In one paragraph
Electricity from your panels powers the property first. Anything left over goes to the grid. Under simplified compensation, your retailer credits that surplus against the energy you buy, up to the value of that energy each billing period. The biggest saving comes from using your solar directly.
Direct use
Every kWh your property uses while the panels produce is a kWh you do not buy. That is worth the full retail price, including taxes. This is why we design around daytime use.
Exported surplus
Surplus is credited at a lower price than you pay for imported electricity. Compensation can reduce the energy part of your bill, but not fixed charges like the power term. It does not normally pay out cash.
Virtual batteries
Some retailers bank surplus value as credit to use later. See physical vs virtual batteries.
Collective self-consumption
Several consumers, such as owners in an apartment building, can share one installation, with energy split by agreed percentages. See apartments and communities.
What to do with your tariff
After installation, your tariff matters. A plan with a good compensation price and sensible time-of-use periods makes a difference. We give you pointers when the system is registered.
Questions we are often asked
Do I get paid for exported energy?
Usually it is credited against your bill rather than paid in cash.
Can my bill go to zero?
The energy part can drop sharply, but fixed charges such as the power term and meter rental remain.