Post your actual energy usage

[Richie]

I was fairly dark! One day we'll get an EV with V2L, be nice to have 60+ kWh sitting on the drive.

But you'll need to charge it at some point... Will you just turn your house off until that's done or not use the car to actually drive in and have a, rather expensive, battery sitting in your drive?

I think what people are suggesting in the last few posts is that we are a little, and understandably, sceptical that you didn't import any electric from the grid even through the winter months (save for that single time you mentioned)

 

[clv101]

Only do around 8000 miles a year, for two thirds of the year there's enough solar. For winter we'd mostly charge off-site.

 

[john_smith]

Are you actually off grid? To survive on hardly any electric a day is impressive. You don't mention gas, do you cook your food over the open fire? What about hot water?

 

[clv101]

Are you actually off grid? To survive on hardly any electric a day is impressive. You don't mention gas, do you cook your food over the open fire? What about hot water?

Yes, off-grid. No gas. We have a decent wood stove with back boiler and large thermal store which is heated via solar for 3/4 year, wood for ~3 months in winter. However, this last week it's been sunny so lots of solar energy went into water. Very well insulated new (6-7 years ago) build house. Almost all food cooked on electric, regular toaster, induction hob, fan oven etc... For around 30 days a year we use the oven in the wood stove.

 

[john_smith]

My 2023 numbers:

Paid to Octopus: £835.92
Off Peak Units: 7335.8kwh
Peak Units: 339.8kwh*

Solar Generation: 4340kwh

Savings Sessions: £251
FIT: £1350

£766 Profit


*Big numbers due to SS gaming.

 

[john_smith]

Yes, off-grid. No gas. We have a decent wood stove with back boiler and large thermal store which is heated via solar for 3/4 year, wood for ~3 months in winter. However, this last week it's been sunny so lots of solar energy went into water. Very well insulated new (6-7 years ago) build house. Almost all food cooked on electric, regular toaster, induction hob, fan oven etc... For around 30 days a year we use the oven in the wood stove.

That's some very efficient overs and hobs you have. Cooking a dinner for us can easily burn 5kw.

 

[HungryHippos]

Do you have a backup system that lets you generate power in the event that the solar fails for any reason?

As much as I like solar, it's not immune to failure.

 

[clv101]

Do you have a backup system that lets you generate power in the event that the solar fails for any reason?

As much as I like solar, it's not immune to failure.

Nope! There's a lot of redundancy in the system, three separate solar arrays, three separate charge controllers, two inverters, lights and immersion heaters are DC so don't require inverters, three lithium batteries etc.

 

[HungryHippos]

Alright it's awesome you've managed to go off-grid on solar alone then for the electric feed!

Do you have space to add even more?

 

[clv101]

There is a bank below the house I've been thinking of adding some more too, south West facing, quite steep, ~70° to catch winter afternoon sun... One day!

 

[Richie]

Only do around 8000 miles a year, for two thirds of the year there's enough solar. For winter we'd mostly charge off-site.

Charging off-site then bringing the car back to act as a V2L battery for your house ≠ zero cost electricity for the home (when, as you say, you eventually get a V2L)... /pedant

 

[clv101]

Indeed! But we don't do that now.

 

[cokecan]

No that's reasonable.
3 bed detached. 2 adults, both full time WFH.

The below. Excludes the 50p ish a day standing charge. So add 15 pounds

Are these some kind of home assistant card that's displaying date/usage/cost etc? They look smart! I've been looking for something like that myself for a dashboard

 

[413x]

Are these some kind of home assistant card that's displaying date/usage/cost etc? They look smart! I've been looking for something like that myself for a dashboard

Ha no. They are just the Scottish power app thing. The app is quite poor too.

 

[cokecan]

haha oh! it looked like it had a HA style to it

 

[{SAS}TB]

Slightly off topic but would welcome some thoughts

Had the email yesterday advising I had been moved from Shell to Octopus (Flexible Tariff)

My electric has gone from

Standing charge - 62.2p to 60.2p (-2p / day)
Unit price - 28.26p to 29.57p (+1.31p per unit)

And gas

Standing charge - 29.61p to 27.47p (-2.14p / day)
Unit price - 6.93p to 7.46p (+0.53p per unit)

So, rough and ready calc

S/c - I should be c£15.26 per year better off

Usage :
Gas based on 2677 units c£14.21 worse off
Electric based on 10845 units c£142.18 worse off

So, overall looking at c£141.13 a year / £11.76 a month worse off

I know I can ring them to discuss or look at moving provider but wondered if anyone else has been / is in the same situation and what you did or are thinking of doing ?

Cheers

 

[200sols]

Slightly off topic but would welcome some thoughts

Had the email yesterday advising I had been moved from Shell to Octopus (Flexible Tariff)

My electric has gone from

Standing charge - 62.2p to 60.2p (-2p / day)
Unit price - 28.26p to 29.57p (+1.31p per unit)

And gas

Standing charge - 29.61p to 27.47p (-2.14p / day)
Unit price - 6.93p to 7.46p (+0.53p per unit)

So, rough and ready calc

S/c - I should be c£15.26 per year better off

Usage :
Gas based on 2677 units c£14.21 worse off
Electric based on 10845 units c£142.18 worse off

So, overall looking at c£141.13 a year / £11.76 a month worse off

I know I can ring them to discuss or look at moving provider but wondered if anyone else has been / is in the same situation and what you did or are thinking of doing ?

Cheers

If you have a smart meter switch to trackers. It'll save you about 40%.

Otherwise unit prices rose in January probably mid switchover for you hence seeing the new prices now.

 

[{SAS}TB]

If you have a smart meter switch to trackers. It'll save you about 40%.

Otherwise unit prices rose in January probably mid switchover for you hence seeing the new prices now.

Thank you

I'm "brand new" to Octopus and, in the main, they seem to be well regarded in terms of price and CS so was a little bit surprised to see and increase due to the swap over - cheers

 

[200sols]

Thank you

I'm "brand new" to Octopus and, in the main, they seem to be well regarded in terms of price and CS so was a little bit surprised to see and increase due to the swap over - cheers

Their standard price is just the same as everyone else really, its the smart tariffs that set them apart.

 

[{SAS}TB]

Their standard price is just the same as everyone else really, its the smart tariffs that set them apart.

Thanks

Just been into my account and tried to register for a tracker but it says I need a smart meter

I do, but looks like the account still needs to recognise and link it (there's a note.in the readings part about may take a few days)

Will check back again next week - cheers