Map of Powercor network distribution area
For anyone thinking about installing solar panels in the Powercor network distribution area, there’s a fact you need to know – because it could mean even bigger savings from solar!
The fact is that Powercor does not set an upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, up to 30kW. This applies to both single-phase and three-phase properties.
In contrast, most other network distributors set a strict upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, typically 10kW for single-phase properties.
So, in the Powercor area you have the massive advantage of being able to install lots more solar panels than people in other parts of Australia. That means you have far greater potential to save on your electricity bills – and more scope to make the switch to all-electric (ditching the gas which is becoming exorbitantly expensive) and charging up an electric vehicle (or two!) from home!
There is just one (tiny) fly in the ointment – and that is the 5kW export limit that Powercor sets for single-phase properties.
In this blog we’ll demonstrate that the export limit is nothing to worry about. The bill savings you could achieve with a bigger solar system are far greater than the small amount you’d get paid for your surplus solar (although talk to us if you want a better deal on your feed-in tariff).
On this blog:
What’s the advantage of having a bigger solar panel system?
It’s a truism about solar panels that virtually no-one complains about getting a system that’s too small. Instead, most people complain they didn’t go big enough!
Now, with electricity prices set to rise from July 1 – and gas prices rocketing through the roof – the best way to protect your household from escalating power bills is to install solar.
“The outlook is the average household electricity bill could be increasing in the order of 20 per cent this year and 20 per cent again next year unless we can see a change in the cost of electricity,” according to energy researcher Dale Koenders at investment bank Barrenjoey.
Given that most industry experts are predicting an energy crisis in Australia with surging power bills on the horizon, getting more solar – rather than less – makes sense.
If you live in one of the many Victorian homes with a gas supply, you may want to start thinking about slowly transitioning off gas and making the switch to all-electric appliances. By installing a 10kW or even 13kW+ solar power system you’ll have the necessary solar generation infrastructure in place to provide the power that your home requires in coming years.
And if the idea of an electric car appeals, then you’ll need to boost your solar array by around 4 to 5kW to provide free charging from home.
It’s easy to see how a bigger solar system could work for most homes. The question is how much more could you save? And is it worth the cost?
Let’s start with the first question…
How much could I save with a 13.2kW system vs a 6.6kW system
With a 13.2kW solar panel system you can save up to $4,700 off your annual electricity bill, depending on what percentage of your solar electricity you use in your home.
In contrast with a 6.6kW solar system, you can save up to $2,624.
Electricity bill savings with a 6.6kW and 13.2kW solar panel system (estimated, annual)
| Bill savings | 6.6kW | 13.2kW |
| 50% self-consumption
(export limited to 5kW) |
$1,400 | $2,624 |
| 100% self-consumption (export limited to 5kW) | $2,340 | $4,700 |
The upper figures in both cases assume you use 100 per cent of the electricity from your solar panels in your home. Without a battery this is unlikely, but it gives you an idea of the maximum solar savings you could achieve with each size system.
More achievable are the lower savings figures – i.e., $1,400 for the 6.6kW system and $2,624 for the 13.2kW system. These assume that you use 50 per cent of your solar power in your home, with the remainder (capped at 5kW export) sent to the grid in return for the Victorian standard minimum feed-in tariff which is 5.2 cents per kilowatt hour from July 1 (yes, it’s dropping again!).
These figures also assume that you are paying the average electricity usage rate in Australia which is 27 cents per kilowatt hour. If this rate increases by 20 per cent in the coming year as the industry experts predict, your bill savings with solar will be even higher. (That’s because you’re saving by avoiding having to purchase expensive electricity from the grid).
As a side note: If you’d like a much better rate for your feed-in – 10.4 cents per kilowatt hour – get in touch as we’ve partnered with an electricity retailer who is pro-solar and believes solar households should get a fair deal!
What does a 13.2kW system cost and is it worth it?
You may be thinking this sounds promising. But what about the extra cost of doubling the size solar system from 6.6kW to 13.2kW?
The cost of a 13.2kW solar panel system from SolarRun in the Powercor area is approximately $12,500 before the state government solar rebate.
If you deduct the Solar Vic rebate of $1,400 and take advantage of one of our interest-free loans, the out of pocket cost is around $900.
With electricity bill savings of around $2,600 a year, you should be ahead from day 1. And you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that power price hikes are going to have very little impact on your household budget!
Find out how much you could save
If you’d like to know how much you could save by going bigger with your solar, get in touch. We will model your electricity bill savings using your electricity tariff rates and your usage. That way you get an accurate projection of your electricity savings with solar.
Avoid the power price hikes. Get in touch and take back control of your energy bills.
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