Your guide to maximise savings with solar this summer

As summer approaches in New Zealand, the sun graces us with longer days and brighter skies. There's no better time to harness this free energy and turn it into significant savings on your power bills. This guide will show you how to make the most of solar energy this summer, helping you slash your power bill and save the planet.

Why summer is the perfect time for solar

Summer isn't just about beach days and barbecues - it's a golden opportunity to tap into solar power. Here's why:

• More sun: More sunshine over longer days means your solar panels have more time to generate electricity.
• More sun means more solar energy: Solar systems operate at maximum efficiency during sunny months, increasing your energy output.
• This means even more savings than winter months!: With increased solar generation, you rely less on the grid, producing even more of your own FREE power: drastically reducing your power bills.
• With so much sun, you’ll make more solar energy than you need and can sell it back to the grid for $$$

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Choosing the right solar system for maximum savings

Selecting the ideal solar system is crucial. Let's break down the options with three example systems:

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Small to average-sized households (small sized solar system)

An 8-panel solar system is ideal if you have a moderate energy consumption:

• You could generate up to  $1,330 a year! You'll generate a large portion of this during the summer months.
• Cost-effective: This sized system offers a balance between a lower initial investment and long-term savings.
• ‍Make money when you sell back to the grid with Harrisons Exclusive Buy-Back Rate: Get paid 18c per kWh for your extra solar generation.

Medium sized households (medium sized solar system)

A 12-panel solar system is ideal if you have higher energy needs.

• You could generate up to $1,997 a year! You'll generate a large portion of this during the summer months.
• Covers more of your energy needs: This sized system will cover more of your household's energy requirements.
• Exclusive Buy-Back Rate: Get paid 18c per kWh for your extra solar generation.  

Larger households with a pool or spa (large sized solar system)

A 20-panel solar system is ideal for if you have significant energy consumption, especially homes with a swimming pool or a spa.rge households or those with significant energy consumption, especially homes with a swimming pool.

• You could generate up to $3,328 a year! You'll generate a large portion of this during the summer months.
• Maximum savings: While the initial cost is higher, the long-term savings are substantial.
• Exclusive Buy-Back Rate: Get paid 18c per kWh for your extra solar generation.‍

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Add a battery and save even more money!

Buying electricity from the grid can cost you about 33 cents per kWh , and while selling excess solar energy back to the grid earns you 18c per kWh there's an even smarter option: store your free solar power and use it whenever you need it with a home battery.

Summer is the best time to use your solar panels since they produce the most electricity. Instead of sending extra energy back to the grid for less, store it in a battery and use it in the evenings or on cloudy days when your panels aren’t producing much.

• Use more of the power you make during the day by storing it in a battery for use at night time: Reducing your reliance on the grid even further.
• Supercharge your savings by using stored energy: The potential savings are significantly higher compared to non-battery systems.
• 24/7 Power Back Up: Provides backup power during grid outages, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, keep your phone charged and no more puddles under the fridge
• Home batteries are now more affordable than ever: The new Tesla Powerwall 3 13.5kWh battery comes with a built-in inverter (up to 10kW). This now makes it much more affordable; the price is similar to a budget battery system.

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Summer is amazing for solar, but let’s look at your savings for the whole year

Use the sunny season to invest in solar power and enjoy massive long-term financial savings.

• Quick payback period: Most solar systems pay for themselves in a few years.
• Long-term savings: Over a 25-year lifespan, a solar system can potentially save you $50,129 (based on a typical 3.7kW solar power system that has 10 AIKO solar panels and a Fronius inverter).
• Increase home value: Adding solar to your home increases the value by potentially 4.4% or $35,000+. We teamed up with homes.co.nz to analyse thousands of homes installed with Harrisons Solar. On average, Harrisons Solar increased the home’s selling price by 4.4% or $35K.

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Tips to help maximise your solar savings this summer

• Make sure your panels face north and aren't shaded
• Run your appliances when the sun is shining to use solar power directly
• Use apps to check how your solar system is working and fix any issues early
• Keep your panels clean so they work their best

Small habits can lead to big savings over time.

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So how do I maximise my solar savings, get great finance deals, and reduce my power bills this summer?

Contact the Harrisons Solar team today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation to take the first step in slashing your power bill and embracing sustainable energy!

We won’t be beaten on price - we’re offering high-quality solar system packages so you can start saving immediately.

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Let's hear from some real kiwis who have installed solar panels and are maximising their savings!

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Mihir Mistry - Auckland:
“Nerum Bonesetter, We are really pleased with your honest recommendations.

Before solar power system: Contact Energy bill was $ 300 to 380 in winter and $ 280 to 240 in summer. Fixed charge $ 61 and kwh charge of 18 cents

After Solar power system: Winter bill is down to about $ 100. Summers come to about $ 20 and sometimes even Zero. Genesis energy night 15 cents per kwh Day 31 cents per kwh Export credit 12 cents per kwh Low EV  Daily fixed charge of 60 cents or $ 18 per month.

Hi Nerum, it has been about 10 months since you installed the 11 panel Fronius solar system at our place. We are seeing a marked difference in our energy costs. Before we used to pay about $ 3000 per year for energy and now I estimate our cost to come under a $ 1000 (mostly because of the fixed line charges).

As per Fronius solar app: My peak production was more than 800 kwh in January with consumption coming in at 184 kwh for the month. In May the production was down to 453 kwh and consumption at 166 kwh. So I am producing 3 times as much as I need in winter and more than 4 times in summer.

Also since I also bought a electric vehicle, I am saving about $ 100 on petrol per week or about $ 5000 for the year. I have to travel 70 km a day to work from west Auckland to Manukau - about 5 times a week. I usually end up running 25000 km on the clock every year. These are approximate figures as per my knowledge.

So I believe by September, when I complete 1 year of solar system install, I would have saved $ 7000 ($ 2000 on power and $ 5000 on petrol). Off course, had it not been for the newly introduced RUC charges, which should come to about $ 1750 a year for 25000 km, I would have paid off my solar power system in 2 years. It should take a few extra months now.

But anyway, just updating you on the performance and economics of owning a solar power system. Thanks for persuading me into taking this decision.”

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Mike Dickens - Wellington:
“Daryl was able to talk us through our questions and expectations.  His choice to use a regular install crew that he could trust and rely on is a good call, rather than just random hired hands.  

The battery really is the game changer enabling power to be used later in the day, coupled with maximising Contact's free power 9.00 - midnight, meaning in summer very little paid for power used, whilst being paid for export.

In fact in summer, in the evening I was able to charge 2 electric cars at the same time as sending power back to the grid!  

In winter, obviously not generating as much, but still about half of what it would have been - that's with 2 heat pumps, 2 electric cars (and no pertol bills), 1 spa as well as the water heating and other uses.

The battery came into it's own yesterday during a planned power outage, where using the app on the phone we could ensure we had 100% stored when the power went out.  The house functioned normally until the power was restored.  The connection to 'stormwatch', also meant the battery started charging automatically recently when potential outages due to a very cold snap, meant we also would have been okay, had we lost power.

The resilience to weather and seismic events along with the savings by self generating, in an environment where I can only see power prices increasing - not least by the recent government decision to cancel a hydro dam (reducing supply) - will mean the system will come into it's own and potentially pack back sooner.”