Solar options for home in 2022

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499 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#3413118 10-Sep-2025 06:54

Another status follow up - in the last day we have imported no overnight power from the grid.
A combination of warmer weather (so the heat pumps are now off) and longer days mean as we head towards the spring equinox the house is self sufficient. But I'm not going off grid, yet LoL !

Otautahi Christchurch

richrdh18

234 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#3413182 10-Sep-2025 08:29

My solar got installed early May. So have watching my power bills come down slowly over the winter months. May $60 Jun $60 Jul $120 (mrs was using the drier heaps) and Sep is estimated to be $10. Some when daylight saving and summer kicks in we should be even lower or even into credit. 9.6kw of panels with a 10kwh bty in PN.

Have been looking into changing power companies (currently with Genesis) but they kind of dont want to know you or offer crap rates once they know you have solar.

This has been an interesting investment and journey. I know a lot more about power now than I ever did. Its all about not having to pay the power companies now...

timmmay

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#3413239 10-Sep-2025 08:43

richrdh18:

I know a lot more about power now than I ever did. Its all about not having to pay the power companies now...

Sounds like a good savings :) Try Meridian solar plan (you have to email for details but buyback rate of 17c for me) or Octopus.

boland

565 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 87

#3413252 10-Sep-2025 09:13

Octopus is great, we have 17ct buyback.

Use this link to sign up to Octopus and we both get 50 dollar off https://octopusenergy.nz/share/open-okapi-337

prob

239 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 50

#3414646 13-Sep-2025 17:55

A big thumbs up for Power Edge. 20c for solar export and low daily rate ($1.20 plus gst). With solar the daily rate is important.

They are a very friendly bunch and are currently helping me persuade my lines company (Vector) to raise the export limit from 5 kW.

https://poweredge.nz/

Stu1

1903 posts

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#3414662 13-Sep-2025 20:41

richrdh18:

My solar got installed early May. So have watching my power bills come down slowly over the winter months. May $60 Jun $60 Jul $120 (mrs was using the drier heaps) and Sep is estimated to be $10. Some when daylight saving and summer kicks in we should be even lower or even into credit. 9.6kw of panels with a 10kwh bty in PN.

Have been looking into changing power companies (currently with Genesis) but they kind of dont want to know you or offer crap rates once they know you have solar.

This has been an interesting investment and journey. I know a lot more about power now than I ever did. Its all about not having to pay the power companies now...

Genesis just don’t care moved as well to meridian , the daily rate was super cheap ,$300 credit as well . I am stuck with gas with them though .

Anytime Cents per kWh 25.22c (excl GST)

29.00c (incl GST)

Daily Charge Cents per day

120.00c (excl GST)

138.00c (incl GST)

Export Credits

Export Cents per kWh 17.00c (excl GST)

19.55c (incl GST)

CYaBro

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#3415441 16-Sep-2025 18:18

It’s alive!

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

fastbike

499 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 380

#3415489 16-Sep-2025 21:56

Stu1:

Export Credits

Export Cents per kWh 17.00c (excl GST)

19.55c (incl GST)

You only get the GST incl rate if you have a GST registration, and you then have to send the GST part to IRD. So it is 17 cents

Otautahi Christchurch

Stu1

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#3415510 17-Sep-2025 07:26

fastbike:

Stu1:

Export Credits

Export Cents per kWh 17.00c (excl GST)

19.55c (incl GST)

You only get the GST incl rate if you have a GST registration, and you then have to send the GST part to IRD. So it is 17 cents

Good pick up , forgot I am GST registered 17c. The carrot to move was the daily line charge which was going to $2.47 per day , where as Meridian is only $1.38

timmmay

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#3415514 17-Sep-2025 07:55

In Wellington our daily charge from Meridian on the solar plan is $2.80.

dukezoid

74 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 15

#3415707 17-Sep-2025 20:24

That’s a nice daily rate. They’ve not offered me anything that good (Akl)

Anytime usage:
19.42c/kWh (excl GST)
22.33c/kWh (incl GST)
Daily fixed charge:
253.05c/day (excl GST)
291.01c/day (incl GST)
Export credits:
17.00c/kWh (excl GST)
~~19.55c/kWh (incl GST)~~

Their other brand, Powershop still works out $10-$20 better per month with lower daily and ‘special’ per kWh rates for minimal required grid usage. Though the $300 is tempting plus export is higher (Powershop is 13c).

HarmLessSolutions

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#3416511 19-Sep-2025 22:06

fastbike:

Stu1:

Export Credits

Export Cents per kWh 17.00c (excl GST)

19.55c (incl GST)

You only get the GST incl rate if you have a GST registration, and you then have to send the GST part to IRD. So it is 17 cents

Interesting reply I just got back from PowerEdge regarding GST paid on their export rate:

"The reason that we show GST on the solar rate is:

Our approach differs from other power companies.

We treat solar generation as a credit rather than an income.

This means we are able to return the GST to you, even if you are not GST registered.

To give you a clearer comparison, we credit 20c for solar, while other companies may offer 8c, 11c, or similar rates."

Is this kosha?

Also awaiting a reply from PE regarding the possibility of 'cashing out' excessive accumulated credit.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

richrdh18

234 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#3416615 20-Sep-2025 10:41

Just signed up with PowerEdge yesterday. Their daily rate 120c is the same as Genesis, 32.8kwh power and 17c buy back, fixed for 3 years + $150 credit to start with. No contract can leave at anytime but if earlier than 2 years, then they may reclaim their credit back.

I read the T&Cs and you can cash out your credits once a year in Sep but they encourage you to store them for use over winter.

This is the fist time in 25years that I have changed power companies, to pretty nervous etc to see how it all goes.

LightbulbNeil

73 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 21

#3416625 20-Sep-2025 11:15

We are with Meridian and do a cash out of the account at the end of October and then start accumulating credit again for the next winter. We leave $20 credit in the account. The amount varies each year so far. This year will be the lowest payout so far for various reason's.

prob

239 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 50

#3416891 21-Sep-2025 10:05

Interesting reply I just got back from PowerEdge regarding GST paid on their export rate:

"The reason that we show GST on the solar rate is:

Our approach differs from other power companies. We treat solar generation as a credit rather than an income. This means we are able to return the GST to you, even if you are not GST registered. To give you a clearer comparison, we credit 20c for solar, while other companies may offer 8c, 11c, or similar rates." Is this kosha? Also awaiting a reply from PE regarding the possibility of 'cashing out' excessive accumulated credit.

Here is an an extract invoice from July from Power Edge. Terrible solar production, but more importantly our solar export is offset from our usage before the balance has GST added so I take this to be how " gst is returned.."

How do other power companies account for exported power?

Usage Charges
Description Quantity Rate Total
All Day 26/07/2025 to 25/08/2025 443.45 kWh x $0.2930 = $129.93
Daily Charge 26/07/2025 to 25/08/2025 31 days x $1.2000 = $37.20
Night Usage 26/07/2025 to 25/08/2025 397.85 kWh x $0.2400 = $95.48
Solar Credit 26/07/2025 to 25/08/2025 364.89 kWh x $-0.1739 = $-63.45
EA Levy 26/07/2025 to 25/08/2025 841.29 kWh x $0.0015 = $1.26
Total EXCLUDING GST $200.42
GST $30.06
Total Including GST $230.48

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