Twelve months ago, Dan and Ellie... a young couple living just outside Sheffield, decided to take control of their rising energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.They contacted help4homes to find out whether solar panels and battery storage could work for them.
A year later, they’ve not only slashed their energy bills but even made money by selling excess energy back to the grid. Here’s how their journey unfolded, from first contact to year end results... month by month.
Dan and Ellie reached out to help4homes after noticing their energy bills creeping past £150a month. With both working full time, they used most of their electricity during evenings and weekends — a typical pattern for many households.
Within days, help4homes had connected them with a trusted local installer who designed a system tailored to their home and usage habits:
· 10 x 410W solar panels (4.1kWp system)
· 5.2kWh battery storage
· Smart inverter and app for real-time monitoring
· SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) registration for export payments
Installation tookless than two days and was up and running just in time for spring.
Here’s a look atDan and Ellie’s first 12 months of solar generation and usage, based onrealistic estimates for a typical semi-detached home in Yorkshire:
Month Solar Generation(kWh) Energy Used (kWh) Grid Bought (kWh) Grid Sold (kWh)
March 290 320 80 50
April 380 310 20 90
May 450 330 10 130
June 470 310 5 160
July 480 320 5 170
August 460 310 10 150
September 390 300 15 110
October 300 310 50 40
November 180 350 130 10
December 110 360 200 5
January 130 340 180 10
February 200 320 90 20
TOTAL 4,140 3,880 795 1,045
· Self-sufficiency: Dan andEllie generated more electricity (4,140kWh) than they used (3,880kWh), meaning their system fully covered their needs over the year.
· Battery benefits: Their battery meant that surplus energy generated during the day was stored and used during the evening — reducing reliance on the grid.
· Exporting surplus: During sunnier months (April to September), they consistently sold more back to the grid than they used, thanks to SEG payments.
· Winter reliance: Like most homes, they relied more on the grid during November–January due to shorter days and higher energy use (heating, lighting, etc.).
· Annual savings:
- Reduced grid usage: Approx. £250–£300 saved on electricity bills.
- SEG earnings from exports: £180–£220 earned.
- Total estimated benefit: Over £500 in year one — with future years expected to be even better as electricity prices rise.
“It’s the best home improvement we’ve ever made. The panels just sit there doing the hard work while we go about our day...and checking the app has become a bit addictive!”
If you're wondering whether solar panels and battery storage would work for your home, we’re here to help. At help4homes, we offer independent advice and connect youwith vetted local installers... no pushy sales, just honest help.
· Free consultation
· Trusted local installers
· Tailored quotes
· Advice on SEG, grants, and system sizing
Get started today— and find out how much you could save in your first year.
