Testimonials
RE-Charge Success
Eric and Berol Mellor had a 1.75kW Solar (PV) Photovoltaic system installed on their home in Netherthong through Kirklees RE-Charge, a scheme managed by Yorkshire Energy Services.
The couple have always had an interested in energy efficiency and previously managed a Hotel in Oldham, where they had the constant challenge of reducing growing fuel bills all year round. ‘We didn’t have panels in those days’ explained Eric. ‘But we were very conscious of monitoring our fuel consumption. Guests at the Hotel never bothered to switch lights off, so we had to work hard to cut our costs. I actually installed lights on timer switches in some of the public rooms. We were always looking for new ideas and ways to save money. I suppose that living at the Hotel made us think about our own energy usage and how sustainable it is.’
They moved to Netherthong near Holmfirth 35 years ago, after buying their current home off Berol’s sister. Recently retired, the couple were looking for a viable investment that would save money in the long term. ‘We read about the RE-Charge scheme in a free council magazine, but were a bit unclear to what was actually available. I had done some reading around renewable energy and though it would be worth enquiring.’
Eric arranged for a surveyor to come to the house and discus the scheme. ‘The surveyor told us that there was up to 6 technologies to choose from. He went through each option in detail and explained that Kirklees Council would provide a £10,000 loan towards an installation. I asked how we would pay it back and what the timeframe was. I was amazed to find out that the loan was only repayable if we moved from the house. I was aware that there was some kind of support package available, but didn’t realise it was such a good deal. We both felt it was a fantastic idea and decided to go for it!’
Eric and Berol didn’t know which technology to choose, as they had land suitable for all the options. ‘We could have installed a biomass boiler inside, a wind turbine in the garden, heat pumps and even hydroelectricity, as we have a stream running underneath the garden path. I joked with the surveyor and said that if you’re going to give me £10,000 that I don’t need to payback until I move, I’ll install all of them!’
The surveyor examined the property in detail and due to the position and size of the roof, suggested the installation of a Solar PV array. ‘You could tell he knew what he was talking about and he was very clear and good to get on with. It was useful to have that initial discussion before moving on to the next stage.’
Eric and Berol were advised by RE-Charge that a further Government grant would be made available if the opted for a larger PV system. By paying for additional panels, the couple managed to access funding from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme which went directly towards the installation.
Once everything was in place an installation date was coordinated. ‘The installers were fantastic! There were no problems whatsoever. It was January when they came to fit the system and there was up to 6 inches of snow on the ground. But they didn’t complain and got on with the job in hand. It took them 3 days in total. I was very impressed and felt the service was exceptional.’
Since having the panels installed Eric and Berol have been able to check exactly how much electricity their new PV system is generating on a daily basis. ‘At first I checked it diligently and recorded all the readings to compare it against the electricity we had been using in the house. We have had the system over a year now and have made a little bit of money. So are very happy it’s paying its way!’
The couple signed up to the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff programme and now benefit from tax free subsidies for every unit of electricity their system generates. ‘It’s fantastic really and has made the whole thing worthwhile. We are defiantly making more money than we are spending on fuel bills, so it’s great to have that extra help. I’m now thinking about putting more panels on the roof.’
Eric felt secure knowing that the scheme was endorsed by Kirklees Council. ‘It was the first scheme we had come across and to my knowledge the only one in the country. The fact that is was backed by the council made it much more assessable. RE-Charge is a great idea and I don’t think there could have been a better system.’
Eric and Berol found the whole RE-Charge process very efficient and now promote the use of microgeneration to their friends and family. ‘Since we had the system fitted I have noticed that more and more people are starting to invest in renewable energy. Solar panels seem to be popping up everywhere. We had a very good experience and would recommend RE-Charge. Recently we have had quite a bit of work done on our house and I have become quite sceptical of the quality of the workmanship. But with RE-Charge the whole thing went very smoothly and the workmen were fantastic. It was almost too good to be true! When it’s a sunny day and you see the light shining down on the panels, you just know it makes sense. It’s covering the costs of all our electrical appliances and making money in the process. It’s a great scheme and I hope that Kirklees have the funding available to carry it on.’
If your intrested in Solar PV and want to find out more...contact Yorkshire Energy Services on 0800 052 7496 or click here to enquire on line,
