We have just had solar panels fitted!!!

[2stressed]

Amazing!!! Can't believe the reduction in fuel bills. I'm seriously dumbfounded why everyone isn't doing it. We paid fir ours are selves so get the benefit of the feed in tariff but even if we'd got some of the rent a roof schemes the saving in fuel bills would be incentive enough!!!

Happy happy happy!!!

[PigletJohn]

I quite fancy having solar generation too, but I wouldn't expect other people to pay me so I could make a handsome profit out of them. I especially wouldn't want them to be forced to subsidise me.

[AnnawakeFourkiller]

I do understand the ethical point you are trying to make: 3 points to add though

• the handsome profit is only made if you manage to stay in your home for over 10 years; something that increasingly few people are doing as job mobility increases. If it wasn't for FIT's we woudln't have made the investment, as I have no idea even where we are going to be in 5 years time (and with crashing house prices it's douibtful you make the investment back there)
  

• in the pay back you also need to take into account that most people don't have th £7-10 k just sitting around to invest; we pay for it through the mortgage, substantially reducing that handsome profit
  

• The key point though is that you are of course already subsidising pretty much any other form of energy - just not through your energy bil but through your taxes. Could be anything from clearing up nuclear sites through to NHS treating the specific diseases linked to coal mining (apparently we are giving coal miners them free coal though). And if you accept that increased extreme weather events are linked to carbon emissions than you could include the cost of flood defense schemes in that list as well; Or the murky world of export credit guarantees through which we subsidise large companies in quite substantial amounts
  

Much fairer and transparent the way the FITs are run: except since now of course you think you see it on your bill, you have a reason to protest.

[PigletJohn]

If I can buy energy at 3.75p per kWh, (which I can, from my gas supplier) why would I want to contribute to paying someone 42p or 21p per kWh?

I don't believe it is right to force the majority to subsidise a few lucky panel-owners so they can make a handsome profit out of something that is not economically viable. Do you?

btw my contribution to the subsidy is not shown on my bill.

[glaurung]

I agree with piglet, but given these are being subsidised by everyone whether we like it or not, it's better that the panels go up on optimally pitched south facing unshaded roofs, than all the non optimal installations that I see going up around here. Arguably, if you have a perfect roof, it's better you have an installation than someone else less well positioned (this is assuming that the government will only pay FITs for a fixed number of installations, which I think is more or less how it works). If your conscience still pricks you can always gift the proceeds to a worthy cause.