Solar Panels

[NM]

I dont have SP
The electricity provider offers NFIT (net feed in tariff)
So potentially over a quarter, the export to the grid could be greater than the import from the grid in $ terms.
And potentially that can cover even the daily connection charge.
Can the quarterly electricity invoice be negative? such that the electricity retailer owes you $?

I received a credit for my October quarter bill, but was not paid out as a cheque. It remained as a credit until the next bill and subtracted form what I owed them. In spring and autumn they will own me (a little) but in winter and summer I have to pay them. The shorter days in winter mean less generation and the use of air conditioning and longer running pool pumps means summer still costs me money.

 

[Quickstatus]

I received a credit for my October quarter bill, but was not paid out as a cheque. It remained as a credit until the next bill and subtracted form what I owed them. In spring and autumn they will own me (a little) but in winter and summer I have to pay them. The shorter days in winter mean less generation and the use of air conditioning and longer running pool pumps means summer still costs me money.

So what happens if the credit starts growing?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So what happens if the credit starts growing?

They would prefer to keep your money in their bank account, but all you have to do is ask for a refund. Ours is listed on file that we require a cheque (or maybe it's electronic ... +1 gets to keep that for some strange reason, which I'm yet to fathom), but it's also more than just a few dollars and we never owe them.

 

[NM]

So what happens if the credit starts growing?

For me it was not worth the hassle of requesting a cheque and going to a bank to deposit it for $19, so was happy to leave it as a credit knowing the next bill was going to need paying.

 

[cove]

We have very few left to do now. For us solar and LED lighting was very much a winner. We are pretty much finished with opening the mail to see an ever increasing charge for electricity.
Doing these solar projects have been almost us much fun as playing the frequent flyer points game.

 

[VPS]

They were a bit reluctant to give me my credit but I was persistent so now I just get a refund into my bank account for 2 out of 4 bills each year and sometimes 3

 

[amaroo]

My bills are issued as credits every qtr and the provider deposits the sum direct into my bank account a few days later. I've got a reoccurring $50 credit which hasn't been paid. The $50 is first of 2 $50 payments the QLD gov has gifted ..... I've assumed (rightly or wrongly), because I never actually pay for electricity the $100 will sit there forever and a day. Haven't bothered to find out...

 

[Quickstatus]

Whats the ATO's depreciation timeframe or % on solar panels and inverters

Edit: 15 years

However if panels are <$20K then 100% depreciation in the year of purchase (Small business depreciation). However Im not sure if this is valid for residential rental properties

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So we installed solar cells on our factory roof in Mid Dec - period 06 Feb to 07 Mar was first period where rcvd credit for feed in to grid - our credit is greater than usage + supply charge - gotta love that!!! Yes I understand is middle of summer but if trend continues will be a fantastic result.

 

[Quickstatus]

Factory operational during that time?

Thing with businesses/factories is that they usually operate when the sun shines, while households have peak demand when the sun don’t shine

Usually winter approximately halves the generation

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Factory operational during that time?

Thing with businesses/factories is that they usually operate when the sun shines, while households have peak demand when the sun don’t shine

Usually winter approximately halves the generation

Yep yep and yep

 

[cove]

We finally received an approval to add a second 30 Kilowatt system in Adelaide so it may get completed shortly.
That one is for our office warehouse and cafe in Royal Park.

 

[drron]

A month ago we scrapped our 14 year old panels after 2 panels gave up.It would have costed ~ $1000 to fix or $5500 to replace.We went with replace as the old system still left us with $150-200 per quarter to pay.When the old system failed-just before we went away on a long trip-our quarterly bill was $550.
The new system in the first 31 days has generated as much as the old system did in 9 months.My feeling is we will no longer have to pay a power bill.So the new system will pay it's self off in just 10 quarters.

 

[Quickstatus]

5kw system going onto to the Wagga roof . I elected a N and W dual orientation array.
Cant go more unless I install 3 phase which is no point because the aircon is evaporative.

A month ago we scrapped our 14 year old panels after 2 panels gave up.It would have costed ~ $1000 to fix or $5500 to replace.We went with replace as the old system still left us with $150-200 per quarter to pay.When the old system failed-just before we went away on a long trip-our quarterly bill was $550.
The new system in the first 31 days has generated as much as the old system did in 9 months.My feeling is we will no longer have to pay a power bill.So the new system will pay it's self off in just 10 quarters.

Whats your array orientation @drron?

 

[amaroo]

A month ago we scrapped our 14 year old panels after 2 panels gave up.It would have costed ~ $1000 to fix or $5500 to replace.We went with replace as the old system still left us with $150-200 per quarter to pay.When the old system failed-just before we went away on a long trip-our quarterly bill was $550.
The new system in the first 31 days has generated as much as the old system did in 9 months.My feeling is we will no longer have to pay a power bill.So the new system will pay it's self off in just 10 quarters.

What brand did you end up going for - panels and inverter

 

[Blinky]

I’m getting a quote today. I’m expecting a “sign up now and get a great deal” spiel, but will get a second quote and do my research, starting with reading this thread.

 

[moa999]

Also check out the solar quotes website, and the Whirlpool discussion forums

 

[Quickstatus]

My system is:
LG Neon2 panels, with Fronius Primo inverter plus solarweb.com monitoring system

 

[moa999]

Was the N and W orientation just roof space, or were you trying to capture the afternoon sun to add generation time?

 

[drron]

Our panels are north facing.
I really have no idea of what panels we have.The inverter brand is Sungrow.
I picked the supplier rather than brand.About 6 years ago I did one of those get 3 quotes thing.He was the only one to ring and at the time said it would be very marginal replacing what we had.
Then about 3 years ago the inverter died.The original supplier was out of business so mrsdrron rang about 6 locals.This fellow was the only one who said he could do it.So when this happened we rang him.Can't fault his work.