metric_min_improvement_export doesn't prevent exports

[alexhoulton]

Describe the bug
Setting metric_min_improvement_export to a high number (eg: 50p) does not prevent exports when the value for a slot is less than said setting

Expected behaviour

I only want to export when it's very profitable (saving session, axle etc..) and not do things like dump out battery or cycle overnight for ~8p.
Setting metric_min_improvement_export seems to be the suggested setting for this, however I can't seem to set it to any value which prevents all export on a normal day.

Setting metric_min_improvement_export to a ridiculous number should prevent all export(?), as it would never be worth it under normal circumstances

Predbat version

v8.33.1

Environment details

• FoxESS 5kW inverter, EP11 battery
• Docker predbat_addon/home assistant install

predbat.log
predbat_debug.yaml.txt

[WyndStryke]

Personally I would not have used that particular setting. I'd do it via predbat_metric_battery_cycle, set it to 8p.

I think the 'min_improvement_' settings affect the slot mode optimisation process rather than the cost optimisation. By increasing the cost of cycling the battery it will actively discourage predbat from exporting power imported overnight, unless the price difference exceeds 8p. Whereas (if I understand correctly) the min_improvement_ settings are more passive.

Not guaranteeing that I understand correctly.

[gcoan]

I'm not sure there is such a distinction, I would treat them as both different ways of optimising the plan.

Both of them affect the cost of exporting in the plan, the metric_battery_cycle changes the cost of exporting, the min_improvement_export sets a threshold that must be passed for the export to be worthwhile so discharge rate is also a factor here. The disadvantage of using metric_battery_cycle is that it affects both charging and discharging from the battery so is a blunter tool IMHO.

[chibbert]

I'm finding the same thing @alexhoulton - I'm on Octopus Go, and I've been trying to stop predbat exporting the last of the battery at the end of the day just before the cheap rate starts as to me it doesn't feel like the right thing to do for a couple of pence, and have been trying to use predbat_metric_min_improvement_export, and as you've found too, even if I set it really high it isn't stopping the export at the end of the day.

I'm working around the overnight cycling using a suggestion from another bug to set the export rate to 0p during the cheap rate:

  rates_export_override:
    - start: '00:30:00'
      end: '05:30:00'
      rate: 0

[chibbert]

I'm also not seeing "predbat_metric_min_improvement_export_freeze" having any affect on planned export freezes :-(