Talk to me about... Energy Tariffs.

[tek-monkey]

Intelligent Octopus have dropped their tariff quite a lot. Night time rate now 7.5p.

That matches my old go tariff.

Exporting by 1pm today, should probably move to flux.

 

[Lucy]

We aren't planning to export our electricity, mainly due to the house not being at the required EPC to get a decent rate. Do you reckon it's worth it?

 

[tek-monkey]

We aren't planning to export our electricity, mainly due to the house not being at the required EPC to get a decent rate. Do you reckon it's worth it?

I've seen no mention of EPC having any influence on rates?

Just walking dogs, proper reply to follow...

 

[tek-monkey]

We aren't planning to export our electricity, mainly due to the house not being at the required EPC to get a decent rate. Do you reckon it's worth it?

OK, first things first, this has 2 elements:

Can you export?
Do you want to?

There are installers who either are not accredited or have the wrong certification that mean you can't export ever, I'd be very wary of this unless you get a huge discount as you're limiting future options. Basically, as it stands right now, if they are not MCS you have very limited export options. It's not right, it feels like a dodgy government endorsed racket, but thats the way it is.

Now, do you want to? That depends mostly on tariffs, and as we all know they change frequently. A year ago battery only was actually a must better ROI than solar was, today solar is better, what comes next who knows but the changes to IO you mentioned above actually make batteries very attractive again!

Now look at your predicted generation over the year. If specced to your needs some months you'll have loads spare and others you'll need to buy in. To me, in my situation, it makes sense to have an EV tariff in winter to overnight charge the batteries which are big enough to run the house for a whole day. In summer, or from todays weather mid spring, it makes sense to go on a better outgoing tariff where I can get up to 35p per kWh I dump to grid (flux). To me the key is to change tariff twice a year, as the sun dictates, exporting enough on a good rate in summer to cover my winter imports. Therefore, while having periods I need to buy, effectively ending up as close to free as possible.

It all comes down to your roof, your batteries and your ultimate aim (better ROI, cheaper ongoing bills or least reliance on the grid).

 

[Lucy]

Thanks, I think the admin of changing tariff twice a year would mean we'd soon find ourselves going wrong...

 

[tek-monkey]

Thanks, I think the admin of changing tariff twice a year would mean we'd soon find ourselves going wrong...

I used to switch every year anyway, it's just a matter of when the sun isn't filling your batteries each day it's time to swap. I may get home assistant to tell me when it's best.

 

[Lucy]

We're only having 8 panels (I think) so I'm not sure if we'll generate enough to feed in once the power wall arrives. I guess we'll just monitor and see how the summer goes.

 

[tek-monkey]

We're only having 8 panels (I think) so I'm not sure if we'll generate enough to feed in once the power wall arrives. I guess we'll just monitor and see how the summer goes.

Due to shade I peak at 3.5kW at the moment, but have still generated nearly 20kWh today. It's quite incredible the difference a single cloud makes!

 

[Cue]

There are installers who either are not accredited or have the wrong certification that mean you can't export ever, I'd be very wary of this unless you get a huge discount as you're limiting future options. Basically, as it stands right now, if they are not MCS you have very limited export options. It's not right, it feels like a dodgy government endorsed racket, but thats the way it is.

I would have thought it doesn’t matter about the panels if you feed them straight to the battery? Then you just need to get someone accredited to install the export meter and connect the batteries up?

 

[tek-monkey]

I would have thought it doesn’t matter about the panels if you feed them straight to the battery? Then you just need to get someone accredited to install the export meter and connect the batteries up?

Most suppliers want to see an MCS to give you an export tariff, octopus for example won't touch you without that and the DNO letter saying they're happy for you to export and at what rate.

Even rival accreditation like flexOrb isn't accepted by most energy suppliers, has to be MCS.

 

[tek-monkey]

I would have thought it doesn’t matter about the panels if you feed them straight to the battery? Then you just need to get someone accredited to install the export meter and connect the batteries up?

Was thinking more about this. I guess you can't get an export tariff without proof of how you generated that energy? As a good import tariff in one house could run a cable to a good export in another?

Also most batteries can't charge and discharge simultaneously, and solar won't produce with nowhere to go, so you'd have to stop generation to be able to export.

 

[Cue]

Was thinking more about this. I guess you can't get an export tariff without proof of how you generated that energy? As a good import tariff in one house could run a cable to a good export in another?

Also most batteries can't charge and discharge simultaneously, and solar won't produce with nowhere to go, so you'd have to stop generation to be able to export.

You can export with just batteries though can’t you?

 

[Withnail]

We have been generating more than we have been consuming pretty much every day outside of the deepest darkest days of winter.

Even on a half shit day like today our batteries were full by about 3pm. We don't ever use it all.

We are feeding in to the Grid - who gives a flying how much for - almost all the time.

It is a significant initial investment for sure, but it's definitely worth thinking about if you do have anything spare.

 

[tek-monkey]

You can export with just batteries though can’t you?

You can export, yes, but can you get paid? The higher SEG rates are only for proven green energy, SP for example want a schematic proving you can't dump batteries to grid. But even if you took a low tariff they want to see how its generated or you don't qualify.

Anyone can export for free though.

 

[tek-monkey]

We have been generating more than we have been consuming pretty much every day outside of the deepest darkest days of winter.

Even on a half shit day like today our batteries were full by about 3pm. We don't ever use it all.

We are feeding in to the Grid - who gives a flying how much for - almost all the time.

It is a significant initial investment for sure, but it's definitely worth thinking about if you do have anything spare.

I assume you are being paid?

If done right there are tariffs that will effectively pay your winter bill from your summer surplus, sure you have this in hand but happy to discuss if not.

It's a shame you can't donate kWh to charity, someone in need running a microwave for an hour would be more useful than me getting 4p.

 

[Alee]

I had the solar panels on my roof repaired about a month ago , we don’t have batteries and only benefit from usage. But I can’t see any different in my electricity bill !

 

[Cue]

I had the solar panels on my roof repaired about a month ago , we don’t have batteries and only benefit from usage. But I can’t see any different in my electricity bill !

The bill or the direct debit?

 

[tek-monkey]

I had the solar panels on my roof repaired about a month ago , we don’t have batteries and only benefit from usage. But I can’t see any different in my electricity bill !

Are they yours, or from a rent a roof scheme? If yours you should be able to monitor them easily enough, if not your smart meter should give you more info.

 

[Alee]

I don’t own the panels. Which meter do I look at ? The normal electric one or the one that’s connected to panels up attic ?

 

[Alee]

The bill or the direct debit?

Bill / daily usage