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brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 02:54pm 17 Feb 2010
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Hi, got my second 3 month account ,it works out at a saving of approx $60 for a 1 Kw system . So my outlay of $355 is looking pretty good, 6 billing periods and I'm square, thats 1.5 years .. My far neighbour is hardy ever home ,called me tonight and he said he got his account today ,,$216 in credit over 2 billing periods..
Betcha this sort of thing won't last long-- hahaha. You just wait !!!
BruceBushboy
rgormley Senior Member Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 245
Posted: 08:25pm 17 Feb 2010
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were are you again??? on gross feed in ??
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 09:56pm 17 Feb 2010
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Apparently, even by 2020, it is only expected that 1 in 10 homes will have a grid connected solar system. There will be still plenty of opportunity for the power utilities to make money from the other 90% of households, and of course industry.
You also have to realize that those apparently cheap solar installations to the householder that were on offer were heavily subsidised. The real cost is still there, but someone else has paid the difference between what you pay and the real cost.
Gordon.
become more energy aware
RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 495
Posted: 06:34am 18 Feb 2010
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Read the fine print.
Unless it's changed (and it may well have), these "notional credits" as I call them, are not actually redeamable. They have no real value beyond what you've actually spent. Any "credit" you have left after 12 months is simply "written off", forefit, lost.
AFAIK, the maximum "benefit" you can get is as much power as you've used.
neil0mac Senior Member Joined: 26/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 210
Posted: 10:59am 18 Feb 2010
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True. The 'old' $8,000 rebate is just about history. Applications for them closed last year (prematurely in May?) and those who did get them have till June(?) '10 to get them installed and signed off.'
To my mind, the replacement program is better in that you still get the RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) and energy companies in some states (certainly, NSW) are buying green power at cents per unit (KWH), guaranteed for 5 years.
Initial costs and installation costs could take 2 - 5(?) years to recover.
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 08:14pm 18 Feb 2010
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I think Ross is correct ,,you just get the annual credit ,no money,then it reverts back to zero credit again.. So my friend is having a air-conditioner installed ,when he's home ,about 1 week in 5 , he can use the credits on comfort ..
I think I am on gross feed in and get 52 cents per Kwh.
So a saving of around $60 per 3 month billing period.
BruceBushboy
rgormley Senior Member Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 245
9.13 If the Customer maintains a credit balance in
relation to payments of the Export Energy Credit
and Additional Export Energy Credit on bills
issued under the Sale Agreement:
(a) for four consecutive Billing Periods (if
billed on a quarterly basis); or
(b) for twelve consecutive Billing Periods (if
billed on a monthly basis); or
(c) for more than 365 days,
(whichever occurs last) Origin will reduce the
Customer’s credit balance to zero by paying the
Customer by cheque the credit balance if greater
than the Credit Balance Limit including GST, if
any. If the credit balance in these circumstances
is Credit Balance Limit including GST or less, that
credit balance continues to be applied to
subsequent bills under the Sale Agreement.
in black and white "by paying the customer by cheque"Edited by rgormley 2010-02-20
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 08:57pm 18 Feb 2010
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OK Richard. That may be so ,my friend will probably fit that ,,but he's only home 1 week in 5 .. he's an exception ,
a normal 3-4 member family would have to have heaps of solar and wind to keep in credit for 365 days ,betcha.
Ilda and I use 12Kwh average per day ,nearly impossible to get below that ,we would never get to the credit stage as with 99% of all consumers,,I'd reckon
BruceBushboy
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 11:04pm 18 Feb 2010
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I have a graph, of a low solar day, last week.
We used only 6kWhr in the house, and we only had to buy 1.6kWh.
Even with a few hours cooking with electricity, we only add a few extra kWh. I have a significant credit with my power utility that I have to request a cheque to get reimbursement for.
I have to agree partly with Bruce, in that it was difficult to get the power down below 10kWh/day. If you are not at home, it should not be difficult, but when retired and at home, then it is harder without losing creature comforts.
Gordon.
become more energy aware
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 05:26am 19 Feb 2010
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Frightening itsnt it?
Off grid, would have to save up power to vacuum the floor and rip around like a mad bugger!
2.2KW vacuum cleaner 30mins =1.1KW.
Has taken almost a day to get that out of the mill!!!
That said only took an hour for the other 700W to come in.
heat up a pie in the oven 500W or more!Luck favours the well prepared
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