Talk to me about solar panels.

[Cue]

Has anyone took a look at the new eon prices? I don't really want to leave octopus, but eon are offering their best car tariff to people who just have home batteries. This means 6.9p import at night and 16.5p export for solar, making it roughly 2:1 even after all the conversion overheads if like me you effectively bank your summer excess to use as winter import. On this tariff I'd likely end up in credit every year, even after standing charge, despite the fact I don't generate enough in total for my own use over a whole year.

It seems a little too good to be true so I've messaged them to be absolutely sure, the lady I spoke to can't answer til the EV team are back on Monday but agrees everything on the website implies these two options are compatible. It's basically 10% better than Octopus Intelligent Go in both directions and without the need for a specific EV/charger.

View attachment 15413

View attachment 15412

6.9p night import is high for me right now

Most of the time right now I’m seeing 5p or less, sometimes negative.

Best way to do batteries with Octopus is to close off discharge until 4-7pm from what I understand, as on Agile Export (Outgoing?) that’d be peak. Currently not as high as 16p mind you, but it depends on the generation vs usage I suppose.

 

[tek-monkey]

6.9p night import is high for me right now

Most of the time right now I’m seeing 5p or less, sometimes negative.

Best way to do batteries with Octopus is to close off discharge until 4-7pm from what I understand, as on Agile Export (Outgoing?) that’d be peak. Currently not as high as 16p mind you, but it depends on the generation vs usage I suppose.

My inverter isn't compatible with agile unfortunately, and it's API is read only, so I have no (easy) way to get those prices. Plus my array is at 90 degrees to the sun by 5pm so flux isn't really getting me much on the higher export rates either.

The reason I'm attracted to eon is its a 1 year fix, every exported unit at any time of the day is worth >2 imported units any night of the year. Effectively the grid doubles my solar my output, I'd fully charge every night even in summer, I could even force discharge probably 10kWh each evening but unsure I want 2 cycles per day on the batteries.

EDIT: I should add my aim here isn't necessarily maximising profit, just no electricity bill at all. I am still looking at a single aircon for downstairs though so that would introduce some electric heating into the mix.

 

[Cue]

My inverter isn't compatible with agile unfortunately, and it's API is read only, so I have no (easy) way to get those prices. Plus my array is at 90 degrees to the sun by 5pm so flux isn't really getting me much on the higher export rates either.

The reason I'm attracted to eon is its a 1 year fix, every exported unit at any time of the day is worth >2 imported units any night of the year. Effectively the grid doubles my solar my output, I'd fully charge every night even in summer, I could even force discharge probably 10kWh each evening but unsure I want 2 cycles per day on the batteries.

EDIT: I should add my aim here isn't necessarily maximising profit, just no electricity bill at all. I am still looking at a single aircon for downstairs though so that would introduce some electric heating into the mix.

Aircon is a lot cheaper than it first seems thankfully. The KW rating is output not input, so a 2.5kw unit (which we have in our bedroom) is actually less than 1kw usage

 

[tek-monkey]

Just ran the numbers based on last year, with octopus I'd pay £170ish and with eon they'd owe me £75ish, after standing charge. So basically £20/month to stay with octopus, is it worth that to not have to deal with eon?

 

[proactive]

Just ran the numbers based on last year, with octopus I'd pay £170ish and with eon they'd owe me £75ish, after standing charge. So basically £20/month to stay with octopus, is it worth that to not have to deal with eon?

My parents experience with eon and trying to sort it out for them would lead me to say that I'd pay almost anything never to have anything to do with them again.

 

[tek-monkey]

My parents experience with eon and trying to sort it out for them would lead me to say that I'd pay almost anything never to have anything to do with them again.

Yeah, I'm not entirely thrilled with the prospect if I'm honest.

 

[Gramaisc]

Octopus inherited me when Bulb went bust.

They struggle with my odd usage pattern, but they do cope with it better than Bulb did.

In reality, they cause me no actual grief, beyond the odd email wondering if I'm dead.

 

[Thehooperman]

......In reality, they cause me no actual grief, beyond the odd email wondering if I'm dead.

I wonder if they'd actually do anything if you didn't reply?

And what would they do if they couldn't find a body because you're on the other side (of the water I mean)?

 

[tek-monkey]

Eon say yes

 

[tek-monkey]

I asked octopus if there was any way to get onto Intelligent without the right vehicle/charger as otherwise I was going to leave for eon, they said no, so I just swapped. Should kick in on the 20th apparently, but goes to a variable rate tariff while they swap me to the right one so just need to change my battery setup.

I did like octopus as a company, I just don't like that my solar export value depends on the car on my drive!

 

[basil]

Whilst the cost of panels has reduced considerably the tarrif has been reducing more significantly since its introduction

I looked into it earlier this year and I wouldn't get a projected return until year 21-22

Which is a long time away

Really?.....

 

[tek-monkey]

Really?.....

Things have changed a lot since 2015, panels now cost £60 for 400w. ROI depends on usage scenarios but I'd be amazed if anyone but the absolute lowest of users (looking at you here Gramaisc) couldn't repay in 10 years.

If anyone ever wants impartial advice it's a subject I know way more about than I need to, and am happy to help others model a system that would work for them. However in general the rule of thumb is as many panels as your roof aspect will take, if it's not enough fill the next best aspect (as scaffolding is usually more than the panels you drag up them). A south facing roof with no shade will generate just under 1000kWh per kW of panels installed, and careful tariff switching can yield good results. Most people benefit from south and west panels, as more energy is used in the evenings than mornings, but south always wins if you can only choose one side.

 

[tek-monkey]

Another bit of info in case it helps anyone, with eon export payments are handled completely independently of imports. They credit you quarterly for them, to your bank, whereas octopus just knock them off your bill monthly. I prefer the octopus way TBH, but my bills will only be £1.50/day for electricity at most so at least it's not huge numbers we're talking.

 

[Lucy]

We've got jackdaws nesting under our panels...