Solar Panels and Outfox the market

Beverley

At the beginning of February Outfox the Market (my current dual fuel supplier) said that my DD would have to increase in line with the rising cost of fuel. I explained that I didn't agree to that as I was about to have Solar Panels installed which should reduce my bills significantly. I was told to call back once they were installed as I would need to provide them with information so that my bills could be calculated accurately. The panels were installed last week. Today I called Outfox the Market only to be told that I will receive no reduction at all for supplying my own electricity. Apparantly they are only a small company and so offer no payback for any electricity that I feed back to the grid. I was aware that not all energy providers provided payback for energy fed into the grid but surely they can't charge me for the elecricity that's provided by my solar panels. The young man on the phone seemed quite out of his depth and said he'd look into it and email me but I don't feel confident that will happen.

Reed_Richards

Your solar panels will generate electricity.  Some of this will power your house, it will not register on your electricity meter so you won't get charged for it.  If the amount you use is a significant part of your total electricity usage then Outfox the Market will have to reduce your DD in due course, but they are at liberty to increase it now then wait and see what happens.

What you cannot use will be exported to the grid.  You can register to be paid for this by any supplier that is part of the SEG scheme.  They don't have to supply your house with electricity but you may well get a better deal if they do.  AFAIK Octopus offer the best deals on exported electricity.