WARNING SOLAR PANELS & some Siemens S2AS-100/ Siemens S1AS-100 Meters

espresso

furndire wrote: »

Here's what mine is like for the last few hours produced 21KW, used 15KW The last figure is for what the monitor says we are producing - I've had lge tv, pc & laptop on. most of the time & just background stuff which I used 4KW from 9 pm to 8.45 am.


time Mains Gen. Meter generating

1.05 8.45 93315 2766 773
10.55 93318 2770 2711
11.10 93319 2771 2827
12.15 93321 2774 3364
1.15 93323 2777 3647
4.10 93330 2787 3003


I don't know if you can read the above , but try as I might, I can't get the figures to stay where I edit them to.
I don't know if there is a way of copying from Excel without the figures staying in there grids

date    time        Mains        Gen. Meter  generating

1.05    8.45        93315        2766        773
        10.55       93318        2770        2711
        11.10       93319        2771        2827
        12.15       93321        2774        3364
        1.15        93323        2777        3647
        4.10        93330        2787        3003

To display tables correctly formatted, you can wrap the text in "[code]" table "[ /CODE]" tags.

furndire

Thanks for the info Expresso. I have already rung the supplier - they are coming out 10th May, to check meters - supposed to be putting another one on side by side with the one thats on -
Do you think this will actually pick up the problem?
- Personally I don't think it will, as the same amount of electric will be running through both ie adding it on.

I did say last time that I need them to send someone who knows what they are doing (a note was made of this at their end along with the hundreds of other notes) - so will give them another ring to tell them to send a technical engineer (I like that phrase - sounds like I know what I'm talking about).

Also thanks for the help re the tables. I'll have to give that a go shortly.

My main thought still is I wonder how many more people this is happening to, and they don't realise unless they are constantly watching their digital meters - possibly thinking electric consumption has gone down a little, but not by as much as it should have - especially as when you have Solar you are very much more aware of when you use appliances, and this is actually slowing down the addition of the KWs, but not going to show up the smaller amounts trickling on everyday. So, for example if I don't use every bit of electric I produce, the spare is added on to my meter.

I do wish I could explain things better

espresso

furndire wrote: »

Thanks for the info Expresso. I have already rung the supplier - they are coming out 18th May, to check meters - supposed to be putting another one on side by side with the one thats on -
Do you think this will actually pick up the problem?
- Personally I don't think it will, as the same amount of electric will be running through both ie adding it on.

Well I would expect that when their test meter is fitted along side yours, it will show only imported energy and will therefore show that your meter is displaying the totalled imported and exported usage.

I did say last time that I need them to send someone who knows what they are doing (a note was made of this at their end along with the hundreds of other notes) - so will give them another ring to tell them to send a technical engineer (I like that phrase - sounds like I know what I'm talking about).

I was concerned that if a simple meter exchange was arranged by your supplier, then your historical data may be lost.

Also thanks for the help re the tables. I'll have to give that a go shortly.

My main thought still is I wonder how many more people this is happening to, and they don't realise unless they are constantly watching their digital meters - possibly thinking electric consumption has gone down a little, but not by as much as it should have - especially as when you have Solar you are very much more aware of when you use appliances, and this is actually slowing down the addition of the KWs, but not going to show up the smaller amounts trickling on everyday. So, for example if I don't use every bit of electric I produce, the spare is added on to my meter.

I do wish I could explain things better

Well you have certainly highlighted a potential metering problem and it is unlikely that you are the only one affected by this. Other forum readers with solar PV now can check their metering but it is difficult to predict how many others with solar PV also have meters configured like yours.

..............

John_Pierpoint

Be very careful about "exchanged" meters.

I have had a water meter and an electricity meter replaced without any warning or agreement.
In both cases I eventually received what appeared to be an out of line bill, that I simply refused to pay and the companies involved eventually wrote off.

The electricity bill took 18 months to arrive and the replacement meter had an incorrect meter number (which I did not pick up immediately)

I would definitely bang the table and demand a technician who understands how to extract all the information from your existing meter (unless they are prepared to admit that a high percentage of your panels' output has been counted back to front).

furndire

Thanks John. We should be away on holiday at the moment - usually have 5 or 6 weeks wild camping in France, Spain this time of year, before it gets too hot, and I've to put it off because of this. I don't think my daughter would cope with sorting it out, or not strong enough character to tell them whats what - neither was I at first, but now, because I understand what is happening, I am not in a mood to be patronised by suppliers any more.
I've rung them again, and told them they must sent Technical engineer - I'm waiting for them to ring me back to confirm it - I've now got an 0800 number from them to ring if I need to, also, said how sick I was of having to sort this, 9 months is a long time - and I said I would be looking for compensation + what I have been overcharged (1st time I've mentioned this) so now they know I mean business.
I also want them to eventually test the meter to see if it is also a faulty meter - I did voice concerns a couple of years ago, but once again got fobbed off as I wasn't 100% sure and I felt we were maybe using more electric than should have been.

pauldreed

keith_r59 wrote: »

I agree. If this was happening to me I would simply switch the solar PV system off and leave it to ASG to sort it out with the electricity supplier.

It's frustrating, but I would sooner work with ASG and get the problem sorted ASAP.
Switching off the system would not benefit me because I would get no solar power, it would upset the reimbursement process with Scottish Power, and it would pee ASG off.
Also, Scottish Power would not negotiate reimbursement of my account with a third party - i.e. ASG, so it's got to be down to me to sort out.

What I am annoyed at, as I have said before, is that this was not detected and rectified pre-install - as part of the survey/assessment. Or, why I wasn't alerted when ASG became aware of this issue.

Cardew

pauldreed wrote: »

It's frustrating, but I would sooner work with ASG and get the problem sorted ASAP.
Switching off the system would not benefit me because I would get no solar power, it would upset the reimbursement process with Scottish Power, and it would pee ASG off.
Also, Scottish Power would not negotiate reimbursement of my account with a third party - i.e. ASG, so it's got to be down to me to sort out.

What I am annoyed at, as I have said before, is that this was not detected and rectified pre-install - as part of the survey/assessment. Or, why I wasn't alerted when ASG became aware of this issue.

Turning off the system and thus upsetting ASG would be exactly what was required to get them to act.

I really don't accept that Scottish Power will not negotiate with a third party. If you passed the matter to your solicitors, would SP refuse to negotiate with them?

You might be capable of understanding the issues involved and sorting it out, but it is a racing certainty that many of the victims wouldn't have a clue and be incapable of dealing with the Utility company.

pauldreed

Cardew wrote: »

Turning off the system and thus upsetting ASG would be exactly what was required to get them to act.

Act?? to do what?? see below

Cardew wrote: »

I really don't accept that Scottish Power will not negotiate with a third party. If you passed the matter to your solicitors, would SP refuse to negotiate with them?

I would not expect Scottish Power to discuss my account with anyone as it is a contract between myself and Scottish Power, with no third party disclosure other than for legal reasons. Why would I want to appoint a solicitor??
I'm miffed but not ballistic (yet)!

Cardew wrote: »

You might be capable of understanding the issues involved and sorting it out, but it is a racing certainty that many of the victims wouldn't have a clue and be incapable of dealing with the Utility company.

Agreed, but I think that as awareness of this problem by utility companies becomes widespread, it will become easier to sort out, but as I have pointed out in post 38 this thread, other ASG customers may not be aware of the issue, and it could remain undisclosed for 5, 10, 25 years...

HalloweenJack

may i say a heart felt ` thank you` for this thread;

why i hear you ask?

well , my local council (eastbourne borough council) are looking at fitting panels to 4700 or so suitable council houses in there own scheme; so i contacted them about these meters - and today i recieved a letter thanking me for bringing it to there attention , they were not aware of the issues regarding fitting and meters (and needing more stringent post installation checks) and will be adding it to the specification for contractors.

so again - thank you , i know it doesnt help your own situation - but , by telling us , at least someone will get it right.

PeterZ_2

Cardew wrote: »

Turning off the system and thus upsetting ASG would be exactly what was required to get them to act.

I really don't accept that Scottish Power will not negotiate with a third party. If you passed the matter to your solicitors, would SP refuse to negotiate with them?

You might be capable of understanding the issues involved and sorting it out, but it is a racing certainty that many of the victims wouldn't have a clue and be incapable of dealing with the Utility company.

I would say that turning off the system is a bad idea, you would probably be in breach of a term in the contract. And anyway, it looks like ASG are doing everything they can to sort it out so why go making things worse?

Its absolutely correct that Scottish power will not negotiate with a third party. Data protection and other laws are there for a good reason to protect the consumer.

I think the issue here is that the problems lies with a meter that is both the property of and responsibility of Scottish power. It is also Scottish power who are responsible for the inncorrect billing, so really all ASG can do is to help mediate.

While I agree that ASG, or any other company installs solar panels should check for this sort of issue, your anger should be directed at Scottish power. If I was in this position that's who I would be dealing with as they are the ones who can resolve it. ASG can not come and change your meter!