Solar PV-selling electricity back to the grid

HippyA

Hi

I'm trying to find out the best rate available from the energy companies for buying the electricity I export to the grid from my soon-to-be-installed solar panels. This information is not readily available on the websites and I'm having to contact them all individually to get the details. Has anyone else done this recently and found the best deal - you'd be saving me a lot of time! Thanks. Hippy A

jd87

My guess would be that, as with buying electricity, the price you get for selling electricity varies depending on where you live. So whilst one company might pay the most for one area of the country, another company might pay more for another area.

Just out of interest, do you have to be with the same supplier for both buying and selling? If you do, it might be more important to go with whoever sells the cheapest. No offence to your PVs (well done for getting them), but I would think that as with most microgeneration schemes, most of the time you are going to have a net electricity usage, not a net output.

stewie_griffin

Most of the suppliers seem to have info on their websites but due to the number of variables involved I think the only way you'll get actuals rates is to contact them directly.

http://www.eonenergy.com/At-Home/Products/Technology-And-Initiatives/Solarnet.htm?WT.mc_id=Solarnet&WT.svl=8

http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/our-green-products/microgeneration.shtml#

http://www.npower.com/web/At_home/juice-clean_and_green/microgeneration/making_your_own_energy

http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/Help/ForYourHome/Microgeneration/SolarPVTariff.aspx

Cardew

HippyA wrote: »

Hi

I'm trying to find out the best rate available from the energy companies for buying the electricity I export to the grid from my soon-to-be-installed solar panels. This information is not readily available on the websites and I'm having to contact them all individually to get the details. Has anyone else done this recently and found the best deal - you'd be saving me a lot of time! Thanks. Hippy A

Do you mind telling us how much your panels cost to install, and what output - kWh - you expect them to produce.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi HippyA

Great news about your Solar PV panels. :money:

Thought I would confirm EON will buy back any excess electricity generated in this way by our residential customers at times it is not used by your home. This is through a scheme called Solarnet.

We have a particular team who deal with these issues. The link to our website posted by stewie_griffin contains their contact details and more info.

I have spoken to the Solarnet team this morning. They have advised we will buy the electricity at our standard secondary rates or the day rate if you have Economy 7.

If you post the region you are in and the meter type I will let you know the current rates.

Hope this helps.

Malc

jimexbox

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

They have advised we will buy the electricity at our standard secondary rates or the day rate if you have Economy 7.

And then you resell the energy under a expensive green tariff, nice work if you can get it.

spiro

Before you have this installed dont forget to advise your supplier and distributor because you may need to have your meter changed especially if you want to be able to sell back to the network. Also note without osilation you cant use this in the event of a power cut otherwise the network woll try and 'suck' all the power you produce out.