MORE than 1,000 council tenants in York could get free daytime electricity through a £7 million solar energy scheme which will cost taxpayers nothing.

Plans have been unveiled which would see houses owned by City of York Council fitted with light-gathering panels and allow those living there to save about 25 per cent on their electricity bills.

The authority has teamed up with Yorkshire-based firm Community Energy Solutions and Empower Community to devise the scheme. Council officers are being asked to draw up a plan to go forward.

Money from Government energy tariffs aimed at encouraging people to generate their own electricity would pay for the project to be set up, and a profit-sharing initiative could see the council and a community fund split £2 million over 25 years to fund environmental schemes in York.

Empower Community would pay the council a roof licence fee, estimated at £1 million, for fitting the panels and the scheme would cut CO2 emissions by about 872 tonnes a year, as well as providing work for local installation firms and possibly 12 new building jobs.

“This is a really exciting proposal as it will see more than £7 million invested in bringing cheaper electricity to people in areas of high fuel poverty and will also help to reduce the city’s carbon emissions,” said Coun Ann Reid, the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and housing.

“The proposed deal is especially interesting, not only as it would not cost the council anything but because it would actually generate an income and could also fund community projects.”

Council house rents in York will rise by 6.4 per cent next year, an average increase of £4.07 a week, and Tang Hall Residents’ Association treasurer David Barker, a council tenant, said: “I know anybody who is able to take advantage of the scheme would be delighted to have their energy bills cut by 25 per cent.

“Fuel costs take up a much larger part of the family budget these days. This is an excellent scheme and I hope it gets the go-ahead.”

More information is available by phoning 08444 999944.