British Gas is an established provider of solar panels through its wholly owned subsidiary, Solar Technologies, and has been responsible for installing panels on many UK land mark buildings from London City Hall and the HSBC headquarters in Canary Wharf through to local churches such as St Silas' Church in London. Today's announcement sees British Gas expand its offering for its domestic customers.

Case study John Keown lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and three children and had solar panels installed by British Gas on his home earlier this year.

Mr Keown said:

"For my family, solar panels have been a better investment than any ISA you could buy. I know people worry about the upfront cost but you need to think of it as a long term investment. I have been delighted with the performance of my solar panels and I've been really surprised at how much energy is produced even when the sun isn't shining. I had a misconception that the sun needed to shine for the panels to work but in fact, they just need light.

"I chose British Gas because it's a company you can trust and you know will be around forever."

Tips

Jasmine Birtles has compiled five top tips to help more consumers reap the benefits:

1. Solar panels are a sound investment. Buying solar panels is currently one of the best financial investments around - tax-free, index linked and with payments guaranteed by the Government which typically give returns at 5-8%.

2. Weigh up the options. If you are attracted by 'free' solar panel offers, check the conditions. Many of the 'rent a roof' packages for example, only offer free panels for very large roofs. And remember you will only benefit from the savings on electricity bills with the free panels - the company that installs and owns the panels are likely to get the payments for the electricity produced.

3. Do your research. If you're buying the panels upfront, check they come with a warranty. And if you're opting for 'free' solar panels, make sure you get them from a reputable company as this is likely to be a long term contract.

4. Avoid extra borrowing costs. Look into whether suppliers are offering interest free finance deals to help you get started. If not, try buying them with a 0% APR on purchases credit card.

5. Find out if your home is suitable. British Gas is helping customers decide how they can cash in by encouraging them to go on to their website to find out more.

Please visit the British Gas website for information on Solar Panels, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency