Solar panels and battery - any real world reccomendations?

katie279 · 11 Oct 2022 at 15:09

Yeah, I don't think there's any risk in the near future of Octopus Go disappearing - indeed, the government is pretty aggressively lobbying to introduce broader off-peak to reduce peak energy use.

You can never say never, but it's a safer bet than putting the money in stocks or pensions for the next 5 or so years!

katie279 · 11 Oct 2022 at 15:12

HungryHippos said:
Bit less potentially you'd only need to cover 20 hours of the day, the 4 hours is battery charge + grid usage for the same 4 hour window.

The biggest risk of going battery only is what has already been mentioned, pretty reliant on Octopus Go existing and not checking you have an EV, if you have one it's less of a risk but the rates can still be adjusted I guess.

Yeah exactly - our usage is about 35-40kwh per day and 20kwh of battery is proving to be plenty so far (obv with solar topping up too)

Ron-ski · 11 Oct 2022 at 15:48

Don't forget Bulb have an EV tariff, but you are not required to have an EV, it specifically states anyone that can load shift could benefit. Not sure what will happen when Octopus takes over though, hopefully they'll adopt the no EV requirement.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 11 Oct 2022 at 17:01

are octopus confirmed at taking bulb?

Troop · 11 Oct 2022 at 17:13

Bulbs EV tariff, not a big difference to GO.

https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360059170212-About-Bulb-s-EV-Tariff

HungryHippos · 11 Oct 2022 at 17:15

Bulb EV I tried to get onto it, but they couldn't read my smart meter, so I went to Octopus in the end.

Not seen much good info about people who have actually managed to get onto it, some users on their forums said unable to join it.

Ron-ski · 11 Oct 2022 at 20:09

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
are octopus confirmed at taking bulb?

Looks like it https://www.theguardian.com/busines...rgy-reportedly-closing-in-on-takeover-of-blub

Freefaller · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:23

I'm currently with Ovo and this is what I'm being charged:

Unit rate: 33.63p per kWh
Standing charge: 40.64p per day

Their SEG rate isn't amazing at 4p per kWh though (though of course you don't have to stick to the same company).

Have to say it seems pretty competitive at the moment?

HungryHippos · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:25

Freefaller said:
I'm currently with Ovo and this is what I'm being charged:

Unit rate: 33.63p per kWh
Standing charge: 40.64p per day

Their SEG rate isn't amazing at 4p per kWh though (though of course you don't have to stick to the same company).

Have to say it seems pretty competitive at the moment?

Octopus Outgoing are doing 15p/kwh if you're not on a tariff like Go.

Freefaller · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:27

HungryHippos said:
Octopus Outgoing are doing 15p/kwh if you're not on a tariff like Go.

Interesting. I can't be on go I don't have an EV. I can't see that tariff on their site though... I doubt switching is wise at the moment.

Hawk Tuah · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:31

I'm on an Octopus Economy 7. Pretty sure anyone with a smart meter could move over. 41p day, 16.6p night rate.

Doing all my EV charging at night now. It's not as cheap as Go, but it lasts for longer - so suits my slower charging EV.

Freefaller · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:32

Bug One said:
I'm on an Octopus Economy 7. Pretty sure anyone with a smart meter could move over. 41p day, 16.6p night rate.

Doing all my EV charging at night now. It's not as cheap as Go, but it lasts for longer - so suits my slower charging EV.

Hmmm ok interesting - perhaps I should give them a call. 16p at night to top up the batteries is appealing.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:35

There was something on the Ev thread yesterday about Octopus not allowing switching etc right now (think they would only allow it to go etc rather than normal schemes) as they are relaunching Go etc due to limitations with the government cap and fixing after 1st Oct
(Go etc are fixed schemes)

They say a week or so and the new "stuff" should be up. Might be worth waiting to see what they do.

Freefaller · 12 Oct 2022 at 10:40

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
There was something on the Ev thread yesterday about Octopus not allowing switching etc right now (think they would only allow it to go etc rather than normal schemes) as they are relaunching Go etc due to limitations with the government cap and fixing after 1st Oct
(Go etc are fixed schemes)

They say a week or so and the new "stuff" should be up. Might be worth waiting to see what they do.

Not in a rush. Ovo don't seem to have an economy 7 tariff for night time annoyingly.

Welshman · 12 Oct 2022 at 13:05

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
There was something on the Ev thread yesterday about Octopus not allowing switching etc right now (think they would only allow it to go etc rather than normal schemes) as they are relaunching Go etc due to limitations with the government cap and fixing after 1st Oct
(Go etc are fixed schemes)

They say a week or so and the new "stuff" should be up. Might be worth waiting to see what they do.

I switched to octopus only last week

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 12 Oct 2022 at 13:10

Welshman said:
I switched to octopus only last week

Congratulations, it was only yesterday that someone said they had stopped anyone going onto go etc.
Probably someone suddenly spotted the 1st Oct thing.

Are you on go (or similar) now or variable?
I was on variable for a month or so but had the link to sign up for go ready to click.
They even say on their website you shouldn't switch but that you can talk to them about your situation.

Hawk Tuah · 12 Oct 2022 at 13:23

Probably more to do with the hectic changes they had to make to all their prices on 1st October than a long term policy. Bet their IT team were working overtime and cursing the Government.

Welshman · 12 Oct 2022 at 13:45

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Congratulations, it was only yesterday that someone said they had stopped anyone going onto go etc.
Probably someone suddenly spotted the 1st Oct thing.

Are you on go (or similar) now or variable?
I was on variable for a month or so but had the link to sign up for go ready to click.
They even say on their website you shouldn't switch but that you can talk to them about your situation.

im on the variable tariff protected by the price cap.......i will be adding octopus outgoing to my portfolio soon at 15p/kwh

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 12 Oct 2022 at 13:50

Bug One said:
Probably more to do with the hectic changes they had to make to all their prices on 1st October than a long term policy. Bet their IT team were working overtime and cursing the Government.

I cant find the announcement so going on what someone said but they said it was due to switches after 1st Oct not counting for the government protection and hence the schemes that Octopus have that people want to move onto, such as Go needed a rework,
Couldn't see anything on their blog about it.
The post was in the EV thread iirc

Ron-ski · 12 Oct 2022 at 15:46

I had email today, from a company I emailed in the spring.

As an example, a typical 5kW PV System would require 12 panels covering an area of 30m2. This would produce 5,717kWh/yr (units of electricity). This would cost in the region of £9,500-14,000. To add a Tesla Powerwall, with 13.5kWh storage it would be an extra £12-13,000. Installing both would give you access to one of the best tariffs on the market with Octopus – The Tesla Energy Plan. (Sign up here for £50 off). If taking advantage of all the above you could expect a payback of 7-9 years, also protecting you from rising energy prices in the future.

Circa £25k :eek:

needless to say I emailed back and said no thanks!

Can't see how they make that 7- 9 years payback.