Reviews From Solar Power System Owners

Graham, Dunedin, Otago

Review Date: 16/10/2024

Size: 6kW with 16 solar panels

Running for: 5 weeks

Expected return on investment: Unsure

Expected pay back period: 8 years

Comments on the installation: "Installers very professional, courteous and hardworking."

Comments on the system performance: "Really impressed by performance so far. Forecast cost was $210 for month (August/ September) and cost was $136. Solar was only switched on for 20 days of the bill."

Advice: "Go solar."

Murray, Queenstown-Lakes, Otago

Review Date: 12/11/2023

Size: 6.8

Running for: I week

Expected return on investment: 12%

Expected pay back period: It is part of the house , will go up and down with real estate value

Comments on the installation: "Very good and all done in under 2 days"

Comments on the system performance: "Way better than expected, especially on cloudy days "

Advice: "My solar system has only been running a week , I don't have enough data to share with others "

Malcolm, Central Otago, Otago

Review Date: 19/05/2021

Size: 5kW

Running for: 10 weeks

Expected return on investment: 400%

Expected pay back period: 5 years

Comments on the installation: "Excellent and fast installation"

Comments on the system performance: "We are saving about half on our power bills so far as we head into winter."

Advice: "It feels really good and has obvious results from the first day."

Sarah , Waitaki, Otago

Review Date: 02/12/2019

Size: 6.4W

Running for: 2 months

Expected return on investment: 10%

Expected pay back period: 10.5 years

Comments on the installation: "Took awhile before parts arrived to be installed but once they got going it was fast "

Comments on the system performance: "To early to tell "

Advice: "Definitely do your own independent research as they all tell you their products are superior "

Anna, Dunedin, Otago

Review Date: 27/03/2018

Size: 3kW

Running for: Ten weeks

Expected return on investment: 10%pa

Expected pay back period: Ten

Comments on the installation: "All good except several weeks later than expected due to various holiday period holdups from different services "

Comments on the system performance: "Good but rather than saving it is so far costing the same as before- this is because we are connected to the grid and the placement of the array was geared towards peak production - to save money it would have been better to spread the array around the peak use (eg after school homework washing and cooking time is currently just when our production has dropped). Neither the quotes, installers nor power company fully explained the charge out system (ie everyone had explained that we would pay on the net difference- even the trustpower operator I spoke to to double check used this approach to estimate our expected bills post installation) the fact that we are charged separately for imports and exports and at such a differing rate have meant effectively no savings have been made as yet. This month I am trialling running household chores such as laundry and vacuuming only when generating sufficient current to aim for our hopes for 10% savings."

Advice: "As there really hasn't been any financial benefit, I wonder if our greenish government could look at ways to actually make this a financially viable set up. It should be better for the country to be a solar generator connected to the grid but as this is not the case, we are considering going off grid - which is not nearly as environmentally friendly but may make this whole exercise worth supporting "

Allan, Waitaki, Otago

Review Date: 11/04/2017

Size: 4kw

Running for: We have 2 systems, 4kw & 5kw. 5kw on house, 2+years and 4kw on ablution block,1 month.

Expected return on investment: for me its not returns but savings, house. $100 power bills average, hot tub 24/7 and 4 caravan points

Expected pay back period: pay back, not interested, its how much money needed for power bill

Comments on the installation: "world solar, great, 2.5 hours"

Comments on the system performance: "house 5kw has produced 8500kws"

Advice: "Power companies. Trust Power 7day delay to install Import/export meter. Contact Energy 1 month"

Alan, Central Otago, Otago

Review Date: 11/06/2016

Size: 5 kW

Running for: 2 months

Comments on the installation: "Installers impressive on PR, speed , tidyness and confident of their know how. Explained what they were doing and why, GREAT

Comments on the system performance: "So far our system has been running during the grimmest time of the year. Poor weather short days,all day fogs,hoare frost and snow. The system has been at least what we expected, goes well under fog cover! We are still learning to use it most efficiently but our power bills so far are about half even though one of the two is an estimate that is obviously a bit over."

Advice: "Ask me again in 12 months and I will really know. I expect it to do much better in summer to offset winter performance. We have an old "Centimeter" in our kitchen that tells us how many grid kW we are using, when the solar is running it tells us how much is being exported.....it takes a little playing to decide if we are importing or exporting. The panels certainly produce what they were designed to produce when everything is ideal weather wise."

Colin, Queenstown-Lakes, Otago

Review Date: 25/02/2016

Size: 6 kW

Running for: 3 months

Comments on the installation: "Very impressed with everyone. Two days and it was all going."

Comments on the system performance: "Great performance. Nearly halved my power bills."

Advice: "Do not be afraid to ask questions and Google as much information as you can find. Research well."

Neville, Dunedin, Otago

Review Date: 24/11/2015

Size: 5kw

Running for: 6 weeks

Comments on the installation: "Very efficient. Nice to talk too. Took about 5hrs to install."

Comments on the system performance: "Production is good. Have saved about $20.00 on our first a/c. Will hope for a wee bit more over summer."

Advice: "A great way to cut costs. I have done this with retirement in mind to reduce household expenses. If you can afford the initial outlay I would strongly recomend."

Peter, Lake Hawea, Otago

Review Date: 03/09/2015

Size: 5 kW

Running for: 2 months

Comments on the installation: "Excellent install,friendly and competent staff took about 3 hours to install."

Comments on the system performance: "Early days only installed since 20 July but on first complete billing before I was being paid for what I put into the grid I saved approx $120."

Advice: "It's a free source of power.The money I had in the bank was earning 4.05% or $514.35 on the cost of the install.I believe that here in Central Otago I will save five times the interest on the cost of the install and probably add to the value of my home."

John, Dunedin, Otago

Review Date: 16/06/2015

Size: 5 kW

Running for: 12 days

Comments on the installation: "I am happy with the solar installation product in every way. The installers were respectful of my property and did a professional job. The installers did the job efficiently and in a good time frame."

Comments on the system performance: "By adapting to using electricity when the Solar P.V. system is generating I have found the system performs very well. I haven't yet had my WIFI monitoring of the system set up but the last week's Meridian electricity usage update stated I had used 65% less electricity for that week. The Solar P.V. system had only been operating for 50% of that week. I calculated that if it had been a whole week the Solar P.V. system was operating ,I would have paid only 32% of my normal electricity bill I would have had not with the Solar P.V. system. For winter it is performing quite well but I can't be too specific because i don't yet have WIFI monitoring. At this early stage I haven't yet received a power bill covering Solar P.V. system usage, but I will definitely be saving a noticeable and worth while amount."

Advice: "It is a long term investment, you pay up front for the system but in 7 or 8 years time the savings will have paid for the system if you buy a $7,059.99 system. From then on you get cheap electricity bills. It is a good way to prepare for retirement if you buy the system at least 7 years before retiring. Electricity is the second highest overhead for living so if you can reduce that over head you are at a distinct advantage financially."