Homeowners who may have previously been put off by the time and expense associated with applying for planning permission for microgeneration technology such as solar panels, may benefit from new legislation.The revamped planning system, which will take effect from April 6th, will allow householders hoping to make straightforward renovations to have automatic planning permission.However, plans for wind turbines and air source heat pumps will require further approval before permission is granted.Energy minister Malcolm Wicks praised the relaxation of the regulations and claimed they could increase the uptake of microgeneration technology."Installing small-scale devices has just become a lot easier for homeowners. Microgeneration enables the concerned individual to become an active citizen in tackling global warming," he said.Meanwhile, a number of price comparison and switching services have also claimed households can cut down on their energy bills by switching to a cheaper energy tariff.