My bills are still high after solar

Solar panels only save you money on electricity used at the time they generate it. Electricity exported to the grid earns a small rate (around 21–24c/kWh). Electricity you buy back costs 35–45c/kWh. So the more you self-consume, the more you save.

Check your self-consumption rate. Log into your inverter app — Sungrow iSolarCloud, Huawei FusionSolar, SolarEdge monitoring, or GoodWe SEMS. Look for "self-consumption" percentage. A well-optimised home hits 40–60%. Below 30% means most of your solar is being exported.

Shift loads to daytime. Run your washing machine, dishwasher, and dryer between 10am and 3pm. Set your immersion heater to boost from solar. If you have an Eddi diverter, make sure it is configured correctly.

Consider a battery. A 5–10 kWh battery stores surplus daytime solar for evening use. SEAI gives a €600 grant for a battery of 5 kWh or more if your home was built and occupied before 2025. Get the grant offer before it is installed, use an SEAI-registered solar PV contractor, and expect a BER after the work. Check VAT with your installer: 0% applies when a battery is installed with solar panels. Payback is typically 7–10 years, or 5–6 years if you have high evening usage or an EV.

Check your meter is reading exports correctly. If ESB Networks has not yet installed a smart meter or activated export measurement, your bill may not reflect your generation accurately. Contact your supplier to confirm.