New batteries being installed - is it worth going to eco 7 to charge them overnight?

Absolutely @Hari_OVO - VCharge is not only very close to what is required, but I think doesn't get recognised here on the Forum for being the technological jewel-in-the-crown that it is! It's a very important asset in OVO's portfolio.

I read today that your rivals, Octopus, have come top in the Which? annual survey of Energy Companies, which can be viewed here.

Now, their sample-size is small, but it's interesting that the company who have committed most in the UK to a variable half-hour tariff system is also rated highest by its customers. This should serve to spur on OVO to take a bolder, more adventurous step in this direction. Home Storage with batteries isn't going to progress until it has a relevant tariff structure behind it.

And, by the way, if you look at the larger table of the Which? survey here, you'll notice that OVO came 2nd overall when you add the Customer Service score to the stats for Call Waiting and Complaints Handling!

HI guys
Sorry for suddenly going quiet but have been busy monitoring my batteries to see how they perform before taking the plunge.
What I have found is that on a full 100% charge overnight the battery (winter time) will last up until around 10.30pm before running out. So if I charged at eco7 overnight the battery would cover most of the day, but when heavy use is made I.e. tumble dryer (no timer on it) the battery will only last until maybe 3.00pm before running out. This would mean paying a higher rate for the rest of the day.
I can mitigate this to a certain extent by only using the washing machine overnight.
Now the decision I have to make is overall would I still see savings even though at some times I will be paying a higher rate for my electricity and I think that the answer is yes but it will be reduced by my tumble dryer having to be used during the day.
The other use (and the main reason for the batteries) is that I have 4KWp of solar PV on an east facing roof. This means that during the summer I lose generation around 3.30pm, my idea is to have the PV supply all my power needs during the day till 3.30 and charge my batteries so that they will take the load from then on to even out my solar generation, this means that during the summer months having eco 7 would not matter as should not use any higher rate electricity.
So I think that yes eco7 should see worthwhile savings over the year.
Rregards to all Pete.

I think it's going to take a couple of months before you've gleaned enough data about your new battery before you can make an informed decision about opting for an E7 tariff, @Llamedospete.

The present tariff structures aren't in your favour yet.

However, have a look at what I posted here on another Topic a couple of days ago.

Note the bit about RIIO-ED2 and your DNO having the ability to set their own individual rates (the network part of your charges) for each house.

If you live in an area where there is a significant early-evening peak demand period, then you may find that you are best off by reselling some of your stored energy back to the grid when the DNO requires it.

These concepts are not yet implemented in domestic tariffs. But we've reached a moment when there are about to be major changes in the way we buy/sell energy in the UK. You are heading in precisely the right direction.

HI .@Transparent
Yes very interesting times, and I have started hearing about the buy back of electricity if you have batteries, would definitely be interested in these schemes when they get going. Monitoring the batteries you are right, I have already worked out that for winter use I may have to add another 2.4KWh battery as current 7.2KWh stack is struggling to cope and what I don't want is a future scenario of being on ToU tariff and my battery gives up during the early evening while using the cooker in the most expensive time period, my battery needs to be able to take me through to at least 8.00pm.
Rregards to all Pete

At the moment @Llamedospete you are only considering the possibility of replenishing your battery-stack through your own solar panels.

Once we get true Time-Of-Use tariff structures operating in the energy market, it's quite possible that your DNO will be seeking to store excess solar generation locally. You may get slots of cheap-power offered in the middle of the day so that the DNO doesn't have to send it back into the Transmission Grid (above 32kV).

It's possible that you will actually earn more from storage batteries if their available capacity can be utilised several times each day. It's simply too early to predict this yet.

HI .@Transparent

Yes and where I am would be a brilliant area to trial it as have a large offshore wind farm and a huge solar farm both feeding into my towns 11kv substation, so chances are we nearly always have renewable power feeding the town.

Just seems that the DNO's are being a bit slow off the mark with domestic battery use, maybe not enough out there yet but I think that that's about to change as domestic batteries are now down to an affordable price at last, only reason i have taken the plunge. (Beware of electricians who are buying batteries at wholesale price then doubling the price to you for installation, they are conning you)

Rregards to all Pete

HI all
Ok I have so far found that the reason for my batteries running out early was caused by the inverter was set to charge them to 80% then stop😔 so batteries now lasting all day unless heavy use made of the dryer etc.
From today I am now on E7 tariff, so now to see how they perform charging overnight on E7. I will let you know.
Regards to all Pete.

Keep us posted, @Llamedospete !

HI .@Nancy_OVO
Ok Batteries have been fine during the nice weather we have had, been charging them on E7 overnight but then they have been re-charged by my solar panels during the morning if needed and the panels power the house during the morning and early afternoon.
After the sun goes over the yardarm (Well my roof anyway, unfortunately I am east/west orientated) the batteries take on the load and last through to 12.30 E7 time.
When there is no sun, a rainy or overcast day they are not so good. On an E7 overnight charge they last until around 10.30pm on average but I still think that overall I will be saving on my bill.
So far I am more than impressed with them, the system is working brilliantly for me and exceeding my expectations.
RRegards to all Pete.