Solar install. Can smart meters be configured for this?

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timmmay

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#1559405 25-May-2016 15:16

Given I've saved $600 a year by moving to Flick, with no up front investment, I'm calling solar a sub optimal decision given current buyback rates and power prices. That could easily change in future.

Jaxson

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#1559420 25-May-2016 15:24

Lots to consider though.

If you have the money laying around, then you'll likely get more return on it investing in solar, than a measly interest rate in a bank.

And the tech is dropping in price rather rapidly, compared to the cost of electricity.

Agree you can do a bit in other areas, but then solar could be an option once you've optimised everything else.

With micro inverters now, which can connect say 1-4 panels max, you can get a small trickle going for not a lot of investment; especially if the meter replacement is funded by your provider. If you benefits in this, you can upscale fairly easily. The prices associated with this will drop over time, so whilst it may not be dramatically beneficial right now, this position may strengthen over time.

SumnerBoy

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#1559443 25-May-2016 16:08

timmmay:

Given I've saved $600 a year by moving to Flick, with no up front investment, I'm calling solar a sub optimal decision given current buyback rates and power prices. That could easily change in future.

Kind of missing the point IMO. You may well have made those savings which is great, but that would not exclude you from making savings by installing solar. Which is kind of what you are implying. With solar, for every kWh you generate and use during the day, you are saving 30c plus at the current day rates. So assuming $10K install then you would need to generate and use 3.3MW per year over 10yrs to cover the upfront costs. To date my system has been installed for 678 days, so just under 2 years, and I have generated 7.1MWh, so well over 3.5MWh/yr. If I was *using* all of that and exporting nothing then I would be well on my way to paying it off in 10yrs. However due to excess generation in summer and a lot of my usage being at night during the winter (running heating) I am not using anywhere near all of this at the time of generation.

Before with high buyback this didn't matter, as I got nice juicy credits. But now the numbers don't look as good. My point is, if you can *use* everything you generate then things start looking much better regardless of buyback prices. But as I said, you are right in that solar isn't the financial no-brainer it perhaps once was.

The original statement that you should match your solar PV array to your usage is the best advice - there is no point spending extra money to install extra panels when all you will end up doing is exporting that power back to the grid for very little return. So sizing your array is very important.

The problem with that is your generation and usage varies greatly depending on the time of year.

kotuku4

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#1559446 25-May-2016 16:18

I installed 4.9 kW March 2013. Annually I generate units more than I use. Average monthly power bill is $40 with a family of 5.

I had no idea how much to install, went with as much as I could afford. If I was to do it today probably would install 3 kW. I will look at storage in future if prices reduce significantly.

My local Lines company now charge a fee for units exported which doesn't help.

I believe the not so smart import/export meter, and therefore lack of other off peak options, and the export fee are all part of the power industry discouraging/penalising us from on site power generation.

Hopefully we will be generating power long after the system has paid back on investment.

SumnerBoy

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#1559447 25-May-2016 16:19

I have an import/export meter, that does day/night as well - had to request it specifically but they can do it.

timmmay

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#1559456 25-May-2016 16:37

SumnerBoy:

Kind of missing the point IMO. You may well have made those savings which is great, but that would not exclude you from making savings by installing solar. Which is kind of what you are implying. ( etc)

Yep generally agree with you, both would be ideal if Flick would allow solar users to join, currently they don't. Ihe 18 year payback time (aka the break even point) is getting close to replacement time. It'll make sense for some, especially rural areas that have power cuts, but I think we're both saying it needs careful consideration and probably won't make financial sense for most people.

SumnerBoy

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#1559459 25-May-2016 16:39

timmmay:

Yep generally agree with you, both would be ideal if Flick would allow solar users to join, currently they don't. Ihe 18 year payback time (aka the break even point) is getting close to replacement time. It'll make sense for some, especially rural areas that have power cuts, but I think we're both saying it needs careful consideration and probably won't make financial sense for most people.

Ah I see, sorry didn't realise Flick precluded you from having solar. That indeed changes things from your perspective. We can't get Flick down here in ChCh so not an option regardless.

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Willuknight

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#1559720 25-May-2016 21:36

I just signed up for Flick and was connected Monday. Sockburn, Chch.

SumnerBoy

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#1559722 25-May-2016 21:38

Nice, i thought i checked them out a while ago and they weren't down here. Having solar it sounds like i am out of luck anyway.

Thanks for the tip.

kotuku4

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#1594273 18-Jul-2016 09:13

Have changed supplier to Ecotricity, as they have just become available in Marlborough. A smart import export meter will be installed at a cost of $30, and up to three weeks for the install. Will be great to have power use and generation information and no more silly estimated readings.

kotuku4:

I installed 4.9 kW March 2013. Annually I generate units more than I use. Average monthly power bill is $40 with a family of 5.

I had no idea how much to install, went with as much as I could afford. If I was to do it today probably would install 3 kW. I will look at storage in future if prices reduce significantly.

My local Lines company now charge a fee for units exported which doesn't help.

I believe the not so smart import/export meter, and therefore lack of other off peak options, and the export fee are all part of the power industry discouraging/penalising us from on site power generation.

Hopefully we will be generating power long after the system has paid back on investment.

RUKI

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#1594494 18-Jul-2016 14:10

Two way meter cost me $99

I will have the first monthly stats for the solar generation for July 2016 and will start posting in August.

Will include historical average monthly number of sunny days and rainfall in Auckland from Metservice.

It is 12 panels 3Kw system with TeslaPowerWall Battery in Auckland

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