Dorset Council's group-buying round with Switch Together is free to join until 25 September, with no obligation. Last year's scheme helped over 200 households cut bills.

Dorset homeowners and businesses have until 25 September to register for a council-backed solar panel and battery scheme. Registration is free and carries no obligation to buy anything.

Dorset Council announced the new round on 17 August, in partnership with Switch Together, the group-buying firm formerly known as Solar Together. The council says last year’s scheme helped more than 200 Dorset households reduce their energy bills.

How the scheme works

Group buying pools households together to negotiate a better installation price than any one home could get alone.

  • Register free at switchtogether.co.uk/solar-panels/dorset by 25 September 2026
  • You then receive information about the scheme and a personalised offer for your property
  • You decide whether to accept; there is no obligation at any point
  • If you accept, a refundable deposit is required to continue to the next stage

Switch Together says all its installers are MCS accredited, members of a Consumer Code and vetted for quality. For context on cost, the firm puts the typical market price of a domestic solar installation at around £7,500, based on installations recorded in the MCS dashboard during 2025. Your own offer will depend on your roof, system size and location.

Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council, said: “There is no cost to register interest and no pressure to proceed. It simply provides households with information and access to trusted installers so they can make an informed decision about what works best for them.”

What it means for you

  • The deadline that matters is 25 September. Registering costs nothing and commits you to nothing, so the decision you actually face now is only whether to see an offer.
  • The scheme is open to homeowners and businesses across the Dorset Council area. If you rent, this round is not aimed at you.
  • Solar panels generate electricity through the day; a battery stores what you do not use for the evening. The council’s case for pairing them is that together they cut how much you buy from the grid.
  • No quote is binding until you accept it, and the deposit at that stage is refundable.
  • If your home is listed or in a conservation area, check whether you need permission before committing. Our Dorset planning news page follows how applications in the county are handled.

Energy costs sit alongside housing as the bills Dorset residents ask about most. Our Dorset house prices page tracks the other side of that ledger, town by town.

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