With the news that plug-in solar panels will be available to purchase in shops and online across the UK from Thursday, Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, believes the change in rules may cause a further divide between people who are able to take energy-saving measures and those who are unable to afford them.
He said: “Households struggling with further increases in energy bills or in energy debt cannot find several hundred pounds up front, however good the payback looks over four years. The danger is this could entrench the divide between people who are able to afford to take energy saving measures and those who have to cut back on energy use due to a lack of affordability.
“But plug-in solar could open a route to lower bills for households that has been closed to them until now and landlords should be enabling their tenants to install them. The right for private and social rented tenants to install a compliant kit should be set out now with written reasons required for any refusal.
“Welcome that plug in solar is, it is not a miracle cure for high bills. The lasting fix is improving the energy efficiency of homes and reforming the energy system to bring down prices.”
Contact details are available to account holders.
Create a free account to get in touch with this expert.