which electric tariff to use with solar panels

growltiger

Thanks for all input with solar panel advice - it has eventually been a leap of faith at the last hurdle! But they should be on their way soon. Now just listening to programme on R4 and lot of discussuion about changing energy suppliers to make most of individual's needs for electricity and it crossed my mind that 'does having solar panels mean a different mindset' - should I be cunning and adopt an electricity tariff that works inconjunction with solar panel power - just a thought but would welcome some comments and advice.

growltiger

hope above title makes greater sense.

grahamc2003

Can't see how a different tariff would make any significant difference. The main return comes from the fits, the return from the electricity itself works out around £70pa on average. Ironically, the poorer your tariff, the more you gain! So to maximise the vaue of your generated solar electricty, you need to sign onto a tariff with high daytime rates, but for other reasons, you'd usually want a tariff with the lowest rates.

I don't understand this bit

should I be cunning and adopt an electricity tariff that works inconjunction with solar panel power

What sort of tariff do you have in mind?

thenudeone

Your supplier doesn't make any difference. Your FITs can come from a different supplier if you want (Mine Do).

It'll only make a difference if your purchasing falls after panels are installed. You might find the best deal changes because of your new usage pattern (eg: a slightly lower standing charge but a higher unit rate, might be better because you are buying fewer units)

keith_r59

The best thing to do is recalculate your annual electricity usage with the solar panels installed (reduce it by 25% for example) and then use the well known comparison sites to work out which tariff is best for your energy profile and switch as needed.

growltiger

keith_r59 wrote: »

The best thing to do is recalculate your annual electricity usage with the solar panels installed (reduce it by 25% for example) and then use the well known comparison sites to work out which tariff is best for your energy profile and switch as needed.

thankyou - even a few comments like yours will make me think this thro and maybe act accordingly.

growltiger

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Can't see how a different tariff would make any significant difference. The main return comes from the fits, the return from the electricity itself works out around £70pa on average. Ironically, the poorer your tariff, the more you gain! So to maximise the vaue of your generated solar electricty, you need to sign onto a tariff with high daytime rates, but for other reasons, you'd usually want a tariff with the lowest rates.

I don't understand this bit

should I be cunning and adopt an electricity tariff that works inconjunction with solar panel power

What sort of tariff do you have in mind?

sorry comment about ...'cunning' just an attempt at humour. Your comments are much appreciated. Interesting and useful to see how you may change 'habits' ie usage, when, with PV solar panels installed. I suppose I was just thinking out aloud.

growltiger

thenudeone wrote: »

Your supplier doesn't make any difference. Your FITs can come from a different supplier if you want (Mine Do).

It'll only make a difference if your purchasing falls after panels are installed. You might find the best deal changes because of your new usage pattern (eg: a slightly lower standing charge but a higher unit rate, might be better because you are buying fewer units)

How does it work to have a different FIT supplier to your energy(electricity) supplier? Why would you do that? Was it a deliberate decision on your part?
The PV solar panel installer will help me fill in the FIT forms etc. - do I need to have a converstaion with him ie comments read from forum - I think he would just automatically make an application to my present supplier ie npower. Altho I've noticed comments on this forum about some (elec) suppliers being quicker than others to set FIT up.

noncom_2

FITs from whoever pays them will be the same amount, so in one sense there is no advantage in getting them from a different company than your energy supplier.

However, as you will see from browsing other threads, some companies are a little quicker and more efficient at processing and paying the FITs than others, so you may wish to go for one that seems to have good reviews in that regard.

If you use the same supplier to provide your electricity and pay your FITs, then you may be able to have the credit from your FITs applied directly to your electricity account (and effectively never pay an electricity bill), although the benefit of this over having the FITs paid directly to you and your bills Directly Debited is marginal.

The biggest reason I would think why you may end up with two companies involved is that some people change electricity tariffs regularly to chase the best deals, but changing FITs is a more laborious process which you may not want to do so often.

keith_r59

noncom wrote: »

If you use the same supplier to provide your electricity and pay your FITs, then you may be able to have the credit from your FITs applied directly to your electricity account (and effectively never pay an electricity bill), although the benefit of this over having the FITs paid directly to you and your bills Directly Debited is marginal.

I'm not aware that any of the energy suppliers will actually do this as they all appear to keep their billing and FIT payment systems separate, with many of them only prepared to issue cheques :mad: for the FITs.

mpn226

hi i am with s&se and they will i think credit yor Fit payments against your electricty bill,you want to check this this is still the current situation, although i dont let them do it in my case, also fit payments are direct to bank, hope this helps.