From €200/Month to €38: How the Murphys Cut Their Bill in Dublin

The Murphy Family: A Dublin Solar Success Story

When Declan and Sarah Murphy first enquired about solar panels for their three-bedroom semi-detached home in Dundrum, Dublin, they were, in their own words, "sceptical but curious." Their monthly electricity bill had crept up to €200, and they'd heard neighbours talking about solar savings. Six months after their installation, they're converts — and their electricity bill tells the story.

The Starting Point

The Murphys' home is a typical 1980s build with a south-facing rear roof slope. Their annual electricity consumption was approximately 5,200 kWh — above average, driven by two teenagers, a home office, and regular use of a tumble dryer and dishwasher. Their electricity bill had risen steadily from €140/month in 2022 to €200/month by mid-2025.

"We'd looked into solar a few times but kept putting it off," says Declan. "We thought Ireland was too cloudy and that the savings wouldn't justify the cost. It was only when our neighbour got panels and showed us his monitoring app that we took it seriously."

The Installation

Solar Dublin conducted a free site survey in March 2026 and recommended a 6kWp system with 16 Jinko panels and a GivEnergy 5.2kWh battery. The total cost was €9,200, with the €2,400 SEAI grant (€1,800 panels + €600 battery) reducing the net cost to €6,800.

"The installation was done in a single day," recalls Sarah. "The team arrived at 8am, had scaffolding up by 8:30, and the panels were on the roof by lunchtime. They were finished and commissioning by 4pm. Honestly, it was less disruptive than having a plumber round."

The Results After Six Months

After a full six months of generation data (April through September), the results speak for themselves:

• June bill: €38 (down from €200)
• July bill: €42
• August bill: €52
• April bill: €98
• May bill: €55
• September bill: €78

Even accounting for higher winter bills, the Murphys project annual savings of approximately €1,400 — a 70% reduction on their previous spend. At this rate, their payback period is under 5 years.

The Battery Game-Changer

"The battery made all the difference," says Declan. "Without it, we'd be exporting a lot of our daytime generation because we're both at work. With the battery, we come home to a fully charged system and barely touch the grid in the evening. Some nights our import is literally zero."

The Murphys' GivEnergy battery typically charges to 100% by 2pm on a sunny day, providing 4–5 hours of evening electricity entirely from stored solar.

The Murphy's Advice

"Just do it," says Sarah. "We spent two years researching and procrastinating. In hindsight, we should have installed two years ago — we'd have saved thousands. The SEAI grant won't be around forever, and electricity prices aren't coming down."