The great solar ripoff

OzzyOzbourne on 24/04/2015 - 10:05
Last edited 24/04/2015 - 10:11

I recently had a solar system installed, which I'm very please with. However the Electricity supplier fee is a complete ripoff.

To convert the smart meter to allow me to receive the feed in tariff costs around $300. $260 of which is a "compliance fee" payable irrespective of whether you wish to receive the feed in tariff or not.

With the 6c/kWh feed in tariff, it would require me to feed in $300/$0.06= 5000kWh of electricity.

Assuming I generate on average 8kwh/day (winter and summer), it would take 625 days of feeding ALL my energy into the grid to recoup this fee.

My solar system was preapproved by the supplier, it has been installed by a qualified electrician approved by the clean energy council and inspected and approved by an independent electrician. All the forms completed and sent off to my retailer and supplier.

Now they want another $260 for a further inspection!

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • burningrage on 24/04/2015 - 14:14

    Massive edit. Managed to read the original post.

    This is now sounds like venting….

    For your benefit, try AGL for your feedin tariff. I got 26c from them even though I am new customer. However, I live in SP Ausnet area.

  • Lancerx on 24/04/2015 - 14:56
    +1

    Solar panels are total waste of money unless you're prepared to live in your house for next 30 years. Without the significant gov rebate & good feed in tariff like years before, you'll need ages to even break even…plus you probably need to switch everything off at night, and try to maximize electricity use during the day..

    • trex on 24/04/2015 - 15:04

      Totally agree with you. Solar panels currently have only an efficiency of around 30%. This technology still has some way to go before it is worthwhile to invest in it.

    • shadowarrior on 24/04/2015 - 15:56

      I have my air cons on through the day for the server and computer room. Plus all my aircons can be controlled remotely via my mobile. All my dishwasher/washing machine/dryer are timed to run through the day. If its cloudy, I can remotely turn off power. My hot water system is through solar as well and get the occasional boost from the grid. And then there's the weekend days. Am quite enjoying the solar power. Ofcourse the only way to capitalize is to change the way you use it, its not about feed-in tariffs anymore.

      Soon, hopefully Tesla brings up with that cheap solar storage cells.

    • Lysander on 24/04/2015 - 15:57

      Check this out:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficiency

      As of Sep 2013 best rate achievable was 44.7% using multiple junction cells at high solar concentrations. The institutes who tested it are independent and reputable.

      Australia has high solar concentrations but unfortunately you will not achieve that efficiency rate with the solar cells sold here which are often from China and don't have that efficiency rating.

      If you want higher efficiency rating you need to pay more.

      Making solar cells pay requires patience. Good cells can last decades and you will easily make your money back (assuming prince increase in electricity in the next twenty years).

      This is not a "get rich quick" scheme unfortunately.

      Also:

      http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/02/which-solar-panels-most-…

      http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/02/which-solar-panels-most-…

    • jzx100 on 24/04/2015 - 15:59
      -5

      An inverter will last 5-8 years and the panels will last less than 20 years. So, even before the 30 years is up, you will need to replace these again.

      Add to that that the inverter emits radiation and the panels have cancerogenic material in them.

      • Lancerx on 24/04/2015 - 16:16
        +1

        just about to add that..another couple hundred on top when out of warranty, and you'll never ever get it back anymore…

        Wonder how they trick so many people into prepaying their electricity bills years in advance..it's amazing how some people's brain work…

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 25/04/2015 - 13:04
        +4

        "… the inverter emits radiation and the panels have cancerogenic material in them."

        Sweet Jesus, save yer hippy scare-mongering for the slack-jawed luddites on the commune will ya'? Just about everything electrical 'emits radiation', and 'cancerogenic' isn't even a word. Assuming that you meant 'carcinogenic', thousands of every-day products contain carcinogens. Unless you're planning to EAT or INHALE your solar panels, what's the problem?

  • IrishPete on 25/04/2015 - 07:48
    +4

    You misunderstand the economics of solar electricity.

    Yes, the export tariff is derisory, and you can blame your state government for that.

    But you will save money far more quickly because when your panels are generating, you will be using that "free" electricity, rather than 30c or so per kwh that the retailer is charging you.

    Payback periods of just a few years are normal. If you compare that with term deposit interest rates, or even share market returns, that's pretty good.

    Adjusting your electricity use to daytime, by putting on timers things like dishwashers, washing machines and even electric hot water (I have my heat pump hot water system on a timer so it only runs during daylight hours - this increases its efficiency too, because the ambient air temperature is higher), further increases your savings.

    Of course like any capital investment, you should be setting aside some of the savings to cover replacement costs (i.e. depreciating the system). But not many people do that.

    • rodericb on 29/04/2015 - 17:52

      +1. It is not about selling what you produce during the day but generating what you need so you don't have to buy it.

      • Lancerx on 29/04/2015 - 17:55
        +1

        Yes, but still how many people running run most things during the day where most adults goes to work & kids in school? Most of the household electricity is used during the night anyway..

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