Negative Meter Read

greyteam1959

Solar PV installed about 3 months ago & as my meter runs backwards I have now got a negative meter reading to give to Scottish Power.
I would presume that they are going to want to change my meter ??
What should they be installing ??
I already have a generation meter as part of the solar PV installation.

JenR8

They gave us a digital meter that just registers the number of units we use. They estimated our usage during the period our old meter was going backwards, based on our previous usage. (before solar) I'm awaiting a leaving bill from them, when I will question this estimate.

Smart meters are not yet fitted as standard we were told.

aeromint

JenR8 wrote: »

They gave us a digital meter that just registers the number of units we use. They estimated our usage during the period our old meter was going backwards, based on our previous usage. (before solar) I'm awaiting a leaving bill from them, when I will question this estimate.

Smart meters are not yet fitted as standard we were told.

for


JenR8

Did the energy company charge you for supplying a digital meter? Thanks

KevinG

JenR8 wrote: »

They gave us a digital meter that just registers the number of units we use. They estimated our usage during the period our old meter was going backwards, based on our previous usage. (before solar) I'm awaiting a leaving bill from them, when I will question this estimate.

Smart meters are not yet fitted as standard we were told.

That sounds like an unreasonable basis for an estimate. Since, in the absence of an export meter, they assume that 50% of generated power is exported, it would seem reasonable to base the estimate of undercharging on this, i.e. to assume that you are liable to pay for 50% of generated power, nothing to do with your previous consumption.

I too am in the position of having a meter that runs backwards and I have two separate generators (Micro CHP and Solar PV) and I have declared this fact on both occasions, so I am not sure how much more effort I need to put into getting them to change the meter.

JenR8

No charge is made for the meter. The very idea! Its in their interest surely to have up-to-date accurate readings.

Scottish_Power

Dear Mervyn11,

We will need to install digital meters for customers who have solar panels. Generally the panel installer will advise customers that this needs to be done. If anyone requires this done please contact me directly at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] . We do not charge for this meter exchange.

Thanks

[EMAIL="Marie@scottishpower"]Marie@scottishpower[/EMAIL]

Cardew

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Dear Mervyn11,

We will need to install digital meters for customers who have solar panels. Generally the panel installer will advise customers that this needs to be done. If anyone requires this done please contact me directly at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] . We do not charge for this meter exchange.

Thanks

[EMAIL="Marie@scottishpower"]Marie@scottishpower[/EMAIL]

The problem is there is absoluely no incentive for anyone to inform the supply company.

In fact there is an incentive to conceal the situation for as long as possible.

KevinG

So, it seems that the FiT registration form asks you if your meter is running backwards but this information is not passed on to the supplier (which in most cases will be a different department of the same company). In my case this is Scottish Power in both cases. I think I will let my supplier know explicitly at some point, but I'm going to let it run for now and see what happens - after all I have not tried to conceal anything.

There must be hundreds, if not thousands of people in this position.

mickyduck

KevinG wrote: »

So, it seems that the FiT registration form asks you if your meter is running backwards but this information is not passed on to the supplier (which in most cases will be a different department of the same company). In my case this is Scottish Power in both cases. I think I will let my supplier know explicitly at some point, but I'm going to let it run for now and see what happens - after all I have not tried to conceal anything.

There must be hundreds, if not thousands of people in this position.

There was nothing on my FIT application re meter running backwards (e on) but sadly I have a very modern digital one so not a issue for me anyway.

zeupater

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Dear Mervyn11,

We will need to install digital meters for customers who have solar panels. Generally the panel installer will advise customers that this needs to be done. If anyone requires this done please contact me directly at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] . We do not charge for this meter exchange.

Thanks

Marie@scottishpower

@scottishpower company representative

Hi

Could you please clarify the above .... do you mean that ALL 'customers who have solar panels' will have digital meters and that these will be able to measure export as well as import, or do you mean that only the 'customers who have solar panels' where the import meter runs backwards will have digital meters fitted and if so will they also measure export ? .... also, if the reference is not related to import/export, the why specifically digital meters as surely any standard meter with a ratchet would suffice.

Regarding 'Generally the panel installer will advise customers that this needs to be done', my experience, and that of many others, is that this is not the case. The installer will advise on the completion, or even complete on behalf of the customer, the relevant paperwork and their expectation, along with that of the customer, is that the FiT provider will liaise with the DNO and the energy provider to ensure that the metering equipment is replaced if necessary, whether or not there is a specific question relating to meter reversal on the FiT application form.

It is the responsibility of the industry to resolve any meter reversal issues and they have all of the information readily at hand to be able to achieve this in a timely manner. The MPAN has a meter and the meter has a type and it's known which types will reverse. The solution is therefore simple and readily achieveable and should be a required standard practice within industry procedures, preferably with a prescribed maximum timescale.

Whilst the issue has the attention of an official representative of one of the energy providers it would be appropriate for the position of the company to be clarified regarding recovery of lost revenue from the customer resulting from reversing metering equipment, which is known by the energy industry to be inappropriate, being installed ..... this is an open invitation to all energy provider representatives to provide feedback for their customers ...

Z

greyteam1959

KevinG wrote: »

So, it seems that the FiT registration form asks you if your meter is running backwards but this information is not passed on to the supplier (which in most cases will be a different department of the same company). In my case this is Scottish Power in both cases. I think I will let my supplier know explicitly at some point, but I'm going to let it run for now and see what happens - after all I have not tried to conceal anything.

There must be hundreds, if not thousands of people in this position.

Because I could not not enter a 'negative' reading on my online Scottish Power account I emailed them & asked them what to do.
They accepted my 'negative' reading & adjusted my bill.
Now waiting to see if I get contacted to have a digital meter installed.