Solar Panel Guide Discussion

[Deleted User]

Our meter was changed earlier this week - I did not want hassle over bills being wrong. NPower will change it for free but according to the guy who changed it, not all the utility companies change it for free - EON being one that apparently charges. Can't remember the others he said. The guy was not from Npower but from a company they use to change the meter.

Also - it seems that now the meter is changed, Npower would be renting from whoever company this guy was from. But if we later switch supplier, that rental stops as there is no scheme in place to keep up with passing the rental on to a new supplier.

Not that the rental affects us - but just some useless info for anyone who might like to know...

KevinG

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

And so it is, but it still doesn't prevent them from charging you for what they believe you've used .... the amount you gain or loose as a result of the meter running backwards depending entirely on how long it takes to change the meter, would you likely gain or loose .... well it just depends on how much they would estimate you've gained, which would probably be based on assuming a straight percentage of generation ... 50% ? .... ????

HTH
Z

Yes, I would hope that if I were to be charged it would be based on the cost of 50% of the amount I had generated since, in the absence of an export meter, there is no way of proving otherwise. I would still try to argue the case on the basis that I had told them about it originally, maybe try to restrict the claim for payment to 3 months or 12 months or something. I am hoping that the meter will just be changed at some point anyway (smart meter roll-out?) without the question of charging arising. It was last changed routinely in 2007, for an older style of meter than the one I had before!

[Deleted User]

Re smart meters - and following on from my post above, the guy who changed our meter (not for a smart meter) says the smart meter rollout has stopped as there is a bit of an administrative mess going on the background, mainly to do with exactly how it is going to be administered. I'm not sure if that is nationally or just in my area.

busser

Anybody had dealings with a company called THINKGREENEARTH LTD or its offshoot ELECTRICITY397 for solar panels. Can't seem to find any feedback for these companies on supply and fit but a lot of self praise on their websites

[Deleted User]

KevinG wrote: »

Yes, I would hope that if I were to be charged it would be based on the cost of 50% of the amount I had generated since, in the absence of an export meter, there is no way of proving otherwise. I would still try to argue the case on the basis that I had told them about it originally, maybe try to restrict the claim for payment to 3 months or 12 months or something. I am hoping that the meter will just be changed at some point anyway (smart meter roll-out?) without the question of charging arising. It was last changed routinely in 2007, for an older style of meter than the one I had before!

Not sure if this is of any use...

My meter runs backwards [sometimes] and other than notifying them on the FIT application that's all you can do. It's their meter so is up to them to sort it out... Speaking to my installer about this his experience is that customers have not been chased for any money as a result of the meter going backwards...

Prior to installing the PV I did contact npower that my meter was likely to run backwards but it was like speaking to a brick wall...

Cheers

John_Pierpoint

One of my local MP's - who got elected for the Tories on on a "hanging chad" majority - like the warmongering USA president - has entertained us in the local paper to some thoughts on the imminent installation of smart meters:

* Both gas and electric meters to be replaced by 2016.

* No subsidy from the tax payer.

* £240 cost for each household on dual fuel.

* £23 a year saving in consumption.

* This is the usual UK "gold plating" as the directive only requires 80% of domestic electricity meters.

Now I thought the idea was to be able to deal with power demand surges by remotely turning on or off peoples immersions, storage heaters, freezers and other high drain applications?

I'm not sure that some sort of "Owl" for both gas and electric to remind me I am spending money, needs something costing £120, when mass installed in every home?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Doyle-Price
http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/columnists/jackie_doyleprice/

So with that meter maintenance task looming - I doubt there will be a rush to replace old meters going backwards.

anselld

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

* £23 a year saving in consumption.

How do they do that? The old mechanical meters only consume a couple of watts.

orrery

anselld wrote: »

How do they do that? The old mechanical meters only consume a couple of watts.

By showing the user how much they are using and spending thereby motivating them to turn things off.

John_Pierpoint

Yes and half of that that is for the gas meter:D

"You forgot to switch the condensing boiler to "set back" before we went to the Xmas party, we could have saved the cost of another 50 yards in that taxi !" or perhaps the room sensors tell the meter there is nobody at home and the meter telephones you to ask you when you will be getting home, so it can turn the heating back on half an hour before you arrive.

I think the idea is that if you are extravagant, having these meters nag you, will reduce your consumption.
Same idea as having a modern car with a display of your miles per gallon.

Funny thing, it still does not nudge some people with a "Master of the Universe" attitude from buying the go faster version of the car.:rotfl:

grannyjo

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14307.30.html
On navitron web site there is a lot of discussion about the legality of estimating the amount of electricity that fed back into a meter that goes backwards. Apparently OFGEM has written guidelines and they disaprove of companies deciding to estimate the amount. did a search on meter running backward and there were 2 main sections.