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Barbara Clarke lives right by the sea in the charming Norfolk village of Bacton. Having retired, she’s on a fixed income and was looking for tangible savings on her monthly bills.
“I had been looking into solar panels for quite a while,” she says, “but was undecided. When Octopus got in touch with me and explained how it all works, I decided to go for it.”
Understandably, she had some reservations to begin with. “I had to have a smart meter installed, which I must admit I was very hesitant about. But I got one installed for the electricity so that I could sell power back to the grid. And honestly, I can’t fault it. I haven’t had any problems with it at all.”
A seamless installation
She was also uncertain about the potential disruption of having the panels fitted, but in the end, the work only took two and a half days. That even included laying a new earth cable after the installers discovered her property didn’t already have one.
Following a consultation with the Octopus planning team, she had 14 panels installed on the roof of her 1960s bungalow and a battery fitted to an external wall. The panels are Octopus’s signature sleek PV, and she’s thrilled with the way they look: “Lovely. They look really nice.”
Creating a warm and welcoming home was uppermost in her thoughts when it came to the installation, as she frequently has visitors – not least her extensive family, which includes two daughters, a son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Automation made easy
In fact, it was her son-in-law who helped her set up the app in the first place. Since then, she’s not had to do a thing. She is on one of Octopus’s smart tariffs, Outgoing Octopus, which fully automates the process: selling energy back to the grid at peak times when she is generating more than she needs.
The impact on her bills was noticeable from the first month, and the results are only getting better. “With all the nice bright days and sunshine, it’s been an absolute godsend to me to help me with my bills. I’m actually in credit for a change!”
Maximising the seasons
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The combination of the panels and the battery has been key. In the winter and summer months, it allows her to capture the energy generated by her rooftop panels to use during the day. “My battery is actually on 100 per cent most of the time through this time of year.”
And when it comes to her advice for those in a similar position, she is unequivocal. “I would say absolutely go for it. Especially for somebody that’s on a pension, trying to save money. You save so much through the summer, I can’t fault it. I wish I’d had it done sooner.”
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