What Homeowners Need to Understand
Many solar and battery owners are now being approached with offers involving Smart Export Guarantees, time-of-use tariffs, and battery optimisation schemes. While these can be financially attractive in some cases, it is important to understand how they work — and the implications for battery lifespan and system control.
Our role is simple and transparent:
we design and install solar with battery systems, and we hand control to the client.
What Is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
The Smart Export Guarantee allows households to be paid for surplus electricity exported back to the grid.
Key points:
- SEG rates vary by energy company
- Export prices can change at any time
- Payments are typically modest compared to the value of stored energy
SEG is an export payment mechanism, not an optimisation service. It does not require control of your battery.
What Are Time-of-Use Tariffs?
Time-of-use tariffs offer different electricity prices depending on the time of day. Typically:
- Electricity is cheaper during off-peak hours
- Electricity is more expensive during peak demand
Homeowners can choose to:
- Charge batteries during cheaper periods
- Use stored energy during expensive periods
This can be managed manually or automatically using timers within the inverter or battery system.
Our Approach: Client Control, Not Energy Company Control
All the systems we install include:
- Battery inverters with timer-based charging and discharging
- Full client access to system settings
- The ability for homeowners to operate their system as they see fit
We:
- Do not recommend or endorse any specific energy company
- Do not sign clients into third-party battery control schemes
- Do not hand control of the battery to an energy supplier
- Do Not recommend battery only installation for the purpose of ‘cheap rate’ trading
The system belongs to the client — not the grid, not the supplier.
Battery Cycling, Warranties & Lifespan
This is the part that is often misunderstood.
Modern batteries come with a cycling warranty, typically defined by:
- A maximum number of charge/discharge cycles
- Or a throughput limit over a set number of years
Every time a battery is charged and discharged, it consumes part of that warranty.
What Happens When Energy Companies Control the Battery?
Some tariffs and schemes allow an energy company to:
- Force-charge the battery from the grid
- Force-discharge the battery back to the grid
- Use the battery to balance national demand
This increases:
- The number of cycles
- The depth of discharge
- The total energy throughput
While the homeowner may receive financial remuneration, the trade-off is:
- Accelerated battery wear
- Reduced long-term lifespan
- Earlier battery replacement
In simple terms:
you are being paid to use up your battery more quickly.
Our Position on Third-Party Battery Control
We are neutral but clear:
- These schemes may suit some users
- They are a financial decision, not a technical improvement
- Increased cycling will inevitably reduce battery life
That decision should always be made:
- With full understanding
- With informed consent
- By the system owner
Not by default, and not without explanation.
Why We Install Timers Instead
Timer-based control allows homeowners to:
- Optimise charging around cheap rates when solar generation is low in winter months
- Protect battery health
- Adjust strategy as tariffs change
- Retain full ownership and control
This approach:
- Preserves battery lifespan
- Keeps warranties intact
- Avoids lock-in to any supplier or scheme
In Summary
- We install solar and battery systems with client-controlled timers
- We do not recommend energy companies or tariffs
- We do not hand battery control to third parties
- Battery cycling affects lifespan — this must be understood
- Financial rewards today may mean replacement costs tomorrow
Our responsibility is to install high-quality solar with battery systems and ensure clients understand how their choices affect performance, longevity, and value.