I am confused about Solar tariffs. Could someone please share their experience

Dazmasterflash

Good Morning Everyone.

Earlier this year I had solar panels, inverter and a battery storage system installed on my house through a government grant scheme.
I was on a one year fixed tariff with EON that had no provision for selling excess energy "back to the grid".
That has now ended, but i am finding it very confusing knowing what to do next and how to select a tariff to go onto.
I do not own an electric vehicle and i have no immediate plans to get one.
I really would appreciate any thoughts or input that will make this easier to navigate.
My sincere thanks
Darren

QrizB

lWelcome to the forum!

I was on a one year fixed tariff with EON that had no provision for selling excess energy "back to the grid".

That wouldn't have been an obstacle. Most people who are paid to export electricity have two separate tariffs (often with the same supplier), one tariff for import and a separate one for export.

EON, for example, would have let you join "Next Export Exclusive" or "Next Flex Export":

https://www.eonnext.com/electricity-and-gas/smart-export-guarantee

That has now ended, but i am finding it very confusing knowing what to do next and how to select a tariff to go onto.

Adding solar PV does complicate things, as you want a supplier with a good price for import and also a decent export tariff. It would help if you could share some more information.

How large (how many watts) is your solar array? What size is your battery? How much electricity per year do you use, and do you use electricity for heating on an Economy 7 type tariff or do you have gas/oil/LPG for heat?

debitcardmayhem

Just to add what @QrizB said above , make sure you have a MCS certificate and a G98/G99 from you DNO. Both of these should have been provided by the installer, you will need to get an Export MPAN from your electricity supllier.

Keep_pedalling

The best rates are usually given if you also have an import tariff with therm as wel. You could have applied for Eon Export tariff from day one which currently pays 13p pkWh exported. The current best rate seems to be EDF paying 15p pkWh, but you need to balance that against import rates.

Baldytyke88

My solar panels were installed over 8 years ago, I am with Octopus for gas/electricity and Good Energy for my FIT.

Scot_39

An MSE article with a little general advice - including some current example SEG rate tables - and guess you might likely looking at the type 2 - tied SEG export rates - in this article from MSE updated Sep 14th.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/best-solar-rates-seg-tariffs/

As as above the best rates come when tied to an import tariff at the same supplier.

Your installer should have made it clearer you could start the process to claim for export almost right away - although it is not instant - or retrospective - irrespective of being on an import fix.

They are essentially two seperate MPAN / contracts - even if best rates come by having them linked to the same supplier - they do not have to be.

Its often sadly a very bespoke calc - as loads of factors - import tariff, battery storage rating, solar generation capacity (seasonal) and your own daily demand profile.

Giving some info on your general system ratings and daily (if electric heating - type - and summer and winter use) will help those with systems comment better on what best to look for to narrow down options.

Robin9

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82140812#Comment_82140812

Are you sure @Keep-pedalling ? My Edf was 15p until Nov 25 when it plunged to 5.6p I am expecting a further fall this November

Scot_39

@Robin9

MSE link tables - have EDF with the 5.6p as a variable rate - but also a 12m fixed at 13p in the MSE tables type 2 sections (i.e. tied to import contract).

You'd have to check out the conditions for it though and see if you can get on it if suits from current deal.

Was the 5.6p the best deal at the time - or did you just roll onto variable for export - when fixed the import ?