Before and After Solar Panels: Real Energy Bills Compared (2022 vs 2025)
Genuine Octopus Energy bills from the same household, April 2022 before solar vs April 2025 after solar, showing a 38% lower total bill and a 73% lower electricity cost after export credit.
Worthing, West Sussex • Residential
lower total bill
38%
lower electricity cost after export credit
73%
less grid electricity per day
61%
The savings and payback figures in this case study are this customer's actual results. Your own savings will be specific to your installation and depend on your energy generation and usage, and on energy costs at the time of installation.
Property Details
- Property Type
- Residential
- Location
- Worthing, West Sussex
Services Installed
The Bottom Line: How Much Do Solar Panels Really Save?
These are genuine Octopus Energy bills from a UK home, showing real meter readings, actual charges, and documented solar export earnings.
| Metric | Before Solar (2022) | After Solar (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Total bill for the month | £182.81 | £113.26 |
| Electricity charges | £104.77 | £51.93 |
| Solar export credit (already included in the bill) | £0.00 | £23.99 |
| Electricity cost after export credit | £104.77 | £27.94 |
Breaking Down the Numbers: What Changed After Solar Installation?
| Energy Type | Before Solar | After Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (daily) | 11.68 kWh/day | 4.60 kWh/day |
| Electricity Reduction | — | ↓ 61% reduction |
| Gas (daily) | 37.84 kWh/day | 44.32 kWh/day |
| Solar Export | None | 159.9 kWh/month |
| Electricity Cost | £104.77 | £51.93 |
| Gas Cost | £78.04 | £85.32 |
Even more impressive, the system generated 159.9 kWh of excess electricity in just one month, earning the homeowner £23.99 through Octopus Energy's export tariff at 15p per kWh.
Making Money from Solar: Understanding Export Payments
One of the most overlooked benefits of solar panels is the ability to earn money from excess generation:
- Energy exported: 159.9 kWh
- Export rate: 15p per kWh (Octopus Energy Smart Export Guarantee)
- Export earnings: £23.99
This export income is a crucial part of the financial equation.
The Impact of Rising Energy Prices on Solar Savings
Energy prices increased significantly between 2022 and 2025:
- Electricity unit rate 2022: 20.35p - 28.08p per kWh
- Electricity unit rate 2025: 23.33p per kWh
- Gas unit rate 2022: 3.82p - 6.97p per kWh
- Gas unit rate 2025: 5.29p per kWh
The electricity unit rate in the April 2025 bill was higher than the 20.35p this household paid at the start of April 2022, yet the electricity cost after export credit was lower.
Building Credit: The Cash Flow Advantage
The April 2025 bill shows the household has £149.69 in credit with their energy supplier. This happens because:
- Solar generation is highest in summer months
- Export earnings accumulate as credits
- Direct debit payments remain consistent
- The surplus builds up to cover winter months when solar generation is lower
Key Findings
- Total bill down from £182.81 to £113.26 (38% lower)
- Electricity cost after export credit down from £104.77 to £27.94 (73% lower)
- Electricity from grid reduced by 61% (11.68 to 4.60 kWh/day)
- Solar export earnings: £23.99 in the month
- Account credit balance: £149.69 after paying bills
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