Solar options for home in 2022

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Solar options for home in 2022 - 2026

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106 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 101

#3496265 28-May-2026 17:11

kangaroo13:

.... End result - even as winter approaches I'm getting a good level of self-consumption, and only on quite dreary - such as today - will I need to top up my HWS overnight on off-peak rates (today's peak 2.85kW, which lasted for < 10mins).

I spoke too soon - the sun came out this afternoon. Per the graph below illustrates, the hot water was triggered and I've made good use of available solar for the day.

johno1234

3487 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2977

#3496268 28-May-2026 17:37

I wonder how much, if at all, that a good solar install leads to property value increase? Given that it’s not just numbers, it’s also a feel good influence.

kangaroo13

106 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 101

#3496272 28-May-2026 17:48

johno1234:

I wonder how much, if at all, that a good solar install leads to property value increase? Given that it’s not just numbers, it’s also a feel good influence.

Similar question related to a rental property - how much extra would a tenant pay for reduced power bills (and a bit of 'feel good')? I say this from the perspective of having shares in two properties with solar, and at some stage my partner and I are likely to combine into one and the other will either be sold or rented out.

HarmLessSolutions

1260 posts

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#3496288 28-May-2026 18:56

johno1234:

I wonder how much, if at all, that a good solar install leads to property value increase? Given that it’s not just numbers, it’s also a feel good influence.

In this regard our installer saw a gap in tradies' awareness of working around and has put together a service to inform people of the risks and functionality of rooftop solar. He is time poor so hasn't been able to put as much effort into driving this side of his business but interestingly the biggest uptake he has had to date is from real eastate dealers who want to better present this feature in their listed properties.

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

tweake

2717 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1168

#3496316 28-May-2026 20:08

johno1234:

I wonder how much, if at all, that a good solar install leads to property value increase? Given that it’s not just numbers, it’s also a feel good influence.

i think it heavily depends on the buyer.

if they have an ev, or big family with large power bills, and they understand what solar brings to the table, then they will certainly pay extra. but joe blogs who has none of that won't pay more.

the other question is how much extra they will pay. catch here is those who will pay extra know exactly how much its worth to have and there is probably not enough competition to push prices above that.

sen8or

1948 posts

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#3496369 29-May-2026 08:28

I would think though in an open market where so many homes are similar (3-4 bdrm, brick n tin, small sections etc etc) a house with solar will at least have a competitive edge / selling feature over a house without solar. Whether that drives up prices is debatable, but it may help buyers choose one property over another.

The ROI obsession that @Fastbike mentioned is a valid point. I know at work, many (not all) of the EV buyers go on about how much they'll save vs a normal petrol car (or even hybrid) and kwh/100kms, cheapest energy rates etc all seem to be a big factor in the purchase decision, guess solar buyers aren't too dissimilar.

Paul1977

5229 posts

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#3496379 29-May-2026 09:09

fastbike:

Interesting. We self funded it up front as I ended up with many invoices rather than the one the bank demanded for a cheap loan (I did much of the installation myself, getting a sparky and inspector to do the restricted bits). So saved loads of cash up front.

But I'm curious about the fixation with payback and ROI, I spend plenty of other money without demanding that (eating out, holidays, toys etc). I have friends that are always remodelling their homes, replacing perfectly servicable vehicles etc. None of this has a payback / ROI.

My motivations are to get some independence from rising power bills, to avoid importing power when FF production is firming the system, the tech aspects (we are on geekzone after all) and another toy to play with. Plus the boasting factor LoL

All the other things you mentioned are for enjoyment or status symbols.

Not with solar. For most people the only purpose of installing solar is to save money. The more it costs, the less they are saving.

Paul1977

5229 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2221

#3499905 3-Jun-2026 14:28

Just got our first bill since we've been exporting.

Is it expected for there to be a bit of a discrepancy between what the inverter meter records and what the lines company meter records?

Fronius reports:

796.57 kWh imported
526.61 kWh exported

PowerEdge Bill says:

804.80 kWh imported
529.65 kWh exported

PowerEdge doesn't give any time-of-day breakdown, or even daily totals. All you get is the total for the month.

Jase2985

13773 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#3499925 3-Jun-2026 15:32

mine were always within about 1kw/h. but thats pretty close.

fastbike

527 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 404

#3499929 3-Jun-2026 15:44

Paul1977:

Just got our first bill since we've been exporting.

Is it expected for there to be a bit of a discrepancy between what the inverter meter records and what the lines company meter records?

Fronius reports:

796.57 kWh imported
526.61 kWh exported

PowerEdge Bill says:

804.80 kWh imported
529.65 kWh exported
PowerEdge doesn't give any time-of-day breakdown, or even daily totals. All you get is the total for the month.

That's less than 1%, what were you expecting ?

Otautahi Christchurch

LightbulbNeil

80 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 26

#3499933 3-Jun-2026 15:55

Ours has always been quite a big different. They replaced the meters and put in 2 identical meters. After 1 year they were so far apart from each other, that they have recently replaced those pair snd put in a single meter. As I currently don't have a bill , I have not been chasing it. But your post is a very good reminder for me to start looking at the billing data and making a chart or something to align with the billing data times and dates, and then get that data off of the Fronius smart meter. I will look into it on the next account as it will have had a month or two then to get a correct reading with aligned dates and times for our billing period. Thanks for the post and reminder. Overall it looks very close to me, especially the export to he power Co. The import from fronius always seems to be a few kwh less than they say we buy off of them. I'm not sure what the guidelines are for meters to monitor power consumption or export import variations. To me, in our old house that had the spinning disc type of meter, when it changed to a smart meter, our consumption was measured as being quite a bit more. So I'm not sure if the electronic meters are actually more accurate or not. But I don't know anyone who had the spinning disc type meter and their power consumption account was the same or lower after the smart meter was installed.

mark0x01

22 posts

Geek

#3499934 3-Jun-2026 15:59

NZ legislation only requires 2.5% accuracy.

richrdh18

236 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 107

#3499935 3-Jun-2026 16:00

fastbike:

Paul1977:

Just got our first bill since we've been exporting.

Is it expected for there to be a bit of a discrepancy between what the inverter meter records and what the lines company meter records?

Fronius reports:

796.57 kWh imported
526.61 kWh exported

PowerEdge Bill says:

804.80 kWh imported
529.65 kWh exported
PowerEdge doesn't give any time-of-day breakdown, or even daily totals. All you get is the total for the month.

That's less than 1%, what were you expecting ?

I'm with PE and ours is the same, out by approx 3 - 4 kWh. Nothing to worry about when your in credit and end up with a zero bill regardless.

fastbike

527 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 404

#3499953 3-Jun-2026 17:30

My earlier answer was from my phone.

Here's the last 7 months from last year from my PC.

The power co meter (right hand columns) reads slightly higher than the meter I fitted to the grid interconnection point.

Edited to insert image as tabular data (below) got clobbered

Report Month Exported Energy Grid Consumption Meter Export Meter Import 2025-06 298.22 1141.55 303 1152 2025-07 602.84 925.74 610 935 2025-08 969.21 473.99 976 482 2025-09 1349.64 47.26 1354 53 2025-10 2172.51 27.77 2175 31 2025-11 2024.90 8.30 2024 12 2025-12 2085.17 46.09 2084 51

Otautahi Christchurch

Paul1977

5229 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2221

#3499960 3-Jun-2026 18:23

Thanks. I wasn’t sure if I should be expecting it to be exactly the same or not. Sounds like it’s well within “normal” accuracy.

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