Frequently Asked Questions

A home battery stores electricity for use later — either solar energy generated during the day or cheap off-peak electricity from the grid. This means you can use stored energy in the evening when electricity rates are highest, significantly reducing your bills. Popular systems include Tesla Powerwall 3 and GivEnergy.

Home battery storage systems typically cost between £3,000 and £10,000 depending on capacity and brand. A Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) is at the premium end, while smaller 5-10kWh systems from GivEnergy offer more affordable options. All domestic battery installations currently benefit from 0% VAT.

Yes, retrofitting a battery to an existing solar system is one of our most common installations. The battery connects to your existing inverter (or we can install a hybrid inverter if needed) and begins storing surplus solar energy that would otherwise be exported to the grid for minimal return.

The Tesla Powerwall 3 is Tesla's latest home battery system. It stores 13.5kWh of energy, includes a built-in hybrid inverter, and manages both solar generation and battery storage in a single wall-mounted unit. It integrates with the Tesla app for real-time monitoring and control. As Tesla Certified Installers, we are authorised to supply, install, and commission the Powerwall 3.

No. Standalone batteries can save you money even without solar panels by charging from cheap overnight electricity tariffs (like Octopus Go at around 7-10p/kWh) and discharging during expensive peak hours (24-30p/kWh). This tariff arbitrage can save £400–600 per year depending on your usage.

Modern home batteries like the Tesla Powerwall are designed to last 10-15 years, with most manufacturers offering 10-year warranties. Battery degradation is gradual — after 10 years, a typical battery retains 80-90% of its original capacity.

For most homes with solar panels, yes. Adding battery storage typically increases self-consumption from 30-40% to over 80%, significantly reducing the electricity you buy from the grid. For homes on smart tariffs like Octopus Go, even standalone batteries (without solar) often pay for themselves within 5-8 years through tariff arbitrage alone.

Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) includes a built-in hybrid inverter, making it ideal for new solar installations or full system upgrades. It costs more but simplifies the installation significantly. GivEnergy is modular (2.6-10.4kWh+), more flexible in capacity, and usually lower cost per kWh — ideal for retrofitting to existing systems or when you want to start small and expand.

A home EV charger installation typically costs between £800 and £1,500 including the charger unit and installation. The exact cost depends on the charger brand, cable run length from your consumer unit to the charger location, and whether your consumer unit needs upgrading. We provide a fixed-price quote after a free survey.

We install Tesla Wall Connector, myenergi Zappi, Hypervolt, and Ohme chargers. Each has different strengths — the Zappi is ideal for solar panel owners, the Tesla Wall Connector integrates perfectly with Tesla vehicles, and the Ohme offers excellent smart charging features at a competitive price.

Most home EV charger installations take between 2 and 4 hours. More complex installations — such as those requiring long cable runs or consumer unit upgrades — may take up to a full day. We offer next-day installation where possible.

Yes — and it's one of the most cost-effective ways to fuel your EV. The myenergi Zappi charger is specifically designed to divert surplus solar energy into your EV, giving you essentially free fuel from the sun. We install integrated solar + EV charger systems that maximise self-consumption.

Yes, for a home EV charger installation you need off-street parking — either a driveway, garage, or dedicated parking space on your property. Chargers cannot be installed where the charging cable would cross a public pavement. If you have a shared or rented property, we can advise on your options.

A smart EV charger connects to your home WiFi and can be controlled via a smartphone app. This allows you to schedule charging for off-peak tariff hours, set charging limits, monitor energy usage, and — with chargers like the myenergi Zappi — automatically divert surplus solar energy into your EV.

The OZEV EV chargepoint grant for residential properties ended in 2022, but grants are still available for flats, rental properties (via the EV Chargepoint Grant), and for businesses and workplaces (via the Workplace Charging Scheme). We advise on applicable schemes during your free survey. Smart EV chargers do not attract VAT grants but often qualify for smart tariff savings.

The myenergi Zappi is specifically designed to divert surplus solar generation into your EV, essentially giving you free fuel on sunny days. It detects when your panels are generating more than your home needs and automatically increases the charge rate to absorb it. For Tesla vehicle owners, the Tesla Wall Connector offers deep integration with the Tesla app. We install all major brands and can advise on the best fit for your setup.

Yes, Premier Electrical Renewables is an NICEIC Approved Contractor. This means our electrical work is regularly assessed and meets the highest industry standards. NICEIC is the UK's leading voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry.

Yes. We have completed Tesla's rigorous training and certification programme, authorising us to supply, install, and commission Tesla products including the Powerwall 3 battery system and Tesla Wall Connector EV charger. This certification ensures installations meet Tesla's exact specifications.

We cover Yorkshire (West, North, South, and East Yorkshire) and parts of Greater Manchester. Our base in Hemsworth, near Pontefract, gives us excellent access to Leeds, Wakefield, York, Harrogate, Sheffield, Bradford, Huddersfield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Hull, Manchester, Bolton, and Wigan — typically within 60 miles.

Yes, we offer consumer finance through our FCA-regulated partner, Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited. This allows you to spread the cost of your solar, battery, or EV charger installation over a fixed term with manageable monthly payments. Finance is subject to application and approval.

Contact us by phone on 0330 122 4418, email info@premierelectricalrenewables.co.uk, or fill in the enquiry form on our website. We'll arrange a free, no-obligation survey — either remote (using Google Earth and photos you provide) or on-site — followed by a detailed written quote.

All our installations come with manufacturer warranties on equipment (typically 10-25 years depending on product) plus our own workmanship guarantee. As NICEIC Approved Contractors and RECC members, you're also protected by the RECC consumer code for solar and battery installations.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is a formal inspection of the fixed electrical wiring in a property. It identifies any deficiencies, damage, or conditions that could give rise to danger. Landlords are legally required to have an EICR carried out every 5 years. We are NICEIC approved to carry out EICRs.

Yes. Premier Electrical Renewables started as an electrical contracting business, and we still offer full domestic electrical services including EICR testing, consumer unit upgrades, additional sockets and lighting, rewiring, security lighting, and emergency electrical work. We are NICEIC Approved Contractors for all electrical work.

An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) in Yorkshire typically costs between £150 and £300 for a standard domestic property, depending on the size of the property and the number of circuits. Larger properties or those with older wiring may cost more. We provide a fixed price upfront after a brief assessment. Landlords requiring EICR certificates for rental compliance can contact us to discuss multi-property rates.

For owner-occupied homes, an EICR is recommended every 10 years or when you buy a new property. For rental properties, landlords are legally required to have an EICR every 5 years (or at the start of a new tenancy if the last certificate is more than 5 years old). Commercial properties typically require an EICR every 5 years. We carry out EICRs as NICEIC Approved Contractors.

An EICR grades observations as C1 (danger present — requires immediate action), C2 (potentially dangerous — requires urgent action), or C3 (improvement recommended). Common failures include old wiring without proper earthing, broken or missing RCD protection, damaged sockets or switches, overloaded circuits, and non-compliant consumer units. A C1 or C2 observation means the installation fails. We carry out any remedial work required to bring your installation to a satisfactory standard.

A consumer unit (fuse board) upgrade typically costs between £400 and £800 including installation, depending on the size of the property and number of circuits. This includes a new dual RCD or RCBO consumer unit, updated labelling, and an Electrical Installation Certificate. Upgrading to a modern consumer unit adds RCD protection to all circuits, significantly improving safety and ensuring compliance with current regulations.

A full rewire for a typical 3-bedroom semi-detached house takes 5–7 working days. Larger properties may take up to 10 days. The property does not need to be vacated but some disruption should be expected as we run new cables through walls and floors. We minimise this as much as possible and leave the property clean and tidy at the end of each day. We provide an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion.

NICEIC is the UK's leading voluntary electrical regulatory body. When you use an NICEIC Approved Contractor like Premier Electrical Renewables, your electrical work is carried out by assessed, qualified electricians who must demonstrate competence regularly. This means you get a Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate for the work, you can self-certify work with Building Control (saving you notification fees), and you are protected by NICEIC's complaints and investigation process if something goes wrong.