Just before Christmas the government revised its position of the energy feed-in tariff. It seems that although the decision to encourage solar power was sound, the practicalities of making energy companies pay such a high rate were causing problems, namely the fact that consumer bills were going up to compensate for their losses. As a result it was deemed prudent to lower the feed-in rate from 43p/kW to 21p/kW. As such there’s slightly less incentive to go solar.

The feed in tariff was a system whereby energy companies had to pay premium rates for any excess electricity generated by a home-owner’s solar panels. This was great for England’s energy concerns, as it presented consumers with a good reason to take green energy generation into their own hands. It was such a good deal in fact that some solar panel companies offered to install the PV generators for free in return for the feed-in tariff profits, meaning completely free energy for the homeowner.

But is a drop to 21p/kW all that bad? The short answer is no it isn’t. Companies are still likely to make a good profit by offering to install panels for free, or at least at a reduced price, and taking all the feed-in gains for themselves. There’s also nothing to say that the feed-in tariff won’t go back up again – it’s still under consultation – because it might still prove to be a good energy solution for the country if the price of other sources, such as oil, were to become untenable.

On a personal level there’s as much reason as ever to make the switch to solar. It is a very green way of generating power, and it puts you in control of your energy costs – you won’t find that you’re subject to fluctuations in the price of other materials. Also after that initial payment for PV conductors you shouldn’t need to spend much more on it, so after about eight years you’re only making profits on your energy with the feed-in benefits.

Not every house is suitable, and not everyone can afford the starting costs, but once you have solar you’ve got something that will pay off for you in the future. Whatever the recent changes in the feed-in tariff, it’s still a good time for you to consider this more efficient, greener energy for your home.

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