The Government’s confirmation on Feed-in Tariff rates gives consumers the confidence to invest in solar technology, says Consumer Focus.

The reaction follows an announcement by DECC yesterday to reduce the Feed-in Tariff rate to 16p for small solar installations starting this August.

Audrey Gallacher, the Director of Consumer Focus said the Government will need to balance providing enough incentives for consumers to invest in renewable energy by limiting the costs for householders.

She said: “It is right to halt overcompensation of solar-energy generators and put a downward pressure on the subsidy, as this drives down installation costs. This lowers the upfront costs for households who install solar panels, and cuts costs for all consumers who fund the feed-in tariff through their energy bills.”

However, the consumer group is encouraging customers to leave plenty of time ahead of the new deadline as solar panel installations can take about a month.