10 April 2025
When looking for an effective way to limit the amount of electricity bills, many people begin to see the potential of the solution, which is photovoltaics. Electricity production using its own photovoltaic installation, which uses free and renewable energy sources, is beneficial both economically and ecologically. In the case of owners of photovoltaic installations, we are dealing with prosumers who produce electricity for their own use. When deciding to install a photovoltaic installation connected to the power grid, it is necessary, however, to sign a contract with the electricity supplier and choose a electricity tariff. Check which tariff for photovoltaics will work best.
Current tariff and photovoltaic installations
Photovoltaics uses solar radiation to produce electricity. The electricity produced with it can power electrical devices in homes, companies and farms. It is completely free of charge, therefore it contributes to the reduction of electricity bills to a minimum. It also guarantees independence from the electricity supply, especially in the case of an off-grid photovoltaic installation, in which surplus energy is stored in energy stores, not sent to the power grid.
The second available option is on-grid installations, which involve connecting the installation to the power grid and sending surplus energy produced to it. They can be used in the event that the production of electricity by photovoltaic panels is not sufficient. When choosing this type of installation, you should be aware that legal regulations impose an obligation on the energy supplier to the so-called balancing. This means that the prosumer (i.e. owners of photovoltaic panels producing electricity for their own needs) can recover 80% (or 70% for installations above 10 kW) of electricity sent to the network.
Connecting to the power grid also requires signing a contract with an electricity supplier and choosing a electricity tariff. The electricity tariff is a price plan for the sale of electricity. Which photovoltaic tariff will be the best?
Which photovoltaic tariff will work best?
Energy tariffs are price plans that determine the sale of electricity. Choosing the right tariff is beneficial for consumers in terms of the possibility of reducing expenses incurred on electricity, and for suppliers it is a way to distribute the network load.
For households there is a G group, and the owners of photovoltaics can make a choice between two tariffs - G11 and G12.
G11 tariff
The G11 tariff is also known as the 24/7 tariff and is the most popular pricing plan. It is characterized by a constant electricity price throughout the day, all week. This type of solution provides the highest flexibility to price customers. It works well in the case of households distinguished by similar electricity consumption throughout the day.
In the case of photovoltaics, the G11 tariff will be appropriate if the photovoltaic installation covers the electricity demand in its entirety.
G12 tariff
The G12 tariff, also known as the two-zone tariff, assumes a different electricity price depending on the time of day. In the evening and at night, the price of electricity is lower than during the day. This is an ideal solution when more electricity is used in a given household than at night.
For owners of photovoltaic installations, the G12 tariff will work when:
- The photovoltaic installation does not generate enough energy to cover the demand for electricity - in this situation the system will supply electricity during the day, and at night it will be possible to collect cheaper electricity from the network,
- The building is heated with a heat pump - heat pumps powered by electricity from photovoltaic installations also work at night. Using the G12 tariff allows you to reduce the costs of energy consumption needed for their work.
Photovoltaics and the change of the electricity tariff
Electricity suppliers allow you to change the electricity tariff once a year. If a photovoltaic installation has been installed in your home and the calculations carried out show that the change of the tariff will be financially beneficial, just contact the electricity supplier service office. Changing the tariff is usually possible in a very simple way - all you need to do is complete an online application or a paper version and submit it to a branch of a given company. You may find that changing the tariff will provide additional savings!