Payout for Solar Export Credits

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snowfly

557 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 115

#3483571 23-Apr-2026 16:35

Hi @fastbike, if you don't mind me asking (feel free to PM me instead if wanted), but what size/spec is your 3 phase solar setup, which allowed you to get $204.68 solar credits from Meridian, as per your last post?

Presume you are on the $0.17+gst solar buyback rate from Merdian?
Does that mean you exported approx 1044kWh in your last billing period? (March-April?) 35kWh per day?

I'm still going back and forth with solar companies on designing our 3 phase system, can realistically fit approx 13kW of panels on our roof max (3 arrays, east, north and west), but trying to weigh up whether to stick to a 10kW 3 phase inverter (to meet Meridian's and other companies 10kW size limit), or whether to up size to a 15kW inverter (so we can go up to 5kW per phase, when things like 2 x HWC cylinders start up, 3P ducted heatpump, etc)

90% of the time we are under 3kW per phase, but when the larger appliances are used (HWC x2, oven, cooktop, heatpumps, etc), the other 10% of the time one phase can spike over 4-5kW.

fastbike

505 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 385

#3483836 24-Apr-2026 22:55

snowfly:

Hi @fastbike, if you don't mind me asking (feel free to PM me instead if wanted), but what size/spec is your 3 phase solar setup, which allowed you to get $204.68 solar credits from Meridian, as per your last post?

Presume you are on the $0.17+gst solar buyback rate from Merdian?
Does that mean you exported approx 1044kWh in your last billing period? (March-April?) 35kWh per day?

I'm still going back and forth with solar companies on designing our 3 phase system, can realistically fit approx 13kW of panels on our roof max (3 arrays, east, north and west), but trying to weigh up whether to stick to a 10kW 3 phase inverter (to meet Meridian's and other companies 10kW size limit), or whether to up size to a 15kW inverter (so we can go up to 5kW per phase, when things like 2 x HWC cylinders start up, 3P ducted heatpump, etc)

90% of the time we are under 3kW per phase, but when the larger appliances are used (HWC x2, oven, cooktop, heatpumps, etc), the other 10% of the time one phase can spike over 4-5kW.

So my thinking (not advice) is too size the inverter to meet your average likely max load (not max max load), and configure your system to avoid overloading the inverter. So we have a double oven (3kw each) running across two phases, a HWC with two 3kW elements across two phases, a 4kW heat pump on one phase, an EV charger across 3 phases. Plus normal lighting etc which is a few 100x kW.

I have some automation (openHAB) to keep the secondary loads away from peak tariffs, although some is handraulic.

We have 27x440W panels on the Solis 10kW 3 phase inverter on the house, and 14x440Wpanels/380W Enphase micro 3 phase on the garage. I run some automation to export between 6-10am in the summer to drain the battery so we keep exports below the 10kW (Meridiun) limit effectively clipping the exports.

We sold 1204kWh in the last billing period. This month is a lot less: as the sun is lower and we have used the (EV) car more.

PM me if you want more info,

Otautahi Christchurch

fastbike

505 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 385

#3490180 12-May-2026 16:31

The power bill to 10 May arrived yesterday - we exceeded our estimate by a decent factor. We're still doing net exports on sunny days and so far have not had to use the heat pump for space heating.

Last winter we spent (net bill) about $100 in June, $200 in July and $100 in August before reverting to net exports.

Otautahi Christchurch

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