I refer to “Solar business claims to have been misrepresented” (Peninsula News, February 12).
While it is important for the community and financially very beneficial to homeowners to install solar panels on the roofs, it is not helpful if apparently unclear business practices at best confuse members of the community and at worst reduce the confidence in the value of solar systems. I have not seen the brochure but I fi nd it strange that a media statement is necessary to explain that “… buyers would receive savings of ‘up to $2380 per home’, rather than a $2380 solar system for free. …” If that has not been made clear in the brochure, what has been made clear? People should be aware that getting finance from massive companies will not necessarily lead to the best deal.
Getting finance for solar is really simple and cheap. For example, many homeowners are able to redraw on their home loan and/or may be able to slightly increase their loan amount to cover the cost of home improvements. There are also some credit unions offering loans at very good interest rates for the installation of solar systems.
As some aspects of solar energy can be quite confusing, the Central Coast Community Energy Association, supported by the Community Environment Network and Solar Citizens NSW Central Coast, is offering free independent advice on all questions related to solar systems. Meetings to discuss solar systems are held on the first Monday of every month (except January) from 7pm at the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, 11 Terrigal Drive, Terrigal. More information at www.meetup.com/ Central-Coast-Solar-Solar-PV
Email, 21 Feb 2018 Jo Muller, Woy Woy