Everyone wants to stop paying so much for power, right?

Price increases for traditional energy forms continue to reach staggering new heights so customers are spending more and more every year to heat, light and run their homes.

If this sounds like you, you’re no doubt thinking there must be a better way.

There is.

Solar energy can offer significantly reduced power bills for a lifetime, and you can start saving as soon as you install a solar system. And, having more money in your pocket is just one of the advantages of using the sun’s clean, renewable energy to power your home.

Perhaps you’re wondering whether you can afford to add solar to your house or if it will actually have much of an impact. We can help.

In this blog post we give you an overview of one of the most important sections of our new eBook, which uncovers how much you could potentially save by installing solar in your home, and the factors that influence your level of potential savings.

Find out if investing in a solar energy system will pay off for you.

How can solar help my household?

The potential to save money is often the fundamental reason why people add solar, and rightly so. It makes sense to choose a solution that can deliver a reliable power supply to your home, at a reduced price.

Solar meets the majority of power needs for New Zealand homes, but usually not all of them. For this reason, most customers choose a hybrid model that combines conventional power (i.e. “the grid”), and solar power.

This option gives you control, with back-up from the main electricity grid when you need it. In addition to that, if you go for a system with a battery storage option, your solar system will also store excess power that can be used during low daylight times.

A hybrid solar system enables you to maximise your power bill savings as energy generated from your solar panels is used first. Therefore, you only use electricity from the grid when you need it.

How much will I save?

There are set-up costs for installing a solar system, so households that use a lot of power will benefit more initially, as their savings will more quickly pay off the investment cost.

However, solar can be effectively generated and used by any type of household so you can start saving money straight away.

Individual results will vary but our customers regularly save 50% and more off their power bill. And some savvy users have even saved up to 90% over the summer months, by making their home as energy efficient as possible.

What factors will influence my savings?

Several factors can impact how much you save with solar. Learning more about these will help you understand their influence on your solar energy production and determine how quickly your investment will pay off.

• The panels. The size and efficiency of your solar panels plays a big part in the amount of energy they generate. Put simply, the more efficient a solar panel is, the more electricity it will create from sunlight, which means more long-term savings.
• Savings vs cost. It’s also worth considering how much power your household uses and the cost of solar installation. These two factors will have a major impact on how soon you recover the investment cost.
• Battery storage. If you opt for a system with battery storage and generate more solar power than you use, you can sell this back to the grid. So, it’s worth bearing this in mind when doing your calculations.

Switching to solar will save you money — from the first day you install, and for many years to come.

When it comes to how much you’ll save, the answer depends on a range of factors so it’s important to consider these as part of your decision.

If you’re curious to find out more about what factors will affect your potential savings when you add solar to your house, download our new eBook “Is solar the right choice for your home? 10 common questions and answers that will help you decide”.