HOUSEHOLDS in Tiverton and Cullompton are among the first in Mid Devon to benefit from free electricity after having rooftop solar panels fitted as part of a Mid Devon District Council initiative.

When complete, the project will see up to 1400 council houses across the region fitted with panels, allowing tenants to produce and use their own electricity.

Any excess power generated by the solar panels will be fed back into the national grid to make sure it isn’t wasted.

The installations are being funded by Anesco Mid Devon, which has been formed to invest in renewable energy solutions. Councillor Ray Stanley, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "Those tenants living in houses where solar panels are fitted will save money on their electricity bills, which should be in the region of £110 to £130 a year.

“Mid Devon District Council's housing service will also benefit from an index-linked annual fee paid by the installer. Income from this fee will be used by the council to make improvements to its housing stock, including further energy-saving measures.”

He added: “Other tenants stand to benefit too from further improvements we will be able to make to our housing stock, paid for out of the income this project will generate.

“With the recent increases in energy prices, we know that a significant number of our tenants are facing fuel poverty, this is a practical step to help reduce their fuel bills.

“This investment also helps the Council to reduce its CO2 emissions to meet Government targets attached to climate change.”