“E.ON Paid Me to Run My House and Car This Year” – How One Home Turned Sunshine Into Profit

When we talk about solar savings, most people think of smaller bills. But for one of our customers, James from near Chester, the numbers went a step further. This year, his energy company actually paid him to power his home and his car.

It’s been a year since James had his system installed: 20 solar panels, two 5kW inverters, and two 5.2kWh batteries, all designed, fitted and set up by our team at ASK Renewables. A tidy system with a big job: to power a busy home and an electric vehicle while cutting grid reliance to the bone.

And being a man who loves a good spreadsheet, James decided to crunch the numbers after twelve months. What he found was a masterclass in how solar, storage and smart energy use can work together.

Sunshine, savings and a lot of smart use

Over the year, James’ panels generated 7,596kWh of clean solar energy. That’s enough to keep kettles boiling, washing machines whirring, and his EV fully charged without breaking a sweat.

Of that energy, he exported 4,909kWh back to the grid, earning £809.99 through E.ON’s export scheme. In other words, his panels weren’t just powering his home – they were earning their keep.

And what about the rest of his usage?

• 4,770kWh went into charging his electric car, good for around 14,310 miles of driving.
• Another 2,687kWh ran the household day to day, from the tumble dryer to the toaster.
• The remaining grid supply was mainly used to top up his batteries during cheaper off-peak hours, ready to be drawn later when energy prices peaked.

The results speak for themselves

Without solar, James reckons his total energy costs for the year would’ve been around £2,129. With it? Just £754.72 – and that’s before factoring in his £809.99 export payments.

In other words, after all was said and done, E.ON actually paid James £55.77 to run his home and car for an entire year.

That’s a total saving of roughly £2,200, all from a system that quietly powers away in the background, rain or shine.

And here’s the kicker: it wasn’t even a great summer. “Not really the best of summers,” James said. “But I’ve loved watching the numbers tick over.”

The power of seeing what’s possible

What James’ story shows is that solar isn’t just about the panels on your roof. It’s about how you use the energy they create. Pairing solar with batteries and an EV charger means every kilowatt goes further. The panels generate, the batteries store, and the car soaks up the rest. It’s a cycle that turns ordinary daylight into long-term value.

And thanks to smart monitoring, James can see it all in real time. He knows when his panels are working hardest, when his battery’s full, and when to plug in the car to make the most of his free power. That kind of visibility turns energy from something you buy into something you understand.

Solar that fits your life, not the other way around

Every home’s different. Every roof, every routine, every kettle boil and car charge. What matters is designing a system that fits; one that makes the most of your available light, your tariff, and your habits.

That’s exactly what we did with James. His setup works around his lifestyle, not against it. It powers his car, keeps his bills predictable, and gives him control, even in a year when energy prices have been anything but predictable.

A brighter kind of independence

When James thanked us for “an amazing setup and a great experience from start to finish,” it wasn’t just about the install. It was about peace of mind: knowing that even under grey skies, his home is generating clean energy, storing it efficiently, and paying its way.

So yes, the numbers are impressive. But the real story is freedom – from rising prices, from uncertainty, and from feeling powerless when the bills arrive.

Here’s to another year of smart solar, steady savings and homes that work a little bit harder for the people who live in them.

☀️ Interested in seeing what solar could do for you?
We’ll help you design a system that fits your home, your budget and your goals, whether you’re powering a family house, an EV, or both.