THE electricity bills of tenants in 350 council homes in Taunton Deane are set to drop by an average £220 a year after having solar panels installed on their roofs.

And the £1.5million cost of the Taunton Deane Council initiative won’t fall on the council taxpayer as any excess energy generated and not used will be sold back to the National Grid.

The project will save an estimated 11,000 tonnes of carbon over the next 20 years.

The authority has also spent £400,000 on external wall insulation on a number of properties across the district, which will keep tenants warm and cut heating bills, as well as lowering carbon emissions.

Cllr Terry Beale, executive councillor for housing services, said: “These initiatives are perfect examples of how we can generate long term benefits for tenants and the council through initial investment.

“These measures will not only provide savings all round but they will be energy efficient and have much less impact on the environment which is an important part of sustainability.”