Heat's on solar hard sellers

SOME solar panel firms are behaving like "cowboys" by vastly overstating the potential energy savings to consumers, according to a watchdog.

Which? said an investigation revealed two companies – Everest and Ideal Solar Energy – potentially breaking the law by using hard-sell tactics.

The consumer watchdog investigated 14 firms following a rise in complaints, asking them to quote for the installation of a solar thermal system at a property in south-east England.

A heating engineer with solar technology expertise was then asked to assess them against industry codes of practice.