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Electric / solar

Posted: Mon Mar 6, 2023 3:41pm
6 replies194 views6 members subscribed
Michael 71

Posts: 25

9 helpful points

Location: Arboleas

Joined: 28 Nov 2022

Hi 

We had solar installed early December, our bills are still very high the last one being 400 euro. Has any one else had this occur? I plan to speak to the solar company as I'm quiet sure this has to be wrong, I'm sure bills have to drop as otherwise solar is not a good option. 

I'm just curious as to whether anyone else has had problems like this. 

By the way I've an app on my phone that shows we are drawing power from the panels all day until its dark then drawing from the grid. 

Thank you Michael 

Geordiemark

Posted: Mon Mar 6, 2023 8:00pm

Geordiemark

Helpful member

Posts: 306

294 helpful points

Location: Arboleas

Joined: 22 Oct 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 6, 2023 8:00pm

I had panels fitted last September. Initially they were set only to supply demand at the property and NOT feed back into the grid. Once they had been legalised, the company set it to produce maximum output with any surplus being injected into Grid. I have noticed my monthly bank payment halve, but I have no idea if they are crediting me for whats going back in the Grid as I'm not getting proper bills. I'm off to the Iberdrola office next time I'm over. I only use my place as a holiday home and looking at the info on the app, probably 80% of the PV energy is going back into the grid

I think the first conversation I'd be having is with the company who did your panels, followed by your supplier.

Michael 71

Posted: Tue Mar 7, 2023 10:24am

Michael 71

Original Poster

Posts: 25

9 helpful points

Location: Arboleas

Joined: 28 Nov 2022

Posted: Tue Mar 7, 2023 10:24am

Geordiemark wrote on Mon Mar 6, 2023 8:00pm:

I had panels fitted last September. Initially they were set only to supply demand at the property and NOT feed back into the grid. Once they had been legalised, the company set it to produce maximum output with any surplus being injected into Grid. I have noticed my monthly bank payment halve, bu...

...t I have no idea if they are crediting me for whats going back in the Grid as I'm not getting proper bills. I'm off to the Iberdrola office next time I'm over. I only use my place as a holiday home and looking at the info on the app, probably 80% of the PV energy is going back into the grid

I think the first conversation I'd be having is with the company who did your panels, followed by your supplier.

Hi, 

Thank you for your reply, I have just this morning emailed my bill to the company and asked if they would look into it. Ours is set to send excess back to the grid. We have 16 solar panels so I was beginning to wonder what is going on, as it is we have been told by a number of friends that our electricity price is phenomenal for a 3 bed 2 bath with just the usual household items in use eg: washing machine kettle, ect. 

Again I appreciate the reply. 

M. 

Stev63

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2023 11:59am

Posts: 13

16 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 14 Jul 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2023 11:59am

Michael 71 wrote on Tue Mar 7, 2023 10:24am:

Hi, 

Thank you for your reply, I have just this morning emailed my bill to the company and asked if they would look into it. Ours is set to send excess back to the grid. We have 16 solar panels so I was beginning to wonder what is going on, as it is we have been told by a number of friends that our el...

...ectricity price is phenomenal for a 3 bed 2 bath with just the usual household items in use eg: washing machine kettle, ect. 

Again I appreciate the reply. 

M. 

Hi, We had 12 panels fitted last May, with two 3kw inverters and 2 lithium batteries. Our bills reduced immediately from €160 to €30, this being standing charge/IVA. . . Only 2 or 3 euros for actual supply. You don’t mention whether you have batteries, and although I can’t see the point of 16 panels without batteries, if you don’t, this will be the reason for high bills as you will be getting electricity from the grid from sunset to sunrise, and when it’s cloudy too.If you have used aircon for heating during the night, this would cause your big bills. If you’re hoping that your feed-in will balance what you draw, the suppliers always make sure that doesn’t happen as you only get paid 7 cents per Kw but will get charged 21-28 cents per Kw for what you draw. Not fair I know, but that’s how they work it. Feed-in will never affect your bills very much - the only way to reduce your bills is to avoid using the grid!

Hope this helps

Steve 

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Michael 71

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 1:19pm

Michael 71

Original Poster

Posts: 25

9 helpful points

Location: Arboleas

Joined: 28 Nov 2022

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 1:19pm

Stev63 wrote on Mon Mar 13, 2023 11:59am:

Hi, We had 12 panels fitted last May, with two 3kw inverters and 2 lithium batteries. Our bills reduced immediately from €160 to €30, this being standing charge/IVA. . . Only 2 or 3 euros for actual supply. You don’t mention whether you have batteries, and although I can’t see the point o...

...f 16 panels without batteries, if you don’t, this will be the reason for high bills as you will be getting electricity from the grid from sunset to sunrise, and when it’s cloudy too.If you have used aircon for heating during the night, this would cause your big bills. If you’re hoping that your feed-in will balance what you draw, the suppliers always make sure that doesn’t happen as you only get paid 7 cents per Kw but will get charged 21-28 cents per Kw for what you draw. Not fair I know, but that’s how they work it. Feed-in will never affect your bills very much - the only way to reduce your bills is to avoid using the grid!

Hope this helps

Steve 

Hi Steve thank you for the information. 

We did enquire about Batteries but as we were given a quote of 5000 euro, we're pretty much stumped as we would not have that kind of money left after we had paid 10,000 for the panels. May be a word of caution to others to really do some research on solar panels. 

We have been in touch with the company who've told us we were on the wrong Tarrif, too high so we're hoping now with the change our electric might be cheaper. Apart from that we will try to save for battreis next. 

Stev63

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 4:51pm

Posts: 13

16 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 14 Jul 2021

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 4:51pm

Michael 71 wrote on Sat Mar 18, 2023 1:19pm:

Hi Steve thank you for the information. 

We did enquire about Batteries but as we were given a quote of 5000 euro, we're pretty much stumped as we would not have that kind of money left after we had paid 10,000 for the panels. May be a word of caution to others to really do some research on solar panels. ...

...

We have been in touch with the company who've told us we were on the wrong Tarrif, too high so we're hoping now with the change our electric might be cheaper. Apart from that we will try to save for battreis next. 

Hi Michael

I changed suppliers when I had the solar installed as I was informed that some are better than others when it comes to solar. I got advice from ‘Si Compare’ which is like Uswitch in the UK. Their email address is [email protected] and I found them very helpful. They switched me from Endesa to Gana and even dealt with getting my potencia increased to accommodate my inverters. James was particularly knowledgeable. I just thought maybe they could help you too.

The other fairly obvious thing is to limit the use of high power devices (iron, hairdryer, boiler, oven and kettle) when you’re on the grid. I know of some people who have put fridges & freezers on timers so the don’t come on at night, but I didn’t feel the need to do that. I did put the boiler on a timer though.

I think you would see the biggest difference if you could get the installer to remove some panels and swap them for a battery or two! But you might struggle to get them to do it…

Steve 

Michael 71

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 4:11pm

Michael 71

Original Poster

Posts: 25

9 helpful points

Location: Arboleas

Joined: 28 Nov 2022

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 4:11pm

Stev63 wrote on Sat Mar 18, 2023 4:51pm:

Hi Michael

I changed suppliers when I had the solar installed as I was informed that some are better than others when it comes to solar. I got advice from ‘Si Compare’ which is like Uswitch in the UK. Their email address is [email protected] and I found them very helpful. They switched me from Endesa...

... to Gana and even dealt with getting my potencia increased to accommodate my inverters. James was particularly knowledgeable. I just thought maybe they could help you too.

The other fairly obvious thing is to limit the use of high power devices (iron, hairdryer, boiler, oven and kettle) when you’re on the grid. I know of some people who have put fridges & freezers on timers so the don’t come on at night, but I didn’t feel the need to do that. I did put the boiler on a timer though.

I think you would see the biggest difference if you could get the installer to remove some panels and swap them for a battery or two! But you might struggle to get them to do it…

Steve 

Thanks for that Steve, we had already changed from Endessa to Iberdrola. 

We are going to wait this year out and see what if any difference being on a cheaper tarrif will do. Failing that, we will look into finding  cheaper batteries  as you say its doubtful the solar people would swap panels for a battery. But....... No harm asking

M

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