Just had solar panels fitted + SEG Tariff + fixed plan ends 30th of April.

jayceedee999

Hi - first time poster on this forum, and I have some questions based around the scenario in the title. 
I've just had a 4Mw Solar PV system installed and have been looking into the SEG. I'm with EDF and their 1.5p offering is abysmal, so looking at all the export rates around - not an easy task when rates and offers are still being shown for expired companies - and my conclusion was that Octopus are looking very promising. Currently ( pun intended ) 7.5p for Octopus customers and 4.1p for non-Octopus customers, as close as I can see at the moment.
I'm fine with my EDF fixed rate plan until 30th April, at which time I would have followed Martin's advice and done nothing!! But, would I then be better joining Octopus on the Price Cap rate, if I could, thereby getting the best rate for my main plan and a better rate for my exported energy. That's my main quandary.
My next irritation is the daily standing charge increase, it's obscene, and it can't be worked around at a better rate, plus, like all charges - they are quick to justify increases by stating they are following the upward trend, but how quickly will they come back down as things stabilise??

MattMattMattUK

jayceedee999 said:

Hi - first time poster on this forum, and I have some questions based around the scenario in the title. 
I've just had a 4Mw Solar PV system installed and have been looking into the SEG. I'm with EDF and their 1.5p offering is abysmal, so looking at all the export rates around - not an easy task when rates and offers are still being shown for expired companies - and my conclusion was that Octopus are looking very promising. Currently ( pun intended ) 7.5p for Octopus customers and 4.1p for non-Octopus customers, as close as I can see at the moment.
I'm fine with my EDF fixed rate plan until 30th April, at which time I would have followed Martin's advice and done nothing!! But, would I then be better joining Octopus on the Price Cap rate, if I could, thereby getting the best rate for my main plan and a better rate for my exported energy. That's my main quandary.

The best situation at the moment is to export little or no electricity as the cost when you have to buy kWh is 3-5 times more. Can you shift your usage patterns to balance out your generation, things like setting washing machines and dishwashers to run during the day, running a heat pump during the day if you have one?

jayceedee999 said:

My next irritation is the daily standing charge increase, it's obscene, and it can't be worked around at a better rate, plus, like all charges - they are quick to justify increases by stating they are following the upward trend, but how quickly will they come back down as things stabilise??

The standing charge is set by Ofgem to cover the cost of providing the network and other costs (SoLR, social tariffs etc.). It is not "obscene" and "they" did not set it based on a number pulled out of thin air, but it was set by Ofgem based on actual costs, if those actual costs drop, which they should in time as 18p of the rise relates to SoLR for suppliers going bus, then the standing charge will be reduced to reflect that.

[Deleted User]

jayceedee999 said:

Hi - first time poster on this forum, and I have some questions based around the scenario in the title. 
I've just had a 4Mw Solar PV system installed and have been looking into the SEG. I'm with EDF and their 1.5p offering is abysmal, so looking at all the export rates around - not an easy task when rates and offers are still being shown for expired companies - and my conclusion was that Octopus are looking very promising. Currently ( pun intended ) 7.5p for Octopus customers and 4.1p for non-Octopus customers, as close as I can see at the moment.
I'm fine with my EDF fixed rate plan until 30th April, at which time I would have followed Martin's advice and done nothing!! But, would I then be better joining Octopus on the Price Cap rate, if I could, thereby getting the best rate for my main plan and a better rate for my exported energy. That's my main quandary.
My next irritation is the daily standing charge increase, it's obscene, and it can't be worked around at a better rate, plus, like all charges - they are quick to justify increases by stating they are following the upward trend, but how quickly will they come back down as things stabilise??

I think that you mean that you have a 4kWp array. Octopus will only sign you up for SEG if you have a smart meter; you can give them confirmation that your system is MCS-certificated, and you can demonstrate that the DNO has been advised. Octopus will then apply to your DNO for an export MPAN for your smart meter.

There are a number of threads which explain why the standing charges are as high as they are. Who do you think is paying for supplier failures?

jayceedee999

Matt said :- The best situation at the moment is to export little or no electricity as the cost when you have to buy kWh is 3-5 times more. Can you shift your usage patterns to balance out your generation, things like setting washing machines and dishwashers to run during the day, running a heat pump during the day if you have one?

Cheers Matt - I'm in the process of doing that at the moment, and it's helping from what I've seen so far, but we only got the panels, no storage. Waiting for Tuesday when the wifi dongle is fitted so that I can put numbers to the generation and establish a pattern to work to. No heat pump here, it would seem that they are not the practical solution in day to day life, albeit a good thing in theory. We only had a new condensing boiler fitted in November 2020 so at least that is working efficiently.

Matt said :- The standing charge is set by Ofgem to cover the cost of providing the network and other costs (SoLR, social tariffs etc.). It is not "obscene" and "they" did not set it based on a number pulled out of thin air, but it was set by Ofgem based on actual costs, if those actual costs drop, which they should in time as 18p of the rise relates to SoLR for suppliers going bus, then the standing charge will be reduced to reflect that.

My bad - In my head I compared it to the petrol situation, where the Government took the duty but the companies set the pump price......conflating consumption with access. I still have reservations about it dropping in time, history tells us that things go up rapidly in response to changes, but rarely restore at the same speed!!


Dolor said:- I think that you mean that you have a 4kWp array. Octopus will only sign you up for SEG if you have a smart meter; you can give them confirmation that your system is MCS-certificated, and you can demonstrate that the DNO has been advised. Octopus will then apply to your DNO for an export MPAN for your smart meter.

Cheers Dolor - ooops with the numbers/letters - result of a late night posting, and wishful thinking? 🙃😝 I had to wait for the email to grant me access to post, I had it all straight in my head earlier on!!👍👍 I have a Smart meter ( 2nd Gen ) - presently showing the 'feeding the pylon' icon, even on a grey day with lights, dishwasher and a couple of computers going. MCS Certification is almost done now, installer is dealing with all of that.

Appreciate the answers both.