After lots of thinking and talking we decided to bite the bullet and in May 2022 we got Solar Panels. First things first, we are a family of 7 and a dog!! We have five children and in May 2022 they ranged in age from five and eleven.
When our Solar panels were fitted, we got an app on our phone that we could monitor the amount of energy the panels were generating at any time. It allowed us to look and decided if it was a good time to put on the washing machine or wait till later in the day. This I found to be hugely beneficial.
We had another bit of good new, after much anticipation the micro-generation scheme was launched. The Micro generation scheme allows households to be paid money for any excess renewable electricity they generate that is exported to the grid. At the start we didn’t have a smart meter installed, so we were paid an estimate determined by to commission of regulation of utilities. We have since had a Smart Meter installed so we are now paid precisely what we export. The rates different depending on your electricity supplier but it can be anywhere 15c to 24c per KWh.
Was it worth it
So the bills started coming in or should I say started coming in as credit!! As we were now producing our own electricity from the solar panels, we were consuming far less electricity supplied by the grid and coupled with the micro generative payment our electricity bills during 2023 remained in credit for the whole year. Yes you read that right, we didn’t pay one penny towards an electricity bill for 2023.
This was also helped by the Government announcement in the Budget in 2022 that domestic electricity customers will get €600 off their electricity bills paid out in three instalments. This resulted in further credit being add to our account and the built up of credit during the summer months was therefore not used as much during the winter of 2023/24 months. In December 2023 we changed electrical providers and receive a credit payment of €569 when we closed our account with them. Looking at the figures if we had not received the €600 electricity credit from the government or annual electricity bill would have been €31.
What is the point of the Battery?
So we decided to go with a battery. The excess electricity produced by the PV panels first charges your battery before it is exported to the grid. At the time we installed the panels the rates paid by the micro generation scheme were not decided so maybe now our decision would be different now, but overall, I think it works for us. The kids use a lot of electricity in the evening between TV and general family use and in the spring and Autumn evenings also of this electricity comes from the battery.
Finishing up
All in all, Solar panels are a big investment, however, when we were talking to the PV solar panel installer, he advised us that it would pay for itself in about 15 years. From our experience we are well on track to this, and I don’t think there is many things in life that we can purchases that will pay for themselves over their lifetime. Yes we could do better, we could monitor our app better, fit our house with a heat pump or purchase an electric car but for now we’re happy with our annual electricity bill of less than €50.
Talk to us at EnerRating about Solar Panels for your home
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