Solar panels could be coming to rooftops near you after Southend Council unveiled a “rent-a-roof” scheme.

As part of its green strategy, the council is looking to install solar panels on top of people’s homes to help them reduce energy bills.

The council would put up the panels for free, working with a solar energy provider, but would then take some of the electricity produced to sell back to the National Grid.

It is looking at introducing the scheme later this year, but no firm details have yet been decided.

Graham Longley, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: “It’s a win-win situation.

Residents’ electricity will be cheaper, we will be paying back electricity into the grid and the company will make a small profit.

“This won’t be too dissimilar to other schemes which involve tenants’ roofs, and they will get cheaper electricity and in some cases their water will be free.

“This won’t be compulsory and the money we get out of it will be re-invested in keeping the likes of council tax low.”

Officials will also look to work with South Essex Homes in exploring the idea of putting panels on properties it manages, and the scheme will be open to anyone in the borough.

A spokeswoman for South Essex Homes said: “The project is still at an early stage, however, it is something South Essex Homes is willing to explore as discussions develop.”

It is hoped the scheme could also bring down the borough’s carbon footprint.

Peter Zanchi, chairman of Westborough Community Association, said the idea was a good one in principle. He added: “A lot of households in Westborough are rented, so it will be down to landlords to see whether they will be getting a good deal out of it.

“If they are going to save electricity, I’m sure landlords will be behind it, but it depends on the finer details of the scheme.”

Lucy Courtenay, chairwoman of Chalkwell Residents’ Association, added: “It’s an interesting idea, as long as the council isn’t trying to profiteer or fleece residents.

“I would be interested in it, and I’m sure others will be too.”

 

Solar panels became big business for private firms - but residents warned

PRIVATE companies offering solar panels became big business a few years ago on the back of hefty Government subsidies.

To encourage the country to generate more solar power, the Government offered “feed-in tariffs”, where they paid a set price for the electricity generated from the panels, regardless of howmuch was used.

Energy companies spotted an opportunity and started offering free installation on to roofs, waving the thousands it would cost to put them on, in return for the tariffs.

The company would make a profit, while the homeowner would benefit from reduced energy bills.

The leases usually lasted for 25 years, during which time the company effectively owned the roof of a property. People reported they found it hard to sell their homes with the panels attached.

Southend Council says it will be looking to install the devices for about 20 years.

With the cost of solar panels dwindling, the Government cut its lucrative tariff a few years ago, hitting the industry.

It affected Basildon Council, which had initially looked to take advantage of the scheme.

Phil Turner, Basildon’s Tory council leader, said: “It was our policy, but the Government cut its tariff somuch it was not cost effective.

“Some of the companies also, in effect, owned your roof for 25 years, so you have to be careful, although I’m sure Southend Council would be.

“We are carrying out a pilot by installing solar panels on a sheltered scheme, to see whether it is cost effective.”

 

Green company plans move on

PLANS to turn Southend Council into an energy supplier have been rubber-stamped at cabinet level.

The Labour, Lib Dem, and Independent administration’s cabinet voted on Tuesday to set up Southend Energy Company, in a move that could save residents more than £100 off their annual bills. The authority will be going into business with energy provider Ovo Energy, which tends to offer lower tariffs than its big-name competitors.

Most residents in Southend are with EON or British Gas, and it is estimated people changing from EON to the authority’s company could save £85 per year and £112 per year from British Gas.

Initially, the deal will be made available to residents in the SS, SS0, SES1, SS2, SS3, and SS9 area codes.

Labour’s Ian Gilbert, deputy leader of the council, said: “Whereas the Conservatives, both in Westminster and the previous administration in Southend, have been happy to stand by and let rising fuel prices blight the lives of Southend residents, Labour is determined to do everything we can to alleviate the burden.”

The scheme will need full council approval now.