Solar panel scheme is a 'win-win' for city tenants
HUNDREDS of council house tenants look set to benefit from solar panels.
The city council is looking to splash £10.1m on installing the photovoltaic (PV) panels on 1,450 properties.
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Bright smile: Allan Hobster is pleased with the solar panels which were installed on his home in Aspley.
It follows a pilot programme in the Aspley area, where Nottingham City Homes (NCH) installed 600 PV panels.
NCH would again carry out the work, at an average cost of between £6,000 and £7,000 per house.
The money is to be provided by the city council, much of it being borrowed and it is estimated the move could save tenants up to £110 a year on energy bills.
Steve Hale, assistant director of asset management at NCH, said that the proposal was a "win-win" situation.
"There are all sorts of theoretical values to installing these solar panels at our tenants' homes," he said.
"Over thirty years it could well be a number of millions that is saved but we don't know the exact figure until we get the panels producing [power].
"They will pay back and produce some income for the council but it will also save money for the tenants so it's a win-win.
"But the big benefit for the tenants is that any income generated will go back to the council and be reinvested in the housing stock."
NCH is looking to use local labour and local companies for the panel installation.
It is not yet known when the work will start or which areas will have the panels installed first.
NCH, which will project manage the scheme, will write to all eligible tenants. The installation dates for each area will then be decided based on the replies from residents.
More homes could have the panels installed in the future if they miss out.
Five contractors are currently competing to carry out the work, with a decision due by the end of this week.
Allan Hobster, of Allendale Avenue was among the first residents in Aspley to have the panels installed.
He believes every family in the city could benefit from sun-generated electricity.
"I can't fault them," he said. "We save between £5 and £10 a week on our electricity bills so there are huge benefits to them.
"We were a bit worried about having them installed but they just came up onto the roof and then a wire comes down and that's the job done.
"I just wish we'd have had them installed years ago."
14 Comments
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by indigo5
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 8:44PM
“lolloi i be better off on dole and have more money to spend cuz i have to pay for every thing not any thing maybe you should try working”
by jennywitch
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 7:01PM
“mattgaltress, if your risible assumptions about my reading matter are anything to go by, your judgement is not something on which you should pride yourself; I'm a Guardian reader. I chuckled at your snide attempt to smear and patronise someone who is simply telling the truth. People live in council houses because they cannot afford to buy or rent in the private sector; their rents are subsidised, and as there's no magic source of money the subsidies have to come from someone,ie those who are buying/have bought their own homes and are also paying towards council accommodation for others.Now they're also beiong expected to subsidise solar panels so that council house tenants may have lower energy bills.If they want solar panels, let them get them from the government's green deal - why do you suppose they don't? That's right, because they don't want to pay; it's easier to leech off others.
Pity Nottingham doesn't have a heating system fuelled by hot air; you could keep it going single-handedly( ? single-lungedly?).”
by jennylouise
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 6:43PM
“to paul909, i once was a council tenant myself, and i am not having a go at them, i live on a council estate and have for twenty years now and it is a fact that the estate i live on and the area has a high unemployment rate so please do not call me ignorant. The majoity of people that live here do not go to work, and have no intention of going to work, To make it clear i work with some individuals who live on a council estate therefore i am not at all ignorant. My husband once was unemployed however we did not get the kind of help and encouragement that unemployed people recieve today. It just seems that it is not fair for all.
we have made inquiries into solar panels but it has proved to be costly, which we cannot afford.
I have every right to voice my opinion and if people do not like this or disagree with my view then I am sorry but it is not my fault.
I say what i have said having expereinced living on a council estate for 20 years.
I am in no way making it personal even if you believe i am.”
by jennylouise
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 6:18PM
“i agree with some of the comments above people on benefits win again, a live in aspley, in an ex council house, i rented it first, then started to buy it, both me and my husband work, and yet again people who go to work loose out again, why cant this scheme be open to all, why does it have to come out of council tax payers money yet again, as some of the people on this estate do not want to work and they some to be bothered, either, there are a minority who do want to work, but cant, but people who are trying to work, dont get any incentive or help, i would love to save some money on my bills, some of us dont get the privilage to stay at home, and have to go to work, so yet again i say why cant this scheme be open to all ?”
by paul0909
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 6:08PM
“@Jenny, your ignorance shows through as it appears your just using this story to have a go at council tenants under the assumption that there all unemployed layabouts. If you really want solar panels but can't afford them, then why not investigate the numerous companies who will install them for free. you get cheaper electricity bills and they get the tariffs.”
by mattgaltress
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 5:19PM
“Jennywitch i think you'll find that the government's green deal could help with letting individuals do this.
Nice to see the Daily Mail in evidence again here...”
by roger451
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 5:00PM
“is would be nice if everybody on a low working wage in a own property could alos benefit by free solar panels by the council”
by jennywitch
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 2:49PM
“How nice that those in accommodation subsided by council-tax payers should get free solar panels to cut their energy bills while those of us who provide our own accommodation also have to pay full wack for energy and instal solar panels at our own expense if we want them. I'm sick of those who already live off the rest of us get more and more while the rest of us pay more and more for them.Buying youir own home's a mug's game - better to be a parasite.”
by paul0909
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 1:05PM
“@Diztig
the council will benefit from the feed in tariff paid by the government so they will get a very good return on their investment. Thats why there are lots of companies offering a "rent a roof" scheme where the tenants get the reduced bills and they get the tariffs. As investments go its got a far better return than putting the money in the bank. It really is a no brainer due to the tariffs, although it would have made more sense for the government to pay tariffs for solar hot water as they are cheaper and more efficient.”
by mof_gedling
Wednesday, July 20 2011, 1:00PM
“borrowing the money over 30 years ? it sounds like a PFI scheme, my only worry is that solar power schemes like this are reliant on the government buying back energy at twice the price it sells it for (only gordon could come up with that one),this gov buy back scheme can be withdrawn at any time without notice, if that happens then obviously the local taxpayers will be left to pick up the tab,lastly it is said that these panels need replacing after 10 years so why do they mention 30 years as if that is the lifespan ?”