Testimonials

You just know when you made the right decision - we would recommend you to anyone. Your attention to detail says it all. Thanks Jonathan and Elliot. Bring on the sunshine.

James and Gillian

In my professional role, I work for a large energy distribution company and over the years have managed a number of electrical installation projects. Even so your never quite sure when you make a decision on a personal project like this as to whether you’ve chosen the right company but there are clues. When Energy Station arrived to do a survey, I was interested to discover my visitor was not a salesman but the MD - Jonathan and that he had a clear enthusiasm for renewable technology. Then there was the fact that the outfit is small and has NICEIC approvals, these guys are electricians working for themselves and not double glazing contractors.

The next clue was a visit to one of their previous customers which gave me a much better feel for the high quality of workmanship. So I took the plunge, I even broke the cardinal rule of getting 3 quotes as I knew their price was in the right ballpark and I couldn’t honestly see anyone bettering the workmanship I had seen.

Only to a few days later, the Feed In Tariff arrangements were changed. Jonathan again demonstrated his professionalism by keeping me informed and managing to rearrange the work schedule to fit me in. I felt reassured; these guys were looking after me.

The scaffolding arrived early, and when Energy Station arrived they set about their task like a well oiled machine. Elliott immediately vanished onto the roof while Jonathan started the electrical install. Each took pride in their workmanship and halfway through the second day we were generating.

These days at work I have moved on from project management and I am now an auditor specialising in electrical installations. All I can say is I wish all our contractors were like Jonathan and Elliott, or rather I perhaps I don’t, as they would probably put me out of a job!

I would recommend Energy Station unreservedly

Simon

When we were looking to install solar panels we wanted to use a company that had been recommended to us. Some friends invited us to see their installation and we were immediately impressed with the quality of the workmanship and the neat way that the system had been installed. We eventually had three quotes and evaluated each one in terms of initial inspection, written quotation and knowledge of the product. On all three counts Energy Station was the best. Jonathan does not do the hard sell approach instead we got sound advice and answers to all our questions.

Our installation was planned for December, just before the Government changes were announced. Jonathan, Elliot and Alan arrived two days before the original date and did a first class job. The panels are neat and unobtrusive and from start to finish we were impressed by their professional approach, quality of workmanship and good humour. There is no doubt we made the right choice and would have no hesitation recommending them.

Allen, Market Harborough

Before installing our PV system, we researched the available systems thoroughly, with half a dozen quotes and site visits. It was clear from the start that energy station stood head and shoulders above the rest, not least because of the fulness and clarity of their quotation and their depth of knowledge, as well as the quality of the panels and equipment they were installing and their reasonable price. It was, for instance, the only company to notice that our house could be exposed to strong winds; they modified the installation accordingly. It was the only company to quote for hybrid panels as standard, the most efficient of those available.

The installation itself was no less impressive. They arrived when they said they would; the work was done to our entire satisfaction. They sorted all the paper work with the power suppliers, etc.

We can recommend Energy Station without hesitation. We have worked with a variety of companies over the past year as we have begun to modernise our house; this company was easily one of the best and most pleasurable to work with.

Paul Stocker

I recently explored the possibility of installing a PV Solar microgeneration system on my home. A number of companies were invited to assess my situation including,by personal recommendation,Energy Station. This company,in the form of its proprietor Jonathon Dewey, stood out with regard to pleasantness of manner combined with comprehensive technical knowledge and a sympathetic eye for the individual situation. Although not the cheapest estimate received the Energy Station team proved excellent value in their enthusiasm ,expertise and efficiency in all aspects of contracting,explaining and installing the system agreed.

Energy Station is expert in the field of PV Solar Systems and can be fully recommended.

LWP, Rothley

I was impressed by Jonathan and Energy Station right from the initial meeting through the correspondence over system design covering the critical shading issue, then on to planning and installation and finally hand over. This is one professional team who really know what they are doing. The scaffolding arrived exactly as planned as did the Energy Station Team. All work was undertaken to the highest standards including subtle issues like careful routing of all cables to minimise visibility. Any tiles that needed replacing during the installation of the panels were replaced invisibly with identical ones. The 2.1KW system is already generating more electricity than I was anticipating for late October. I am confident that the high performance Sanyo panels and Sunny Boy inverter will continue to perform and probably outperform the SAP figures originally quoted.

In summary I would thoroughly recommend Jonathan and his Energy Station team for solar PV installation.

Phil Jinks, Leicestershire

We selected Energy Station for our Solar PVA installation because they immediately inspired confidence in their expertise and professionalism. They supply a top quality system and so represent best value, even if there are cheaper installations available. The work was completed exactly to the schedule we were given and to the high standard we had expected. We thoroughly recommend Energy Station as a top class installer for Solar PVA.

Rob & Jan, Quorn, Leicestershire

I would like to place on record my appreciation of the high level of service which I have received from your company.

Elliott and Alan worked wonders to finish the job and were a credit to your organisation; it was a delight to have them around. Although you were not the cheapest, the sheer professionalism of your quotation and specification left the competition standing, and the installation was completed to the same high standard. l will have no hesitation in recommending Energy Station to my friends and neighbours.

Graham, Leics

We have been watching the renewables market for sometime time in the belief that the right solution was out there and as the FIT seems to be a sound investment we knew the time was right to go ahead.

We did hours of research on solar panels and spoke to several companies for quotes but no one did the hybrid panels we were looking for. So after another ton of ‘googling’ we found Energy Station and called them.

It was quite a surprise that the phone was answered on a Saturday but after a few minutes on the phone to Jonathan we knew they were who we were looking for. We are a long way from the usual area that they work in so it needed a bit of extra co ordination for the scaffolding and a night in a B&B for Jonathan and Elliot to complete the job for us, they worked so hard from the moment they arrived to the moment they left and were a pleasure to have working at our home.

I cannot recommend them highly enough for the job they did and the speed and efficiency with which they worked. You guys are an amazing team and your knowledge of the products and how to get the best out of them is outstanding.

Sarah, Cheshire

The last thing I wanted when going to the market for a solar PV system was a hard sell. I knew within reason what we were looking for but wanted to engage with a company that would work with us in partnership and in a consultative manner.

Several home visits, proposals and telephone calls later, we called Energy Station. They were the only company that even considered the special requirements of a house located within 1 mile of the North Norfolk Coast.

They advised on a particular set of panels that had been certified against extreme weather and in particular salt corrosion. From there on in, the decision was made. They also advised on the REAL insurance scheme, which no other provider had mentioned. The delivery went like clockwork and the attention to detail was quite incredible.

Elliot and Jonathan were like a couple of members of the family throughout the project and it was a pleasure doing business with them.

DK, North Norfolk

We spoke to 7 other potential suppliers before we came across Energy Station. These varied from multinational firms to one man bands. Common trends emerged – they were all expensive, and some were sales driven rather than wanting to take the time to recommend the best equipment for our situation. Some reps we met were new to the job – national companies on a rapid expansion, recruiting former window salespeople who had been on a “familiarisation course” to ”understand” the product.

What made Energy Station stand out was that they are experts in the field. You don’t meet a salesman – you meet the Managing Director, who is also one of the two installers. The person who meets you to quote is one of the two man team who will install the system. So no nasty surprises on installation day. No sales “spiel” – just a good look at the actual roof, cabling routes, loft space and an examination of what will work best in terms of performance and reliability. Hard facts, not conjecture. And although Jonathan specified Sanyo Hybrid panels (the most efficient currently available), an SMA high frequency invertor, Schuco roof fixings and low loss interconnection cabling, the quote was by a small margin the best of all. Probably because they had concentrated on quality and not on covering an expensive advertising budget! The quotation paperwork was detailed but written in plain English so was easy to follow. Everything you needed to know was in there (apart from how many sugars to put in Jonathan’s coffee (1 before you ask). Conclusion – in terms of trade expertise, quality of product, integrity of staff, and value for money quotation, it was an easy decision to pick Energy Station.

For peace of mind we had a structural engineer check our roof construction. No worries there so we placed our order. Our 3kWh system comprising 12 panels in landscape format took 4 days to install – 1 day for the scaffolding, 2 for the install, and one for the removal of the scaffolding. And this despite a complicated cable route between the invertor and the consumer unit. So a quick, clean and tidy installation. Must be because of the high octane coffee Jonathan and Elliott were provided with every 90 minutes! The panels were individually checked before mounting so everything worked correctly first time.

So – dealing with Energy Station has been a straight forward process from start to finish. I have no hesitation in recommending them.

The testimonials above sum up our thoughts. Having done some research ourselves, it was encouraging for us to find a contractor who knew what he was talking about and who remembered to let us know all of the 'little' parts of the job, such as adding earthing wires. So we had no nasty surprises. On the contrary, Jon and Elliot simply got on with the job and did everything as was expected. They are an excellent example of British workmanship.

Over the past two weeks we have generated 177 units (12/08/2011)

I would recommend Energy Station to anyone.

Mike and Lesley Thornton, Oadby

I'd never really thought of having solar panels installed on my house until the day that a large national company offered me a free installation. Free!

Where was the catch? A quick trawl on Google showed me that it wasn't a such a good idea to have one of these systems and that it would be much better to have a system installed and claim the feed in tariffs myself. Another search on Google for local installers and Energy Station came up. I had some preconceived ideas about what size of system I wanted but the advice from Jonathan was nothing if not professional and very sound advice. After a few exchanges of ideas he came up with a system that both performs and looks aesthetically correct on my roof, my roof is a bit smaller than I thought!

As for the installation, what can I say. Scaffold erected on the advised day, the work started a day early and the completion and commissioning also a day early. All aspects of the installation are excellent with all meters and isolation switches actually plumb on the walls, Elliott did a good job around. What a difference to some of the tradesmen I have seen in recent years! And now the big question, was it worth it? Well after 3 weeks of not perfect weather the system is earning far more than my loan repayments so I estimate that it will be paid off in about 7 years. Even on over-cast days, two fridges, two freezers, various items on standby and my computer run for free during the day and it's not until I put the kettle on that I start buying anything from the grid. I'm so pleased with it that I'm thinking of having another system installed and would not hesitate to use Energy Station again!

Dave and Julie Simons, Melton Mowbray

I'd never really thought of having solar panels installed on my house until the day that a large national company offered me a free installation. Free!

Where was the catch? A quick trawl on Google showed me that it wasn't a such a good idea to have one of these systems and that it would be much better to have a system installed and claim the feed in tariffs myself. Another search on Google for local installers and Energy Station came up. I had some preconceived ideas about what size of system I wanted but the advice from Jonathan was nothing if not professional and very sound advice. After a few exchanges of ideas he came up with a system that both performs and looks aesthetically correct on my roof, my roof is a bit smaller than I thought!

As for the installation, what can I say. Scaffold erected on the advised day, the work started a day early and the completion and commissioning also a day early. All aspects of the installation are excellent with all meters and isolation switches actually plumb on the walls, Elliott did a good job around. What a difference to some of the tradesmen I have seen in recent years! And now the big question, was it worth it? Well after 3 weeks of not perfect weather the system is earning far more than my loan repayments so I estimate that it will be paid off in about 7 years. Even on over-cast days, two fridges, two freezers, various items on standby and my computer run for free during the day and it's not until I put the kettle on that I start buying anything from the grid. I'm so pleased with it that I'm thinking of having another system installed and would not hesitate to use Energy Station again!

Dave and Julie Simons, Melton Mowbray

We had been thinking vaguely for quite a long time about having solar panels fitted, but we had never got around to doing anything about it. Having been members of CAT (The Centre for Alternative Technology) for over 30 years we were familiar with some of the arguments and idea, but the usual inertia had got in the way

During the last couple of years we had called on JSD Electrical Services for a variety of fairly minor electrical work, and had come to regard them as trustworthy and reliable. In this context, when Elliott arrived for the most recent job in a resplendent van advertising Energy Station we had some discussion with him, which eventually led to a visit to Jonathan’s base and further more detailed explanations. Jonathan arranged a visit to some recent enthusiastic customers and following that he prepared detailed quotes for three possible alternative systems.

We made our choice and the installation followed fairly quickly. We were impressed with the speed and efficiency of the scaffolding installation and with all the work done by Jonathan and Elliott. We were particularly grateful that we could confidently leave the house in their care, with the makings of coffee, on a day when we both had to be out at meetings. They also did all the cleaning up admirably when the job was finished.

In the first 16 days of variable weather, from bright sunshine to dull skies and heavy rain, our system averaged 8.68 Kilowatt hours per day. Since we were quoted a possible average of 8 kilowatt hours we feel quite pleased with that, and look forward to finding out how the contacts with our electrical supplier will work.

We have complete confidence in Energy Station and recommend them unreservedly.

Bessie and Allan Hayes

We had been thinking about having a solar installation for quite a while, having gathered together a collection of quotes from several companies, we decided that Energy Station was the company to choose. They are a local company who are very knowledgeable of Solar PV systems and provided us with a very competitive quote.

The system that we went for was of a higher efficiency than any of the other systems that we had been previously quoted for.

very professional company to deal with, they arrived on time as agreed. The installation went smoothly, with all of our questions answered competently and in a helpful way. The installation went very well as planned – a very neat and tidy job.

Thanks Jonathan and Elliot for doing such a great job. We would recommend Energy Station to anyone considering a Solar PV system.

Mr & Mrs Bailey, Leicester

I would just like to thank you and Eliot again for the excellent job you did installing our Solar PV system.

As this was a large investment, I had done a good deal of research into the options available for my property and I obtained estimates from a number of potential suppliers. From the start it was clear that you were very knowledgeable and experienced in this field and this provided me with the confidence to proceed with your quote which I found to be the most detailed and clearly explained.

The work itself was carried out very efficiently and with a 16 panel system up and running in two days (all be it long days), this was an impressive achievement.

The system has now been up and running for over 3 weeks and the output is exceeding expectations. With the prediction of significant increases in energy costs in the coming months, I am really glad to have made this investment now.

Jim, Leicester

Just to let you know your modest claims for the 16 panel unit have been slightly beaten!.

40 days & a saving on the electricity of £150.00 according to EOn (refunded) and a meter reading of 894 meaning a payout of £370 - totalling £520. Your modest claim around £1200 for a year!

As you know we went into having the panels not only for the green argument, but that the investment was around 10% tax free - these figures are above target.

Due to these figures we would be happy to give advice to any doubting customers.

Malcolm & Celia, Kibworth

Our solar PV panels were installed just over a week ago. Energy Station’s quotation was comprehensive and only marginally more expensive than a much smaller system quoted for by a national company. We were kept well informed about everything that was going to take place (such as the installation and removal of the scaffolding) and it was all completed exactly as arranged - the system was up and running in a day and sits unobtrusively on the roof. Everything was left neat and tidy and with full documentation. Being both a scientist and an accountant, I’ve become somewhat obsessive about reading the meter and estimate I’ve already earned about £24 from the Feed-in-Tariff and export (in March!), as well as reducing our electricity bill and carbon footprint. It’s good to support a local company and we would be pleased to use Energy Station again.

JA, Rothley

Energy Station was one of three quotes, which I got when we decided that it was time, because of FITs, to take action on a project we had been considering since moving house.

I chose to contact Energy Station, among so many solar PV installers, in the first instance because of the impressive website and because it was a small local company. As one who has worked as a scientist and latterly a technologist in education, I did a lot of preliminary research. I felt the website displayed the enthusiastic yet knowledgeable and realistic views and experience of its author, Jonathan Dewey, MD of Energy Station.

These opinions were confirmed when Jonathan visited us to both survey our property and to explain the options available. He was very willing to answer any questions and also agreed to supply names and contact details of previous customers, subject to their agreement. (We in fact only contacted one, who was positive in every respect about their own installation.)

The quote, which Jonathan supplied within a day or two, was also impressive giving clear information about costs, likely performance, and terms and conditions e.g. regarding warranties. His wasn’t the lowest quote we had, but was in our opinion, the best one when the potentially higher performance panels plus their superior visual appearance was taken into account.

Jonathan and Elliot carried out the complete installation of the 9 panels and ancillary equipment in under 1 ½ days in a very professional way as befits an electrical contracting company using only high quality components.

At all times we were kept informed of what they were doing which gave us confidence in the quality of their work.

Commissioning the system included going through the instructions for normal operation (which is anyway largely automatic), and supply of a ‘handover’ pack of required documentation such as the essential MCS installation certificate.

In the 5 days since the system was commissioned, during a period of mixed early spring weather, we have generated more than 38 kW of solar electricity – a very satisfactory figure in my opinion.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Jonathan and Elliot and Energy Station.

PD, Market Harborough

When the Feed in Tariff (FIT) was announced in April 2010 we thought it all sounded too good to be true and so we did a lot of research into Solar PV. We really did our homework and discovered that the Government pay you 41.3p per kilowatt generated and that the payment is also index linked and guaranteed for 25 years! And even better, we still get the payment even if we use the electricity. And we get to do our bit for the environment too!

We then set about getting quotes from both local and nationwide firms. This was quite an eye-opener as most firms we spoke to knew less than we did about solar PV and in a lot of cases the panels that they had quoted for were the lowest efficiency.

We then found Energy Station almost on our doorstep! Jonathan was the most knowledgeable person regarding solar PV that we had encountered. He spent a long time with us explaining all about solar PV and then talking us through the system he had designed and he then submitted a very detailed quote. No pushy salesmen; no empty promises. When all the quotes were in Energy Station won hands down not just on price but also because they were nice people and easy to deal with. The fact that he is local and is easy to contact made things even better!

The installation went as planned – they started on the day they promised and even managed to finish a day early despite encountering the odd inevitable problem and awful weather. Both Jonathan and Eliot obviously take great pride in their work and they did a very neat and tidy job. We were both very impressed with their attention to detail. They went to great pains to hide the wire to the fuse box – not easy in a house like ours! Even the fact that our house is quite difficult to access at the back didn’t faze them. Throughout the process they acted in a business-like and professional manner and kept us fully informed.

Since then the meter has been ticking over nicely despite the bad weather but today the sun came out and it felt great to see the meter reading shoot up. Even the threat of imminent electricity price increases could not wipe the smile from our faces!

Thanks Jonathan and Elliot for doing such a great job – you are worth your weight in coffee and flapjacks and welcome anytime to call in and admire your handiwork!

Mandy and Hugh Woolley, Thurnby

Solar installation carried out on a large double garage using Sanyo hybrid solar panels.

I am writing to tell you we are very pleased with your solar PV installation. The work was carried out very professionally as you promised the work was started and completed all on time as planned.

I will be definitely recommending you to all our family and friends.

Jean Kaur

Solar installation carried out on a large double garage using Sanyo hybrid solar panels.

I was interested in having solar PV installed because i had read that the government would pay me through the FITs Scheme for a guaranteed 25 years. I had quotes from two of the big boys and then i spotted the advert in the yellow pages for Energy Station. After visits from all three it was obvious that Jonathan of Energy Station knew more about solar PV than the other two put together.

His quote was tailor-made to my property and his price was below the others (but i didn’t tell him that at the time!). To his credit at no time did he try to sell me anything other than what i had asked for.

I was honestly a little sceptical not knowing Jonathan's company, but his professionalism and knowledge of the product and the price finally convinced me. I have not been disappointed.

We booked a day and at 8am sharp he and Eliot arrived and set to work. The roof work was completed extremely competently without even breaking a tile. The panels were perfectly aligned and all the cables neatly clipped in place. Altogether it took only two and a half days and when they left us there was no Mess.

Every step of the way they explained in layman’s terms what was happening and what results i was getting.

I would recommend Energy Station to anyone who wants a quality products and an efficient and very professional service, but beware - they never stop working and they drink a lot of coffee!

Phil Whitmore, Fenny Drayton

Solar installation carried out on a large double garage using Sanyo hybrid solar panels.

We had Solar installed by Energy Station recently and the whole process from start to finish went very well.

I was very happy by the approach taken when they first arrived to explain the system and approach they would take. I felt I was able to ask a range of questions over two or three conversations i had with them before making the decision to go ahead.

The overall package they offered including warranties on the equipment was the best i could find in my search for the right installer and was a major feature in the decision we took to go with them.

Jonathan and his team were very impressive when the installation took place and worked hard in the worst December weather we have had in many years to get the installation complete in reasonable time.

The finished installation looks good and you can see it has been installed by competent installers.

I would recommend Energy Station to anyone wanting to have Solar installed.

S.R., Uppingham

Solar installation carried out using monocrystalline solar panels.

Having moved to Leicester from California, where we had installed a solar PV system on our house, we were interested in renewable power. We were initially skeptical about solar electricity from the grey British skies, but after looking up the available sunshine hours, and the details of the generous feed-in tariff scheme, we were convinced that it was worth installing a system on the roof of our new house. The feed-in tariff rates that are in place for the next year are almost too good to pass up, and the outlook for UK power prices is definitely sharply higher over the next decade as many big power stations reach the end of their lives.

We installed our system ourselves in California, and so were very familiar with the performance and price of different solar components; however, the UK's feed-in tariff scheme requires all the work to be done by a licensed installer. We spoke to four contractors, including Energystation, and were immensely impressed by Jon and Elliott. They came in person, not through a sales rep, and despite (perhaps because of?) them being a new and small operation, they were clearly very knowledgeable about the possible range of systems and the trade-offs between them. They specified an excellent set of components, carefully tuned to our roof, and did not try to put a system together based on what they had in stock, or what they had used before. After their visit, we were sure they would do an excellent job, but we were worried that because they were a small company, they might not be able to match the prices of the larger installers.

However, despite their care and attention to detail that was clear from their site visit and in the comprehensive proposal documents they prepared for us, they gave us the lowest quote - very significantly lower than one of the big PVC window companies. Furthermore, they designed us a much better system than the standard one-size-fits-all solutions from the other bidders. Over the long-term the extra power from Energystation's system should make their price even more competitive than it looked.

The work was done quickly and to a very high standard. We don't have any direct comparison of the work that Jon and Elliott did, since we've only been in the UK for a few months, but they gave a great sense of diligence and competence. The design and implementation of all the cables, components and connections was very neat and clean, and clearly very much tidier than all the previous electrical work in our house. As a result of their work on the solar system, we are planning to have them come back and improve some of the existing wiring in the house. The roofer that energystation used to repair the inevitable broken tiles on the roof from fitting the panels also did an excellent job, and the scaffolding was erected quickly and without any disruption.

We recommend Energystation unreservedly. They proposed the best solution amongst our bids at the lowest price. They did a great job, and we are very happy with their system. We got attentive personal service, the chance to have the work done by a local company, and a system that seems destined to outperform the power output that comes from the official calculation, meaning we should get a significant tax-free income in the years ahead.

Prof. Andrew Blain, Leicester

Solar installation carried out using Sanyo hybrid solar panels.

Having previously had electrical work done by JSD Electrical Services Ltd (Energy Station), I had no hesitation in deciding who to choose to fit a solar PV system

Jonathan was incredibly patient in explaining how it worked and at no point did he ever try to sell any system to me. He was honest about the facts and options and left me to come to my own conclusions, always happy to explain it all again if need be (being a technophobe).

The workmanship is of the highest standard, no corners being cut, safety being the priority. Both Jonathan and Eliot worked tirelessly through sleet ,snow, rain and temperatures well below freezing to complete the work.

It was a bonus for me to know that I could leave the house and not to worry about security.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Energy Station to anyone considering having PV panels fitted (or indeed electrical work). It’s a brilliant system with a better financial return than a Building Society can offer and it's helping save this amazing planet.

Tricia Saxton, Leics.

We had several companies quote for the work but found Energy Station by far the most professional. In fact Jonathan took the trouble of visiting us twice to make sure we understood thoroughly what was involved. Once on site the professional approach continued.

Alongside Eliot, the work was carried out in an efficient, thorough and clean manner without the use if sub contractors. After the work was completed, Jonathan helped and took time in explaining the paperwork necessary for claiming the Feed In Tariff. Even now Jonathan has assured us that he is only a phone call away should we have any further questions.

Mr & Mrs R. Astley

We were very impressed by the informed and professional presentation by Jonathan Dewey who is the MD of Energy station. We had been involved in work that Jonathan had carried out previously and so had no doubts about his Company’s abilities.

The information contained in the estimate from Energy Station was by far the most detailed and comprehensive, all of which helped us in deciding to use them to install our PV system.

Once the installation date was agreed, everything was fully organised and consequently the system was installed on time and with minimum disruption. All that was required was the supply of coffee!

Now the system is up and running we are full sun worshippers and check the Sunny Beam wireless monitor on a regular basis without having to go into the garage to check the inverter.

We are very pleased with the whole process so far.

Martin & Jenny Ward