this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2023

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Solar panels with Origin? (www.canstarblue.com.au)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by hikarulsi to c/[email protected]

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I am currently doing some research on solar panel and have a good idea of the hardwares and what to balance

Regarding the tariff, looks like the highest is Origin at the time of writing. A catch is to buy their solar hardwares, which also seems to be a decent price

Any experience on origin and other providers? Any catches have you found?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Check to see if your electricity grid provider will change your tariff structure after installing a smart meter, which is required to install solar. Your grid provider charges your electricity supplier who then may or may not pass this on to you. Changes to your tariff could include time of use charges and demand charges.

My own experience after installing solar was a surprise change in the tariff structure and I was no longer able to access the same electricity plans that were available prior to installing solar.

[–] hikarulsi 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yup, i am aware of the plans being different for solar. So, I have noted to ask for pricing structure and any associated cost by switching to solar. Thank you

[–] TheShane 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Also see what your current provider will do.

Central coast here. My partner added solar with All Green Solutions, and I think she is with Ausgrid.

By rolling into a solar package with Ausgrid, she is getting a flat 10c FIT with no limit, unlike what a lot of players offer. Some cap you at 10kw, some step you down after a few kw to a lower FIT.

In summer, we generate 80kw/h on a 10kw system. Most of that goes to credit

[–] hikarulsi 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

80 kw/h looks great, what is the number around winter?

[–] TheShane 2 points 2 years ago

Today was 46.5.

Even on a shitty rainy day, it still pulls 20.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

We looked at origin, decided against it and went with Kik electrics - better product, better price and much, much better service. Well happy

Then there's the fact that if you have to go as far as a whole damned solar install to manipulate your company to the top of the FIT list you can fuck right off.

Check out https://www.solarquotes.com.au/ - don't really cover FIT, but this entire site is basically run by a dude for free who has a massive hardon for solar and hates people getting ripped off

[–] hikarulsi 1 points 2 years ago

I am well aware of solarquotes and their YouTube videos

Isn’t tariff sort of important as it reduce the bills? What are the features for choosing Kik over origin in your case?

[–] RoadkillUgly 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Also check out Powershop. 13c FIT, no cap.

[–] hikarulsi 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wow, looks great max size is still 6.6 right? Any catch?

[–] RoadkillUgly 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I have 13.6 through a 10Kw inverter. They won't let you on if your inverter is bigger than that. Only catch I found is monthly billing by direct debit. Whatever size you think you need...double it.

[–] hikarulsi 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Is it because solar isn't much in our latitude at sydney, or just we tend to become more power hungry overtime?

[–] RoadkillUgly 2 points 2 years ago

I use less power than ever. More about economy of scale, it doesnt cost much more for a much larger system. A larger system creates more of a table top shaped generation curve than a bell curve (if that makes sense?)

So I produce max power longer, better production on cloudy days and when I use power during the day my system ramps up, so I still export my max allowable.

And a larger system helps offset the inevitable power price hike that happens every time you blink.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was a cheapskate and went with Sunboost. The interest free two year payment thinggie was good, and they didn't ark up because I'm self employed. Around $4k for a 5kW inverter, 6.6kW of panels. Currently with Red Energy. Made a battery thinggie using one of these and a few AGM batteries that were kicking about - charge during the day and use at night to run the plasma and HTPC etc.

[–] ircnode 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hi, hope you don't mind me asking. How much is the upfront cost and the monthly payment for the 2 year interest free plan? Do they have in-house financing or 3rd party? (eg Humm) Thanks

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can't remember exactly, it was quite small like a couple hundred dollars. I had to pay a little more as I have a flat roof, but it was marginal. Also my meter box is 20 metres from the house so had to pay to get that upgraded. Most people won't have that problem though.

[–] ircnode 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Cool, thanks! How much is the monthly payment?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Many of the higher FiT will have some form of cap, only applying to the first 10 or 20ish kW/h exported or maximum inverter capacity, so take that into account. Unless you can self-consume almost all of your generation those plans may not work out too well despite the high advertised FiT. I installed a 10kW system and have reached over 70 kW/h daily export in summer so you can see how the actual average FiT can end up much lower.

I found Powershop to be a pretty good option (was 13c, now 12c FiT, max 10kW inverter capacity but no export cap as far as I can tell), but you do need to run the numbers on the import rates vs your consumption habits to see if it's worthwhile.

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