Home > Reviews From Solar Power System Owners
We have asked people that brought a solar power system after getting 3 quotes through My Solar Quotes how their solar power systems are going! We asked:
What size system did you install?
How long has your solar power system been running for?
How did you find the solar installation?
How have you found the performance of the solar power system?
Do you have any other comments that you would like to share with New Zealanders thinking about going solar?
Review Date: 07/02/2023
Size: 4.62kw
Running for: 3.25 Years
Expected return on investment: 10%
Expected pay back period: 10 Years
Comments on the installation: "Through website after Googling HB solar installers. His was only installer to climb onto roof, into ceiling, and inspect our power board."
Comments on the system performance: "Yes, it performed better than expected with an occasional monthly credit from power supplier."
Advice: "If you have funds sitting in your Bank returning 3%, invest in solar and the return is around 10%. If you can afford an EV electric vehicle, then the return on investment is around 15%.Sooner or later everyone will be driving an EV, so you will be installing solar to help NZs renewable energy production. Our system can produce 6000 kws p.a. And we use around half, while rest goes into NZ power grid."
Review Date: 29/01/2023
Size: 7.8kW
Running for: 2 months
Expected return on investment: Did not calculate this.
Expected pay back period: Did not consider this
Comments on the installation: "Installers were very polite and took the best part of 3 days."
Comments on the system performance: "It performs very well and although we haven't had it long it will definitely reduce our power bills."
Advice: "Regardless of monetary value of the investment I think there are other reasons to consider solar. Potential black outs are one reason, likely power price increases is another and finally I think that resale value of our property will be affected positively."
Review Date: 06/01/2023
Size: 4kW
Running for: 3 months
Expected return on investment: 9
Expected pay back period: 10
Comments on the installation: "Excellent team on time with everything up and running as planned."
Comments on the system performance: "Installed as daylight saving started so daylight hours were getting longer. On the best days the system generated 30kWh. On the worst day still more than 5kWh. So far I've halved my power bill even with the added power consumption brought about by charging my new EV!"
Advice: "With the energy supplier I signed with the solar buy back rate is 1 cent higher than the night rate I pay. This means my EV effectively cost nothing to run as I can charge my car using the night rate. I get to use all the excess power the system sends to the grid at at no extra cost. With my use profile there was no reason to add the cost of a system battery."
Review Date: 03/01/2023
Size: 4kW
Running for: 4 weeks
Expected return on investment: I'm not looking at my investment in terms of dollars although I plan to unify 2 meters so will save about $1200 by that alone, but my investment is a moral choice to reduce my footprint on the planet.
Expected pay back period: 10 years
Comments on the installation: "My installers where awesome; friendly, helpful and generally just good guys."
Comments on the system performance: "I had expected the battery storage to last longer but obviously I didn't ask the right questions. "
Advice: "Just do it, it is an awesome feeling knowing that you are doing something positive."
Review Date: 24/12/2022
Size: 8.5 kW
Running for: 2.5 months
Comments on the installation: "2 days "
Comments on the system performance: "Superb. 2.5MWH produced since switch on"
Advice: "Yes. If you are rural then ask for bird mesh to be installed to stop nesting beneath your panels."
Review Date: 26/11/2022
Size: 6kw
Running for: 6 weeks
Expected return on investment: 10
Expected pay back period: 10
Comments on the installation: "Took a few days and inverter took a while to arrive but install caused little hassle. They also did car charger and switch board upgrade."
Comments on the system performance: "Yes saved money. Power bills have dropped at the same time we now have electric car. The power supply is much more peaky between sun and cloudy than I expected but generally going as planned."
Advice: "It's a bit of fun seeing what your generating. It also means we can run clothes drier or aircon without thing too much about extra power use."
Review Date: 07/11/2022
Size: 11.7
Running for: 1 week
Expected return on investment: 10%
Expected pay back period: 10
Comments on the installation: "It took 5 days to get everything installed, though to be fair we installed two systems. They are yet to return to fix one of the roof penetrations as they went through a lap join which is guaranteed to leak to a custom flashing is to be made and installed to address this. I will not need to pay for the balance of the system until this work is completed (which is as it should be, so that is nice)."
Comments on the system performance: "It has produced roughly what I expected. I'm using SolCast to generate an expected output against which I can benchmark my output. So fair it's pretty good...."
Advice: "The process for installing solar is a major pain in the proverbial as the installation approach can be extremely drawn out. Once your panels are installed and commissioned they cannot be operated until they are "inspected" but the inspection cannot be booked until *after* the install is completed. If you engage a company that has their own (job independent) inspector this can be done immediately or with a day or two, otherwise there is a delay of a week or so for the request to get to the inspector and for them to call to make a time to do the checks, and that can then be 1 - 3 weeks out....so inspection can take as long as month from commissioning leaving your panels as an expensive roof ornament as you will need to pay for the completed installation eventhough you can't use them. In our case inspection took 2.5 weeks and the inspector was onsite for exactly 7 minutes, 37 seconds to check both systems. Then you get to the nightmare that is the meter change - there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON why this cannot be scheduled immediately upon paying your deposit and completed PRIOR to the panels even being installed as the meter works like a regular meter when the sun isn't shining. But no. This cannot be requested until AFTER the system is commissioned - so a delay to get the request from the installer to the power company, a further delay for the power company to call you to confirm the details, then a delay for the power company to pass it on to the meter company, an 8 wait for the metering company to call to make a time, and then the time they give you? Six weeks away! So from the point of commissioning to the export meter going in will be more than EIGHT weeks....which is hopeless. Silver lining is that Octopus will pay for your solar credits in the absence of a meter if you can prove your generated output....less self consumption obviously presumably based on historical consumption (in my case I can measure the returned energy exactly so this will be straightforward). Recommended changes: Inspection and meter change should be booked early and in the case of the meter done in advance; yes, in some cases the inspection will need to be rebooked and some customers may experience a delay, but that's better than every customer waiting weeks. As for the meter change...what a shambles. "
Review Date: 24/09/2022
Size: 8.58
Running for: 2 months
Expected return on investment: 5.3
Expected pay back period: 15 years
Comments on the installation: "Excellent. Value proposition. Professional, friendly and knowledgeable sales, installation and back up staff. Two weeks from signing contract to completed installation. Installation was done very professionally and property was left tidy. Very satisfied and will definitely recommend the company."
Comments on the system performance: "System performing delivering double the proposal power. Have saved $150 per month and this is in a particularly wet Winter. Cannot wait for clear weather to be constant."
Advice: "As the weather becomes more intense/severe in both Summer and Winter and we increasingly use our heating and cooling appliances, not only will it be increasingly costly, the power grid is going to come under pressure to deliver, so secure your supply by installing solar now before the rush."
Review Date: 22/09/2022
Size: 7kW
Running for: 1 week
Expected return on investment: ?
Expected pay back period: ?
Comments on the installation: "Installation is fine. Installation was long and protracted due to an out of town installer, Covid, supply issues, weather, and communication difficulties. "
Comments on the system performance: "System working well. Not had a power bill yet."
Advice: "Should have done this sooner."
Review Date: 04/08/2022
Size: 5.6
Running for: 10 weeks
Expected return on investment: 12
Expected pay back period: 8
Comments on the installation: "Fantastic service from all, completed in two days"
Comments on the system performance: "Excellent"
Review Date: 27/07/2022
Size: 4.8kw
Running for: 1 month
Expected return on investment: 5%
Expected pay back period: 11yrs
Comments on the installation: "Yes very respectful. Shipping delay for inverter meant the installation was done in two visits a month apart but this wasn't caused by the installing company, more a reflection of the times with supply issues everywhere."
Comments on the system performance: "Saved about $60 on my monthly power bill in first month but this was mid-June to mid-July so output from the solar would be at its lowest for the year. Saving was expected for this time of year but hoping for more output as the seasons change."
Advice: "You need ot have load which can be used during the period of output from the panels. Hot water is a good example - fit a timer so that the hot water cylinder is only on during periods of possible solar output. Spa pools and under-floor heating are other examples of load which can be scheduled to run during periods of the day when solar is likely to be operating."
Review Date: 15/07/2022
Size: 6.2
Running for: 8 weeks
Expected return on investment: 8%
Expected pay back period: 12 years
Comments on the installation: "Yes they were pretty good, took a few days "
Comments on the system performance: "All seems to be working well however they decided to install the panels at 90 degrees compared to the design spec as it was easier for them, in hindsight I wish I hadn’t let them do it as it has resulted in more shading impact which has reduced performance."
Advice: "Batteries are overpriced but would add value to the system"
Review Date: 14/07/2022
Size: 5kw
Running for: 1 month
Expected pay back period: 10yrs
Comments on the installation: "Yes and they did it in 6 hrs"
Comments on the system performance: "Savings depends on the weather"
Advice: "It is a option for alternative energy."
Review Date: 08/06/2022
Size: 5kw
Running for: 1mth
Expected return on investment: 17.5%
Expected pay back period: 8yrs
Comments on the installation: "Awaiting concent from Unison was painful took over a month. Tradies for job were awesome."
Comments on the system performance: "$150+ cheaper"
Advice: "Change to solar now"
Review Date: 19/05/2022
Size: 8.5
Running for: 3 weeks
Expected return on investment: 8%
Expected pay back period: 9 years
Comments on the installation: "Very pleased with there manner and installation was very fast"
Comments on the system performance: "To early to know but pleased with the amount of KW been produced"
Advice: "So far very pleased"
Review Date: 08/05/2022
Size: 3.95kWp
Running for: One month
Expected return on investment: 15%-20%
Expected pay back period: 5-6 years
Comments on the installation: "The installation was done in one day. The installers were respectful, although, their movement on the roof may have loosened some bolts."
Comments on the system performance: "The system has been working as it should. We have only had one bill and we went from 506 kWh in the previous month to 413kWh. The bill is further reduced by the solar rebate."
Advice: "There is a learning period for when to use appliances and charging the car while the panels are producing. The Fronius app allows you to see the use versus the production. "
Review Date: 15/03/2022
Size: 4.8kw
Running for: 4 months
Expected return on investment: 10%
Expected pay back period: 10yrs
Comments on the installation: "Great installers, nice people. It did not take long to install the panels, a day I think."
Comments on the system performance: "Yes they are producing about as much as I expected and we are getting a minimum $100 per month saving on power usage costs"
Advice: "Do it and don't wait too long. It is a good feeling knowing you are doing something good for the country and yourself and the environment as well as seeing and following and managing your power usage. Our panels are black on a black roof and we don't even notice them on our roof when we walk and drive past the house."
Review Date: 10/02/2022
Size: I installed at 7.2kW syStem.
Running for: 3 months.
Expected return on investment: 6-7%
Expected pay back period: 7-8 years
Comments on the installation: "Took 1 day, they were good."
Comments on the system performance: "The company I used was great. They have met my expectations."
Review Date: 29/01/2022
Size: 7kWh
Running for: 6 weeks
Expected return on investment: None set
Expected pay back period: Not focused on this aspect as also considering environmental aspects.
Comments on the installation: "Installation took two days. More complicated than I expected. Also, be aware that it can take another 4-6 weeks after installation before the system is approved to run and import/export meter installed by electricity retailer."
Comments on the system performance: "Producing in line with system specifications. Saving about $7-10 per day (December and January)."
Advice: "I am very satisfied with the system. It is producing good savings and has made me more conscious of electricity use. No regrets. Would have been good to know that the full process from installation to power generation is a bit longer than expected. I would definitely encourage others to go solar. "
Review Date: 10/01/2022
Size: 5kw
Running for: 3 months
Expected return on investment: unknown
Expected pay back period: eight years at todays electricty prices.
Comments on the installation: "Turned up on time, polite, good communication, efficient, no mess. Very easy process."
Comments on the system performance: "More than I expected."
Advice: "Rather than upsizing inverter, have more panels so you can achieve max output for longer periods. "
Review Date: 19/12/2021
Size: 5kw
Running for: 2 months
Expected return on investment: 10%
Expected pay back period: 8
Comments on the installation: "They were highly efficient and respectful at all time"
Comments on the system performance: "Too early to say. Weather has been patchy. Many cloudy days. Basically we get enough from export to cover our night rate use when we hear hot water, washing machine etc"
Advice: "We used World Solar. Completely recommend them"
Review Date: 13/12/2021
Size: 5kW
Running for: 2 months
Expected pay back period: 10 years
Comments on the installation: "Great experience with the installers. Took 1 day."
Comments on the system performance: "Been as expected. Saving about $30 a month to date. Should do better over summer."
Advice: "The installation was very professional from the panel installers to the electrician. Our intention is to add battery backup in the future. Would recommend solar installation."
Review Date: 13/12/2021
Size: 4.75
Running for: 3 months
Expected return on investment: 40
Expected pay back period: 7 yrs
Comments on the installation: "Installers were very professional and polite, clearing all mess and completing with in the day "
Comments on the system performance: "Performance going well despite many cloudy days, power produced as expected, will be interesting to see what the performance is like in winter, saved 60% on electricity bills on average "
Advice: "Ensure you get at least 4 quotes and compare installation process- several took there time to respond to site visits. Ensure you get a large enough system to save on bills "
Review Date: 03/12/2021
Size: 14 panels - around 5kw
Running for: just over a month
Expected pay back period: 8 to 10 years
Comments on the installation: "it took a day but there were a couple of issues to sort out"
Comments on the system performance: "Yes, halved it currently (but it is summer so don't expect it will save much in winter)"
Advice: "I am very happy with it - plus the hot water diverter shows power usage and has made everyone a bit more conscious about it"
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