Solar panels can save you money by reducing the amount of electricity you need from the grid. Plus, you can sell surplus electricity to the grid, offsetting your electricity costs further. However, the right electricity plan is key to maximising your savings. This article covers what you need to know about selecting an electricity plan for solar panels. Plus, it includes a live ranking of the best electricity tariffs in Ireland for homeowners with solar.
⚡️ How solar panels impact your electricity usage
Solar panels affect your electricity usage in 2 main ways.
First, they reduce your daytime electricity imports (especially during the summer). Second, they mean that you’ll sometimes have surplus electricity that you can sell to the grid.
✅ What makes a good electricity tariff for solar panels?
With solar panels, you’ll be buying much less daytime electricity. So a bigger share of your imports will be at night. For this reason, a day/night tariff or EV tariff is usually a good choice for homes with solar.
Solar panels owners also need to consider export payments. The bigger your solar panel system, the more surplus electricity you’ll have to export. So pay particular attention to the export rate if you have lots of panels.
🏅 Live Rankings of Tariffs for solar panels in Ireland
Based on a 5kW solar panel system size. Results include Urban tariffs for all meter types. Customise your price comparison.
⚠️ One size does NOT fit all
Every household has a unique electricity use profile. And with smart meters, the exact usage profile makes a huge difference. So run a 60-second Custom Electricity Price Comparison to find the best tariff for you and save €300-€600 extra per year.
Warning: DON’T do this if you like overpaying for electricity!
💸 How solar owners can save extra with an EV tariff
Conventional wisdom says you should schedule electricity loads for midday, when you have the most solar energy available. There are even devices (“power diverters”) built specifically to divert surplus solar electricity to your immersion (e.g. MyEnergi Eddi). However, this isn’t currently the most economical option in Ireland.
Instead, it’s generally better to use an EV tariff (approx 7c per unit) for flexible loads. You can then export the surplus daytime solar energy to earn up to 25c per unit.
Other considerations about solar panel tariffs
To get paid for your exports, your solar panel system needs to be registered with ESB Networks. To register, your electrician should submit an “NC6” form when your panels are being installed. No NC6? No export payments!
You should also know that income tax can apply to solar export earnings. However, there’s an exemption for the first €400 of earnings per year. This can be doubled to €800 per year if there are two names on the electricity bill.
Many Irish solar panel owners have managed to completely eliminate their electricity bills with the help of this technique.
📰 Articles in This Series
Best electricity tariffs for heat pumps
Best electricity tariffs for home batteries
Best electricity tariffs for storage heaters
Best electricity tariffs for EVs
Best electricity tariffs for solar panels