Solar panels and metering

[bojan]

I have an interesting issue with SP Ausnet ( I never knew it exist until recently).
The issue is this:
I've got the solar panels installed on my investment property last year, and when I asked the installer could I keep the old (mechanical) meter, I received the answer ".. but you will not have a full benefit from your solar!".
Because of some controversies related to the new electronic meters last year, I decided to keep the old (mechanical) one.

And, when the property was vacated for the short period of time between two tenancies, I moved into it to do some renovation, and of course I was also keen to see how the solar was performing... I was puzzled for a while when I discovered the system was OFF. I turned it ON, and the old meter was happily turning backwards on sunny days - and I was happy.....
... Until I received the bill from power company with made-up meter readings (they just estimated the reading with last 3 numbers rounded as "000" and issued me with final bill with them, while the actual reading was actually lower than that when I moved in a month earlier.

Then, I received the communication from SP Ausnet that my solar generator "needs to be kept OFF until the new, electronic meter is installed - because the old mechanical meter is "not solar capable" (whatever that means ??).


I don't know how to resolve all this properly, and who should initiate the procedure now that the house is rented, and the original paperwork was apparently lost, being ignored by tenants who were renting at the time of installation.
Is there anyone with similar experience, and how was it resolved?

And, really, why should I switch to new power meter ? The only reasonable argument for me would be if they say the power meter is not calibrated for pumping the power back into the grid, but they are not saying this - they say "it doesn't support the solar generator" which is clearly a nonsense, because it does record the net energy consumption, as it should.

Any similar experiences?

[bojan]

Just changed the title of the thread, to avoid confusion.. :P

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Bojan,

I think the problem here is the tariff of the electricity, namely, you arent getting back the electricity at the rate you are buying it, or vice versa..... also, nothing is technically being counted in either direction....

Consider mine: my solar meter is reading ONLY what my solar system is generating and therefore only goes up. Last time I looked at it about 6 months ago, it had generated over 2000 KWh and at my rate, of 60c per KWh, thats $1200....

When Integral Energy read the meters, (I have 3 phase) they tally up what we have used and then calculate the generated solar amount value and subtract that monetary amount from my bill. (generally about $300-$400 per quarter).

When you have a single meter that "spins" backwards when fed with solar, they have NO WAY of knowing just how much solar you have generated OR how much electricity the house has used, which are BOTH different rates depending on your deal.....This means, they dont know how much electricity you have used ("billings") and how much solar you have generated ("rebates") so their accounting system is all screwed up.

Therefore, they have probably "estimated" the usage based on historical data for the house (before the solar) and this is just a best guess because of the solar being connected to a non-compliant meter....

They need to know how much solar energy is being generated by consumer "grids" so they can report it back to the government as they have to PROVE how much their constituents are generating so they can satisfy the green generation percentage they are held to by the government.

Ultimately, you could also be diddling yourself out of money because if your house is not using any electricity and the solar is supplying power to the grid, then there is no way for the meter reader to determine what generation amount has come from the solar system, which ultimately you get back as a credit!

I have seen some houses in my area that have large roofs which have around 15-20 solar panels up there and I am pretty sure they are getting a CREDIT on their bills as their usage would be nowhere near the 3-4KWh per hour they would be generating on a bright sunny day....I've got 8 x 190W panels and clear skies generate instantaneous power of 1.4KWh and I have seen my house collect 11KWh in one day!

Hope this helps?

Cheers

Chris

[supernova1965]

Hi Bojan,

Having gone to the expense of getting solar I can't understand why you don't want to get the full benifit of it, right now you have paid for it with no power being generated because you can't have it on. The installer tried to say you should have the new meter installed. Not having a go just can't understand why you don't want to get the most bang for your buck.:shrug:

[bojan]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the reply.. Yes I was aware of those issues.. However, I didn't care much about rates (because the house is rented out - so I am not sure how to approach this, because the power company has to be involved, and I do not have contract with them (the tenants had.. and now the new tenants are inside).

However, when they issued me the bill for that one month during my stay, they even didn't know the solar was on the roof - so I complained about the final bill (because they were supposed to read the meter status and they clearly didn't).

I don't like being forced into a deal I do not really want (with all those strings attached) - I would be perfectly happy with just reduced power consumption - but they want me to get into a contract with different peak and off-peak rates, and I personally don't want it, and I certainly have no control over what my tenants may or may not want.. so it is sort of pat-position for now ;)
Anyhow, I will have to sort it out somehow.. sooner or later.

[supernova1965]

I would think that you could get benifit from being able to charge a better rent if the tennant can get cheaper electricity bills.

[bojan]

Warren,
it is because the house is rented and tenants are receiving the bill.
I can't benefit, until I move in which will be in a year or two, not earlier.
And I invested because I wanted to use government rebate, while this is still on the table.

But, i will have to sort it out - I just don't like being pushed into a deal which I don't like - even if it is in my ineterst (who says so? government.. is it really in my interest?)