Should I or shouldn't I: That is the question

[jx2mad]

With the demise of solar tariffs at the end of the year my supply company is suggesting I change from a gross tariff system to a net tariff system using a smart meter. At present I am paying for all the power I use. Under the new system, any power generated by my solar panels will be available free and only the excess is put back to the grid, for which I would get a small remuneration. Which course of action would you take? Jim

[Rextheute]

Are you home during the day ?
Do you have a battery back up ?
Would you consider one ......I ,ve just priced one and it scared me .....a lot !

I used to live on David Rd in Castle Hill - had solar panels and they were fantastic . But im a power nazi , turning off lights n tvs !

Now im in Victoria and doing the sums for solar , whilst making the dolphins and unicorns live happy healthy lives is just not worth it .

Give it 12 months and the battery systems will be considerably cheaper esp as Tesla comes on stream .

My advice , say on the system you are currently on , wait and see .
Esp if you are home during the evening hours , although you may be able to square up the balance sheet if the panels make what you use .

But what is the pay in ? - maybe 11c/kw it may cost you 26c/kw to purchase . on the net arrangement .
At present you are earning 66c ? and paying 21-22 c/kw .Plus a daily connection fee .

If you would like a ripper battery system i know a guy , but he quoted me approx $15g to go "off grid " .
I'm saving that till i have a shack in Tassie or the country !

[jx2mad]

retired. Home most days except when we go travelling. Currently earning 60c/Kw. So if our load is biggest during the day wouldn't I be better off changing to a smart meter where all the power I generate is available free?

[Rextheute]

Yes !

Certainly , as you will be paid for the excess sent to grid .

[DiscoMick]

Yep, I'd say use as much as you need yourself and then just sell the excess for whatever piddling amount they offer. Get the wiring setup so it will be easy to install a future battery bank, once the price for them drops, as it will, from the current $15k or so. That's my plan once we sell the house which currently gets 40c/kw hour and retire to the house which only gets 8c. If the power companies won't pay a decent rebate, then why should we give them our power? Use it ourselves and reduce our need to deal with them, I say.

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