding through different schemes if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you are eligible and your local council has funding available then they will arrange a home survey to see how your home could be made more energy efficient.
This could include suggesting improvements such as solar panels.
Your local council will then organise and pay for any improvement work they have agreed with you.
You will not need to pay for it.
Solar Together
You may be able to save money on the cost of installing solar panels through the Solar Together scheme.
This is a group scheme that lets you buy solar panels at a cheaper price.
You can register with other residents living in a participating council area who own their own house.
Small and medium-sized businesses can also apply to participate.
You will need to register for the group-buying scheme with Solar Together.
Next an auction with pre-vetted installers takes place.
After the auction you will receive personal recommendations based on your registration details.
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It is then up to you to decide if you want to take up the recommendation and proceed with the installation.
After the installation you will start to save money by generating your own renewable electricity.
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