edmundp Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Hi All, Just a quick poll: Who here is actually feeding back to grid (via old style wheel meters) to the grid without Muni approval? Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Now that's a good question Ed... I also have the lovely wheel meters... mmm M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdiy Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Are you really expecting honest answers? Maybe you should rather ask who has inverters capable of feeding back and who has rotary disk meters? Chris Hobson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmundp Posted February 9, 2016 Author Share Posted February 9, 2016 Actually I do. I think most are anonymous on here? Do not expect any detail - just considering moving to this, but do not want to sign up for crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 And what if someone is a spy here? Edmund, what I have heard via the grapevine is that there could possibly be maybe one or two people, allegedly, and by pure accident, be feeding some sort or form of grid, using so called 'the correct meters', not the pay as you go ones. City of Cape Town is aware of this alleged action, and if thye catch these so called feeders, can act but predominantly they only really ger bothered when you allegedly suddenly have a magically zero electricity bill. But as long as you still have an allegedly acceptable account to pay, they are allegedly not that bothered ... yet. The day they do decide to act, they will allegedly install a new bidirectional meter, at your cost, and allegedly put you on the new scheme, at which time you go bossies and gooi daai panele boet, laat loop, then you are mos allegedly legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 most of the folk that install hybrids ask if they can, and i know of installers that just show the client in the settings.....tick here untick there... and its wheelin time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 most of the folk that install hybrids ask if they can, and i know of installers that just show the client in the settings.....tick here untick there... and its wheelin time Mike, you must mean clients allegedly asking some alleged question and installers who allegedly point out some alleged fictitious features that is nice to have one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Someone I know does this. His monthly bill in summer is like R5. He has to burn a lot of extra power to stay in the positive however. Hasn't had any issues. I think in winter he uses more power than he produces however. He has indicated to me that he doesn't want to register as a home that feeds back into the grid because it has an upfront charge of something like R15 a day or some such. I live in an apartment (not top floor), so sadly can't do the panel thing, else I would have by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Mike, you must mean clients allegedly asking some alleged question and installers who allegedly point out some alleged fictitious features that is nice to have one day. could not have put it more eloquently. with legal net metering if you are not paying the R400 per month, you are only getting up to and equal to what you purchase from them. with wheeling... lets say someones bill is r3000 per month and if he / she watches the usage, it would drop to R400 - R500 with a 3kw system........so one wonders why so many folk might consider doing it, i would have if i was not such a fool and went the legal route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmundp Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 could not have put it more eloquently. with legal net metering if you are not paying the R400 per month, you are only getting up to and equal to what you purchase from them. with wheeling... lets say someones bill is r3000 per month and if he / she watches the usage, it would drop to R400 - R500 with a 3kw system........so one wonders why so many folk might consider doing it, i would have if i was not such a fool and went the legal route. Agreed on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Eskom "fees" before usage on the farm are 2/3 of my Bill.. Difficult to feed back and save money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Hi Mark Take out a loan and go offgrid. You are a prime candidate. Eskom fees are 2/3 of a panel/month. Are your tenants likely to be long term? If they are prepared to be just a little disciplined in their usage it would be easy. You could reduce their rent a little to offset the inconvenience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 A loan - exploring that at the mo... money is tight though... BUT I totally agree and just need to convince "vroutjie" I think there is a huge gap for solar finance organisations or installers offering bridging finance... (hint: Mike - Free holiday accommodation on an Eastern Cape Farm before during and after an install, 25 mins from the sea) For example: January 2016 At this stage I would even consider good 2nd hand equipment to get this off the ground... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 A loan - exploring that at the mo... money is tight though... BUT I totally agree and just need to convince "vroutjie" I think there is a huge gap for solar finance organisations or installers offering bridging finance... (hint: Mike - Free holiday accommodation on an Eastern Cape Farm before during and after an install, 25 mins from the sea) For example: January 2016 At this stage I would even consider good 2nd hand equipment to get this off the ground... Hmmm, well now, seeing that i come from the Eastern Cape, born in East London, grew up outside Alice, i know the area...bridging finance for what period of time with what collateral and interest rate??? just maybe if i could i would Mark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Loans: https://greenfin.co.za/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmundp Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Loans: https://greenfin.co.za/ Have you seen the interest rate those guys charge? Crazy man. Crazy. Better to go to a loan shark.... The whole industry would benefit if someone could offer such finance on personal loan type conditions, but these guys are ridiculous. Sorry - my view.... Chris Hobson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 With you Edmund, for I also have laughed at those interest rates. My CC is cheaper than they are. But, as always, just putting it out there as a start, to trigger someone to post a better idea. One thing I am seriously looking at, to be able to expand, are micro inverters. One panel at a time, then the next one, done cash versus wham bam, thank you bank, I am now lekker in debt with you. For yes, the savings offset the expense and bla bla bla, but doing it cash, is always better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Loans: https://greenfin.co.za/ Do you have personal experience or recommendations... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmundp Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 When I started I actually queried them. The just added it to the current bond... MUCH cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hobson Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Absa was offering a discounted rate and I know Nedbank want to get into renewable financing. I just went the whole hog. Messed with my cash flow but I am so over bank loan forms and dealing with idiots. I wonder if Wesbank would be willing to finance solar. They finance agricultural machinery so maybe they would be be prepared to finance solar. edmundp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmundp Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 With you Edmund, for I also have laughed at those interest rates. My CC is cheaper than they are. But, as always, just putting it out there as a start, to trigger someone to post a better idea. One thing I am seriously looking at, to be able to expand, are micro inverters. One panel at a time, then the next one, done cash versus wham bam, thank you bank, I am now lekker in debt with you. For yes, the savings offset the expense and bla bla bla, but doing it cash, is always better. Yip. Cash is king. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Do you have personal experience or recommendations... Nope, just saw their add appearing on some suppliers websites, did a quick calc, and left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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