Price cap

[IT Minion]

Most people don't have space for a 6kw system. The average is still a 4kw system because that's what will fit on the majority of solar suitable roofs. Energy Saving Trust has average cost of a 4kw system between 6k and £7k with a payback period of 20+ years. You will get a better payback if you are home during the day - or part of the day. In the 20 years you'll save about £200-£300 per year, but that doesn't account for what you might do with the money otherwise. Battery technology will change things for solar. When we are able to store energy efficiently and use it later - when it's needed - the figures change.

PS, not so long ago the weak link in the system was the inverter, which was an expensive item and typically lasted 4 or 5 years. These days, for a bit more money, you can get a 25 year warranty. I wonder how many people pay the extra though?

The 4kW was all about DNO permission, you need approval to go over 16A export. That's still true now, doing a G99 application is more paperwork than a G98 and some companies can't be bothered with either the paperwork or explaining it to users.

If you are getting quotes for 6-7k for a 4kW system then the numbers will never work out for you with sane electricity prices. Either you need better quotes or your property is too awkward for Solar to make sense.

Lots of small roofs, shading, awkward access, dodgy roof structure can all make it impractical to get Solar. But if you've got a nice South facing roof, or better yet East and West facing roofs then it's worth looking into.

 

[Deleted member 18243]

Not too sure why you think I can find that sort of money. It's hard,but we are just about managing at the moment.

What will you do when you can no longer manage? Gas prices are only going upward.

 

[ajohn]

The price cap should be the maximum they can charge, instead they take it as the price we pay, regardless of profits.
In practice, there's no more competition on the market, they all charge the maximum price they can.
Bandits!

The price cap is set to allow the "distributors" who sell the services to make a profit, They have to pay the going rate for what they distribute. If they can't charge enough they go bust as some have, So the cap is increased to suite.

It's the producers that are making high profits - oil and gas but prices at the fuel pump do seem to have dropped a little of late. Will gas - many think it will get even more expensive over the next say 12 month. Gas is also used to produce electricity.

It seems there is no cap for business users so they can be charged ?????? amounts. I've no idea. Bills get mentioned but not the amount of usage.

 

[Justin Passing]

Looks like it's going to be tighter:

National Grid warns of three-year energy crisis as emergency effort launched to cut factory power use

Plans drawn up to pay industrial companies to shut down for next three winters

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[ajohn]

Looks like it's going to be tighter:

National Grid warns of three-year energy crisis as emergency effort launched to cut factory power use

Plans drawn up to pay industrial companies to shut down for next three winters

www.telegraph.co.uk

It sounds more like a preparation for if really - plans need to be put in place. Not looked much but from odd comments there may be a choice - black outs or cutting down gas usage. 2 industries mentioned as an example, steel and glass. There will be others so would guess it depends on usage. A cold winter would make problems more likely. We all know what sod does now and again with it's wonderful law.

Some info is coming out about the areas making high profits from the situation and investment. They say oh more will go into green in 20xx etc not now. On the other hand more UK gas could be a great help. In neither case does there seem to be any rush to get things going?

 

[IT Minion]

The black out exercises are preparation for the event that we can't get enough gas, no matter how much we pay.

 

[transam]

Apparently ?

Any one on a district heating scheme for example a block of flats
Where they share a gas boiler

Do not get a price cap ? They are considered commercial

 

[Justin Passing]

Get a Santander 123 account and you get 4% off fuel payments.
Pay the Santander bill with the right card you get another 1% or so.

Wow, if I hadn't got a fixed price contract I could have saved so much more........

 

[Vinty]

Boris is telling the world that Brits are prepared to freeze for Ukraine.