Reaping the benefits of hip pocket solar savings
February 3, 2012By BEN PISCIONERI
IMAGINE never having to pay a power bill again?
Peter and Rae Knyvett
Sounds like fairy tale stuff doesn’t it? But for Sunraysia couple, Peter and Rae Knyvett, it’s a very real prospect.
Peter and Rae are the first people in Sunraysia to have a fully installed solar system through Mildura Development Corporation’s Solar Hubs Project, which has endorsed and partnered with local supplier, Mildura Solar.
While admitting helping the environment was part of their motivation for investing in solar technology, the bigger drawcard was the impact it could have on their power bills.
“We wanted to eliminate power bills, plus we like the idea of people doing something to help the planet,” Peter said.
“We also like the idea of supporting locals and the MDC have put in countless hours of work to research the best technology and suppliers.
“They’ve done all the ground work, so we just jumped on board.”
Within a week of signing up for the program a technician from Mildura Solar was at their house taking shade readings and inspecting the site.
A week later the Knyvetts were generating their own power.
According to the smart meter installed at their home, which measures power usage and power generated and returned to the national electricity grid, the Knyvetts have generated more power than they’ve used since having the solar system installed on December 5.
The Kynvetts had their smart meter installed on January 3. According to readings taken on Wednesday this week Peter and Rae had used 332 kilowatt hours of electricity since that date.
The meter shows they’ve generated 382 kilowatt hours – a surplus of 50 kilowatt hours.
While the readings were taken at one of the peak periods for solar power generation – the middle of summer – the Kynvetts should be on track for a surplus by the end of the year, even taking into account the drop in power generation over the winter months.
Mr Knyvett said for the first month after installation he was still using the traditional mechanical power meter dial to measure his power usage. He said the dial was literally rotating in reverse due to the surplus power generated.
At present their plight is helped even further by the Victorian Government’s transitional feed-in tariff.
In basic terms the transitional feed in tariff means that residents receive 25 cents for every surplus kilowatt hour they generate, which can increase to 33 cents depending on which power company customers sign up with. The Kynvetts are among those to receive the 33 cent tariff.
Since having their solar system installed on December 5 last year, the Kynvetts have generated more than 1000 kilowatt hours of electricity, meaning they’re well on track to generate the predicted 5500 kilowatt hours of electricity their system is capable of.
Peter and Rae say this would be roughly what they would use in a year.
Their success is a result of research conducted by MDC’s Solar Hubs Project, which worked for six months last year researching the best available suppliers and installers of solar technology, eventually settling on local business, Mildura Solar.
Since the Solar Hubs Project and Mildura Solar joined forces there have been 119 requests for quotes according to Solar Hubs Project officer Tim Brand.
Mr Brand said people interested in the new technology can either purchase a Standard or Premium package, both of which have six different options in terms of power generation and system size.
“Typically what we’re telling people is, set a budget and it will work itself out from there in terms of what you end up,” he said.
Mr Brand said the majority of people who’ve signed up so far have gone with the Premium system, which is better suited to buildings with smaller roofs, though there is interest in both.
MDC chief executive, Anne Mansell, said there has been interest from young people, older people, new home owners, existing home owners and businesses.
“The range of inquiries has been fantastic because it means we’re reaching right across the whole demographic,” Mrs Mansell said.
While getting involved in the project does require an initial investment to buy and install the system, Mr Brand said many systems could pay for themselves in between five to seven years.
“When we state what the pay back period is we assume that electricity prices go up with CPI, but we can’t guarantee how much they’ll go up,” he said.
Prices vary from $3200 up to more than $10,000.
Once customers have a system installed they’ll notice an extra line on their electricity bill, detailing their power generation.
However, many systems, such as the one installed at the Knyvett’s, allow users to monitor hourly, daily, weekly or annual power generation and usage.
So far, 13 systems have been installed in Sunraysia through the partnership between Mildura Region Solar Hubs and Mildura Solar.
For more information about the program contact Tim Brand at Mildura Development Corporation on 5022 0722 or email tim@milduraregion.com.au.
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