Too much power

keith_r59

I contacted npower customer services to inform them that I had solar panels installed (didn't mention that the meter was running backwards though) and asked them whether they needed to replace the meter.

They e-mailed back to say that they didn't need to but I think that may change when they notice negative electricity usage at the next billing run.

thenudeone

You will be very lucky if you manage to make more electricity than you will use, even in the summer, unless you are very frugal with appliances or only live there part time

keith_r59

thenudeone wrote: »

You will be very lucky if you manage to make more electricity than you will use, even in the summer, unless you are very frugal with appliances or only live there part time

I think you find it is the other way around in that you will tend to generate far more energy than you can use, especially in the summer.

That is why the Energy Savings Trust has recently revised their solar savings estimate to only 25% of the energy generated being used within the home.

bjohnson

According to nPower our annual consumption is 6083 kWh. Since March, when our panels were installed, it has been minus 281 kWh according to our meter!

thenudeone

keith_r59 wrote: »

I think you find it is the other way around in that you will tend to generate far more energy than you can use, especially in the summer.

That is why the Energy Savings Trust has recently revised their solar savings estimate to only 25% of the energy generated being used within the home.

The EST revision is nothing to do with the overall amount produced; it's all about the timing. The estimates of how much a specific installation will produce have not changed.

A FIT-maximised system of 4kW will produce 3000-3500 kWh pa
The Average UK household electricity consumption is 4800 kWh pa
http://www.carbonindependent.org/sources_home_energy.htm

If 3000kWh of generation is phased as follows (just a guess):
Winter 500
Spring 750
Summer 1000
Autumn 750

Then, you would need to use rather than export >80% of summer generation for the summer quarter's imports to be nil or negative; which is quite a target.

keith_r59

thenudeone wrote: »

Then, you would need to use rather than export >80% of summer generation for the summer quarter's imports to be nil or negative; which is quite a target.

If you have a meter that is running backwards then the less solar generated energy you use in the home the more likely it is that you will end up with negative grid electricity usage.

Don't take my word for it, see the last post from bjohnson where he/she has reported a minus meter reading since installing solar panels.

thenudeone

keith_r59 wrote: »

If you have a meter that is running backwards then the less solar generated energy you use in the home the more likely it is that you will end up with negative grid electricity usage.

Agreed. But Elec cos are keen to put a stop to that!

free_juice?

thenudeone wrote: »

If 3000kWh of generation is phased as follows (just a guess):
Winter 500
Spring 750
Summer 1000
Autumn 750

Then, you would need to use rather than export >80% of summer generation for the summer quarter's imports to be nil or negative; which is quite a target.

For what it is worth, my supply meter is currently showing only 64 units more than it was when I installed solar panels exactly six months ago. My recent reading was 40 more than three months before; I am possibly being silly but I have had to struggle to keep my meter going in a positive direction; eg running the second pump on the garden pond, a practice previously stopped as it was costing too much.

Just to confuse the arithmetic I switched from tungsten to low energy bulbs when I installed solar and coincidentally I have watched TV (large plasma) rather less this year.

Cardew

I wonder if there will ever be a test case where the company will charge customers for the kWh they have 'lost'?

Where meters have become faulty(under or over-reading on not reading at all) they are authorised to estimate consumption based on previous consumption.

Sharon1985

on the e-on application form it does not mention meter going back wards , there is a video on you tube you can watch where it shows a meter going backwards after an install , im not willing to post the link has it will be treated as spam . pm if you wish me to send you the link.