Highland Householders Advised To Research Solar Panel Deals
13th October 2011
The benefits associated with the increased use of solar panels and other renewable energy sources in homes are clearly recognised by The Highland Council.
However, Trading Standards officers at The Highland Council, after being made aware of the existence of what appears to be misleading marketing practices by some solar panel suppliers, are offering a word of caution to householders and advising them to do their homework thoroughly before signing any deal.
Householders are being urged to:-
1.Seek free and impartial advice on how to save energy and what offers are available from The Energy Saving Trust, a non-profit organisation.
2.Make sure they understand how the system will work and whether their home is suitable;
3.Check what obligations they will be under if they agree any offers and their legal rights;
4.Refrain from doing business with anyone who turns up at their front door without an appointment;
5.Shop around before placing an order;
6.Resist signing a contract just because they feel pressurised to do so and;
7.Be aware that if they agree to a contract whilst the trader is in their home they have the right to cancel within seven days.
Trading Standards Manager, Gordon Robb explained that due to recent increases in utility bills, environmental awareness and the existence of Government incentives, more people are looking towards alternative energy sources. Solar panels that turn the sun's energy into electricity, known as solar photovoltaic or PV panels, is one system growing in popularity.
He said: "The Government incentives to purchase these systems together with the prospect of saving money on your electricity bills and the option of getting paid for the electricity generated have all resulted in an increase in demand and the number of businesses offering to supply and fit these products.
"It's encouraging to see that more people are keen to harness the power of green energy. We are aware that there are some unscrupulous traders out there and want to ensure that consumers are not getting ripped off in the process. We are urging people not to rush into any deals without first checking all the facts and making sure it is the right one for them and delivers what they expect it to."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
As intimated in Highland Council's budget plan, a new senior management structure is to be implemented following approval by Council 14th March. It reconfigures the senior management team into two layers, rather than three and brings Highland Council into line with other benchmarked authorities.
Today, Morrison Construction introduced some of their local apprentices who are working on the UK Governments' Levelling Up Funded refurbishment project at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness. All these apprentices have been recruited from the Highland area.
The by-election to elect a councillor to represent Ward 19 - Inverness South on The Highland Council has been won by Duncan Cameron McDonald - Independent who was one of the eight candidates who contested the vacancy. Voters in the ward went to the poll yesterday (Thursday 11 April) and the by-election count was held this morning in The Highland Council Headquarters in Inverness.
The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate. The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate.
Following the success of its Business Digital Grant scheme launched last year, The Highland Council is delighted to announce further funding. This is to help Highland companies access digital support alongside other business growth support.
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen. The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation. The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme. Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan. The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy. They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.
