We're going solar!

Forums › Renewable energy (solar, wind and others) › We're going solar!

1 | ... | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

4256 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1349

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3425200 15-Oct-2025 20:48

I got my first bill notification today from Genesis after having Solar running 3/4 of the last billing month. Not seen the actual account yet but I was keeping an eye on the Genesis through the month and the prediction it ran through the month slowly came down and landed on $140, I was very surprised to then see the actual bill was $27 in credit.

The app and website is difficult to see Grid Export data, the bar graph is only in the negative if we’ve sent more power to the grid than actually consumed.

Still impressed with Wellington’s lousy weather over the past month that we managed to achieve this. Our system is 6.2kW in size and we ditched Natural Gas in favour of a Hot Water Heat pump as well.

Do any other power companies show Export data through the month?

timmmay

20998 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5432

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3425208 15-Oct-2025 20:58

Meridian shows export during the month, but it's separate from import. It's presented pretty poorly really.

We had our best solar day today since we had the system installed. 9.1kw of panels, 6wk inverter, 51kw generated in Wellington. It was quite cloudy this morning so I was surprised. The past couple of weeks has been rubbish for generation. We're doing worse than September.

Dairusire

350 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 131

#3425605 16-Oct-2025 22:27

I just read all 10 pages of this thread and it just makes me more excited for getting solar.

CYaBro

4763 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1219

ID Verified

Trusted

#3425609 16-Oct-2025 23:06

timmmay:

Meridian shows export during the month, but it's separate from import. It's presented pretty poorly really.

We had our best solar day today since we had the system installed. 9.1kw of panels, 6wk inverter, 51kw generated in Wellington. It was quite cloudy this morning so I was surprised. The past couple of weeks has been rubbish for generation. We're doing worse than September.

I’ve just seen that we had our best day today too since the system was turned on exactly a month ago.
North Otago. 66.49kWh from 10.8kWp, 10kW inverter.
Also surprising as it was cloudy here for some of the morning too.
Could have got more as production was also being clipped mid afternoon due to 5kW export limit and nowhere else to send the excess power. 16kWh battery was full, HWC was hot and EV had to make a trip into town.

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

kiwifidget

"Cookie"
3721 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2037

Lifetime subscriber

#3428261 27-Oct-2025 17:55

A day of 2 halves! Still managed to get to 98% across the 2 batteries.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

kiwifidget

"Cookie"
3721 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2037

Lifetime subscriber

#3478247 5-Apr-2026 10:27

Based on the Genesis Electricity Usage charts, which presumably dont include connection charges?, we used or didnt use depending on how you look at it, comparing 2024 to 2025:

17,657 kWh less (2024 = 16,835 kWh, 2025 = -822kWh)

$4,401 less (2024 = $6240, 2025 = $1839)

We added a third battery early November 2025 in the form of a Mazda CX-60 PHEV (17.8kWh battery).

So we are gradually exporting less and consuming more of the electricity we are producing.

It will be "interesting" this winter to see the effect of trying to charge 3 batteries with limited sunshine.

I'm predicting increased importing from the grid.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

void

5 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3478257 5-Apr-2026 11:17

We are in a similar boat, we recently got an EV to add to the 2 batteries and now have nearly 100kWh of battery. I don't yet know how this will change our usage but ideally we would put all excess solar into the batteries and car. After nearly a year we've generated 7.7Mwh and 2.1 of that was excess.

We are on mercury and have been for a year or so because their rates seemed about the best when I last looked. Any suggestions for lower night time rates? We are not eligible for contacts three hours free otherwise I'd do that I think.

kiwifidget

"Cookie"
3721 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2037

Lifetime subscriber

#3482769 21-Apr-2026 13:14

Sometimes when we check on the Tesla app (or the Powerwall Companion), we notice the house using a lot more electricity than usual and we look around and wonder what could be sucking in the big ones.

Some things are easy to work out, someone just had a shower, the PHEV got plugged in, dishwasher is on, and sometimes we have no idea.

What are some recommendations for tracking down the power hogs?

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

wellygary

9193 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5813

#3482776 21-Apr-2026 13:57

kiwifidget:

Sometimes when we check on the Tesla app (or the Powerwall Companion), we notice the house using a lot more electricity than usual and we look around and wonder what could be sucking in the big ones.

Some things are easy to work out, someone just had a shower, the PHEV got plugged in, dishwasher is on, and sometimes we have no idea.

What are some recommendations for tracking down the power hogs?

Water and Space heater are top of the tree in terms of consumption,

Then you're down to appliances like oven,dishwasher,drier,washing machine , fridge freezer, etc

Then its really a bug hunt, TVs, Computers, Stereos etc,

Then you're down to Vampire load that remains pretty constant when devices are off...

richms

29591 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10630

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3482777 21-Apr-2026 14:02

Either get smart plugs that track usage and put them on the things you think it might be, or shell out a crapload for a multi input current transformer monitoring solution and put it in the panel. You can group circuits thru a single CT if that helps on the number needed.

Richard rich.ms

MikeAqua

8734 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4340

#3482779 21-Apr-2026 14:07

kiwifidget:

What are some recommendations for tracking down the power hogs?

Refrigerators running defrost cycles.

Mike

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

Jase2985

13830 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6296

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3482794 21-Apr-2026 15:12

it really depends on how big the use and for how long, generally you can identify it from that.

old3eyes

9175 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1371

Subscriber

#3482815 21-Apr-2026 16:30

@kiwifidget I would check with you insurance company to make sure they're happy with the weight on the roof . I saw a case in Florida recently where the insurance was canceled on a house because the company didn't think that his roof was strong enough for a hurricane. He had to remove them and strengthen his roof and put them back agai8n.

Regards,

Old3eyes

kiwifidget

"Cookie"
3721 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2037

Lifetime subscriber

#3482830 21-Apr-2026 17:25

@old3eyes the house is not quite 20 years old, and is very solidly built to a high spec.

The installers did inspect the roof and the trusses before we signed up. They gave it the ok, but I take your point that an insurer may see it differently.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

old3eyes

9175 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1371

Subscriber

#3482833 21-Apr-2026 18:03

kiwifidget:

@old3eyes the house is not quite 20 years old, and is very solidly built to a high spec.

The installers did inspect the roof and the trusses before we signed up. They gave it the ok, but I take your point that an insurer may see it differently.

Thanx. Goid to know.

Regards,

Old3eyes

1 | ... | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11