If the answer is yes, the next question is – are you making the most of them?

As we write it’s March and yesterday we made 7kWh from our smallish solar system. The more solar power we can use in real time the cheaper it is – when we sell electricity to the grid we get just a few pence per kWh, but we buy it back for considerably more (as much as five times more). Here are a few examples of how you can use your own generated electricity:

Avoid the grid using your self-generated electricity:

• Put the washing machine, kettle etc on when the sun is out
• Monitor electricity production and use using a smart meter in home display or your solar app to get a feel for how much energy is being made and what you can do with it
• If you need to replace your kettle buy a ‘low energy’ one, which is slower but doesn’t spike above what you’re generating
• Often bigger appliances have an eco setting, which takes longer but has a lower energy draw
• Use only one appliance at a time when the sun is out – if you use more your demand may be more than the solar is providing, so you will be buying the remainder from the grid

Warming your house – if your house is cool make the most of opening blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house, in order to take advantage of the free ’solar gain’ heat

Heating your water – if you have a hot water cylinder you can fit a ‘solar divert’ which is programmed to read when there is excess solar, and uses the immersion element in the tank to heat your water – this is more affordable than batteries https://www.myenergi.com/product/eddi/

Storing heat – it is now possible to use excess solar energy to charge (eg Elnur storage heaters)
Use of a battery can help in 2 ways:

• When demand exceeds the generation from the panels the battery can supplement the panels and avoid use of the grid
• Providing electricity during the evening and night (when the panels are not generating)

Charging an electric car. Some car chargers are designed to use the solar energy as it is being produced

Check your export tariff:

• Some companies offer better export rates
• If you have both solar panels and battery there are tariffs which allow you to sell energy stored in the battery at peak periods, and other tariffs where charging you battery at off peak times in the winter can supplement solar production which will be much lower at that time of year

Useful links:

• Diverts, batteries and car chargers My Energi are a good starting point for researching products because they have a range of products which all integrate well (there are of course a mass of equivalent products now available) https://www.myenergi.com
• Solar compatible storage heaters – https://www.elnur.co.uk/product/solar-high-heat-retention-storage-heater/
• A solar divert monitors for excess production and diverts the surplus, in this case to the hot water cylinder.

To Summarise: Use it…Store it…Sell it.
In that order

If you would like FREE advice on lowering your energy bills or energy use at home, please do get in touch with Anna and Tom at Warm Connections:
Phone: 07759 404980 Email: advice@advicewarmconnections.net


Shop Around – we may find a cheaper price for our fuel, whether we’re on or off the main gas grid.

Mains Gas and Electric – getting both from one supplier normally has a discount, as does receiving bills online. Use a ‘comparison’ site to check tariffs (even better if you can use actual kWh figures from your previous bills).

Fixed Tariffs and Variable Tariffs – fixed options often have a leaving fee, and are based on predictions about the international energy prices. Ofgem release price changes four times a year and energy companies often release new rates shortly after. The next change was announced on February 25th and begins on the April 1st.

Smart Tariffs – smart meters have made possible an increasing number of tariffs where electricity cost varies at different points of the day and night, eg EV, heat pump and tariffs for maximizing the benefits of home batteries and solar panels.

Oil and LPG – the price of oil and gas varies through the year because of demand – keep an eye on variations. Winter prices are higher, so be sure to top up during the cheaper periods; if you have to replace your tank consider the storage size, which may allow you to buy less in expensive periods.

Oil & LPG Clubs – bring the price of your fuel down, by negotiating discounts for bulk orders to a community and reducing delivery costs and, very importantly, they cut Co2 emissions as there are fewer delivery lorries on the road. For example, a village (or area) club with 100 members can save 200+ heavy duty vehicle trips a year through your village, by grouping together rather than ordering individually. Each tanker uses over 50 litres of diesel to travel 75 miles, so this is a big reduction on the wear and tear to our village lanes and roads, and to the pollution to our environment. All the following communities already have oil clubs through https://www.oil-club.co.uk/about/ *Kinloch Rannoch, *Ardeonaig, *Killin, *Killicrankie, *Strath Tummel, *Dull, *Fortingall, *Grandtully, *Aberfeldy.

Remember, our advice is completely free and there is no catch. Please get in touch with Anna and Tom: 07759 404980, advice@warmconnections.net

“I know bills are due to rise, but how can I be sure I am paying the right amount”?
“My energy company wants me to increase my direct debit – how much is the right amount”?
“My energy company went bust – I have finally got a bill from my new provider and it’s loads higher than before. How do I know it’s right”?

Here are a few things you can do:

• Check your meter readings for gas and electric, and see if the readings match your bill. Take a meter reading(s) and check your bill. Your current reading should be higher than the reading on your bill. If the bill says it is using an estimated meter reading it is most likely to be inaccurate; if there is a difference, submit your new reading to your energy company
• Check the recommended payment – is this similar to the amount you normally use? Winter is mostly over and we will be turning our heating down or off, so our energy use is likely to be dropping. In summer we use less energy so you may be able to reduce your payments, but people often choose to pay a little extra so that they have some credit ready for the winter.
• Ask for help – if you would like help to read the meter(s) or making sense of your bill, contact us

If your payments appear accurate but are still too much to afford:

• First contact your energy provider – they may be able to help
• There may be financial support available – please get in touch with us at Warm Connections, CAP (Christians Against Poverty) or the Citizens’ Advice Bureau for advice
• Reduce your energy use. There are lots of small changes which can help reduce energy use or make your house more efficient. You have probably done or are doing some of them, but perhaps we can help.

If you can get by through the summer but are worried about next winter:

• There are lots of preparations we can make through the summer to help us use less energy next winter, eg:
• Draught proofing
• Thermal curtains – improving your current ones or finding curtains with a thermal lining
• Accessing a grant to improve your boiler
• Making door draught excluders
• Practicing energy saving ideas around the house so that by winter they have become habit for you (and the kids)