Comparing Energy Plans (dreaded task)
I hate having to pick energy plans, but it's that time again for me. Here is my current situation: I have solar panels but no battery. I currently use about 1,370 kWh/month and send about 577 kWh/month back to the grid. Right now I’m on GME with a 1-to-1 buyback, but that plan is going away in July. The new version they’re offering is around 12 cents over Oncor with only a 6-cent buyback, which just doesn’t seem worth it. I’ve done the math, and for my situation, a lower import rate seems to matter more than a higher buyback. I also don’t think free nights or plans with extreme time-of-use pricing are a great fit for me. I have a roommate who works an overnight shift, and restricting usage to specific times isn’t always realistic. I also seem to have weird daytime usage spikes, probably from them cooking or other household stuff, so I don’t want to get trapped in a plan with ridiculous daytime rates.
Base Energy
- About 8 cents over Oncor
- 4-cent buyback
- Upfront cost plus $29/month
- Battery install would be available in my area in August
- They want a 12-year agreement, which makes me nervous because I may move in the next 2–5 years
Octopus Energy
- About 7 cents over Oncor for their 12 month plan
- No base charge
- Buyback is some kind of market rate, which I’m assuming probably won’t be great during solar production hours
- Their 3-year plan is about 9 cents over Oncor
- They also seem to have a battery plan similar to Base, but it looks like they only support certain inverter brands, and I don’t know what brand mine is
Champion Energy
- About 8 cents over Oncor
- No base charge
- Buyback is Indexed rate ???
I am always frustrated with this task, and I have already spent a few hours staring at my computer and not any closer to making a decision, so any advice is appreciated.