Customer story: Samir
We visited Samir, a management consultant from Sidcup who’s recently had a solar & battery system installed through our solar subscription, Sunsave Plus. He wanted to go solar for around a decade before he heard about Sunsave.
Written byJosh Jackman
How much will you be saving with Sunsave Plus?
It’ll be about a 30% saving in electricity costs, according to the estimates. It remains to be seen when we actually switch the system on to see what the actual savings are. But that's what we're targeting.
Those savings are super exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing that happen over time.
Why did you want to go solar?
It was something that I was looking at for a long time. It's clean energy, good for the environment, and lowers your energy bills. I think everyone wants to reduce their costs, especially today, with rising energy costs alongside everything else.
Why didn’t you get solar panels before now?
I had waited for eight or nine years before deciding to go ahead with Sunsave, primarily because, number one, it's a huge upfront cost.
And number two, one of the biggest problems is that after you pay this huge upfront cost, there's no-one responsible for maintaining the unit for the rest of its life.
That was the good thing with Sunsave, that for the life of the system, they’ll maintain your system in its optimal operating condition.
I would not have switched to solar if I had not found Sunsave.
What attracted you to Sunsave?
It was a transparent process – the cost of the loan, what I would expect to generate in terms of energy to offset my energy bills – the whole process.
I knew what I was getting in terms of the kit, the panels, how the installation would happen, how you guys would check whether it was installed correctly, and the ongoing monitoring thereafter.
It was a good exchange of information that helped me make my decision.
How was the proposal for you?
Obed, who was part of my pre-sales team, presented me with the initial proposal alongside explaining what solar was all about and what Sunsave provides. It was pretty easy to understand. I asked him a couple of questions, and after a back-and-forth conversation, I decided to go ahead.
My recommendation for anyone that's going through that stage of the process is you've got to read it top to bottom, don't be afraid to ask questions, and do your own research in order to fully understand the proposal.
When you get into the terms and conditions, what you're actually getting in terms of energy rates, the suppliers, etc., you have to spend some time to understand it. It's not something that anyone can digest and make a proper decision about in, say, 10 minutes.
How was the process leading up to the installation?
It was fairly intuitive – simple, straightforward, and easy for me as a consumer to understand. It was facilitated via phone calls, video calls, and emails.
Would you have switched to solar now if Sunsave Plus wasn't an option?
Quite honestly, I would not have switched to solar if I had not found Sunsave. And I say that in all honesty, mainly because of what you're proposing, which is a low-interest loan to offset the cost of the panels, and even more importantly, the warranty and maintenance associated with the product.
I know over the next 20 years, the system will be working as it should and any repairs or anything will be covered.
How important was the Sunsave Guarantee in your decision to get Sunsave Plus?
The Sunsave Guarantee was super important. I think it was probably, if you're talking about the top five things that helped aid my decision in going with Sunsave, I'd say that would be number two.
Number one was the overall way you've packaged the cost around the loan, spreading the cost over a period of years.
That's another super important thing: no matter who you go with, there are different levels of quality, and you don't want to take a shortcut.
How is the installation going so far?
It’s going quite smoothly. The battery and inverter are already in place, and it took the electricians maybe two hours to install them, so it was a fairly quick process. I can't say anything other than positive things in terms of the ease of installation.
Will you be exporting to the grid?
Yes, that's part of the overall configuration of the package, it's designed to allow the consumer to export energy back to the grid. That's definitely something that we will take advantage of. We'll be on Intelligent Octopus Flux.
Do you have any tips for people who are considering a switch to solar?
If you're interested in solar and want to know what Sunsave is all about, I'd say there is no harm in reaching out and giving Sunsave a call.
And there's no obligation. There's no pressure. It's just a good conversation to have. So even if you don't go with Sunsave and are just curious to learn more for a future purchase, it still gives you enough information to help with that decision.
Would you recommend Sunsave to family or friends?
Absolutely. I would definitely recommend Sunsave based on what we've experienced so far – for the transparency in the sales process, and for what I've seen in terms of what we’ve purchased. The battery, inverter, and solar panels are high quality.
That's another super important thing: no matter who you go with, there are different levels of quality, and you don't want to take a shortcut. If you meet someone who says: “No need to spend £10,000. Here's a package for £5,000”, there's probably a reason it's below the market price.
From what I've seen, in terms of the kit you guys have provided and my independent due diligence, this is a fairly good product that you're selling. And then alongside that, as I mentioned: it's the warranty. You stand by the product through its life.
Written byJosh Jackman
Josh has written about the rapid rise of home solar for the past five years. His data-driven work has been featured in United Nations and World Health Organisation documents, as well as publications including The Eco Experts, Financial Times, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Times, and The Sun. Josh has also been interviewed as a renewables expert on BBC One’s Rip-Off Britain, ITV1’s Tonight show, and BBC Radio 4 and 5.