[cloddopper]

It's good to see the figures for renewable & solar generation have finally  exceeded the coal generated power out put even if it is only for one or two hours over a few days .. it will improve the more we have in use. .

 I'd spent a long time looking at the pro's & cons of it all .
This time next year our panels should be close to being paid for , we have reconfigured our domestic arrangements for power to be off peak ,  on a time switches  too . So not only can we charge the OUTLANDER PHEV on sunny or bright days for nothing or almost nothing we can also take advantage of cheap overnight rates  or car charging if needed , using the washing  machine & low current water free  condensing drying machine too .

 We no longer have any incandescent bulbs in the property  but use a mix if blue white & soft white lamps  in every room to give a softer brighter lighting effect  .
 It was getting silly ,we were having to replace three or more burnt out halogen lamps @ £2.20 or so each every month ,  in a home that has 54  light bulbs in it .

Changing to LED's was expensive initially & those first GU 10 , 9 & 6 bulbs were not very reliable , lots failed in the first year .

We managed to keep & find the £ 18 receipts & get replacements for the very first GU10 LED bulbs & took them back to hme base as they were advertised as being able to last 30 ,000 hours or more .  Even if they had been on 24/7 they would have failed well before the 30,000 was attained .
 We still have nine of these original £ 18 Phillips bulbs ,  four of which are on for about 12 hrs per day six days a week on average .


The  latest improved LED bulbs are doing very well , I've only changed two GU6 2 watt corn bulbs out of 18 wall light bulbs s in two years after a total replacing exercise due to lightening taking out every lamp & bit of equipment that was plugged in & on standby or fully switched on during a massive lightening storm close to out home .  The Insurers paid up in full for all new bulbs & gear affected .   

Our current power bill is almost the same cost as it was seven years ago which considering the hikes in prices is pretty good  & we have used far less metered power too  .