UK households waking up to £600 council tax discount due to little-known scheme

UK households can "half" their energy bills by using a little-known council scheme which has saved them over £600. Patricia Owen found out solar panels could slash her bills by 50 per cent, so she decided to give it a go herself, she has revealed.

Patricia, 72, from near Swindon, used Wiltshire Council's Solar Together scheme to install 12 solar panels on her roof with a 4.6kWh battery storage system, and she's now on track to save almost £600 in her first year of use, the Sun reports.

"If you can afford the initial investment or get the help of a local scheme like I did, I actually think solar panels are an amazing investment long-term," she said. "The financial benefits are so much bigger than I would have realised. I'd encourage anyone who can afford it to apply."

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If you find your council does offer solar panels to council houses, your property will need to be assessed to see if it’s suitable. This will involve checking the strength of the roof, the property’s orientation, since panels are most efficient when facing south and the dimensions of the roof, to assess how many panels it can hold.

The angle of the roof, since panels are most efficient when angled between 30°-45° will also be checked, as well as the property’s accessibility and even whether there is sufficient capacity available on the local electricity grid. Some councils will also need to do a few background checks, to see whether you qualify for the support, which will likely include checking whether you are eligible for any benefits.

The cost of having solar panels installed on a council house will depend on which district you live in. While some councils and local authorities provide free solar panels, others offer them at a discounted price.