Round two of the Hub Foundation’s community solar panels bulk buy program, MASH2, has been a resounding success so far, with many happy customers of the not-for-profit scheme.
As customer Peter Finning of PJs Tyres explains, “It’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it – put the panels on and start saving money.”
MASH2 is available to households in Mount Alexander Shire in Victoria and neighbouring shires, including Macedon Ranges Shire.
Pricing of the systems has been held static since July, but Project Officer Joanna Kaptein warns that this won’t last beyond the year. “People who want to benefit from the current pricing will need to place their order by 31 December 2015,” she says.
Asked about the ordering process, MASH2 customer Simone Ewenson said, “It was very easy, no problems whatsoever. I just did it all online. Everything was really clearly communicated.”
“The [installation] was very easy and smooth,” said Flynn Hart, whose panels were installed in August. “At no point did I feel frustrated or that it was taking longer than I expected. I have nothing bad to say about them.”
“They make it very clear that there will be some waiting periods,” he said, referring to both MASH2 and SunEdison, the solar provider.
“They even send you little diagrams of where you are in the process and all the steps that are taken until you’re actually connected to the grid and feeding in. There are not very many products you buy these days where you have to wait. So it was really important that those kind of frameworks were in place.”
It seems Flynn’s 15 month old daughter, Else, has also enjoyed the process; with the installers making a cubby house from the delivery box for her. “They cut a little door and a window in the box and she was in there saying hello to people as they went by.”
For information or to register interest in the MASH2 solar panel community bulk buy program, visit www.mash.org.au or call Joanna Kaptein on 0455 589 065.
