Put your solar panel questions to the Energy Saving Trust

creaky_joints

Since installing a 3.4kW system two months ago I am now registering an increased use of electricity (up 37% at my electricity meter) over previous usage. My meter is an electronic one and seems to me to be registering flow out to the grid from my PV system as usage. My neighbour who has an older mechanical meter appears to be using no electricity as his meter runs backwards during the day when he is generating PV energy. Is my meter faulty or is this a function of an electronic meters, I have already noted that my "smart meter" which used to show energy usage of appliances clearly shows flow in from or out to the grid.

Many thanks

grimwau

I assume that there will be some sort of meter to allow you to see how much energy produced during daylight hours so is it possible to equate that to how much indidviual appliances use, eg. Washing machines, dishwashers, or indeed immersion heaters so that you can use all of the energy produced?

For instance, if a unit costs c10p and the unused units are sold back to the grid for c4.3p then, if you are able to use all the energy you produce that will reduce your electricity bills even more.

One other question, if you sell your house can you legally still claim the FIT payments and just allow the new purchaser to benefit from the free electricity (subject of course to a legal contract being drawn up to state this) in the same way as the free solar companies operate?

Howard_Robard_Hughes,_Jr.

I'm intending to move during the next couple of years (my current home does not have solar panels).
If I buy a property that already has solar panels installed and working, would I be able to receive Feed In Tariff payments at the same rate as the previous owner was getting, or would the energy company treat it as a new agreement and only give me whatever the "going rate" was at that time.

meteoracle

Our family moved into a new build house just over 3 years ago. The house was built with solar panels on the roof but we were never informed about feed-in tariffs. How do I go about finding out if our solar panels do feed into the grid, and if so, where has the money gone for the feed-in tariff so far?

Cardew

meteoracle wrote: »

Our family moved into a new build house just over 3 years ago. The house was built with solar panels on the roof but we were never informed about feed-in tariffs. How do I go about finding out if our solar panels do feed into the grid, and if so, where has the money gone for the feed-in tariff so far?

Welcome to the forum.

You are talking about Solar PV and not solar thermal for hot water? If so we can answer that.

3 years ago the FIT scheme had not started and so you will not be eligble for FITs as it is not retrospective.

However you should be selling back electricity to the grid and should have been informed about how to claim - again assuming that you own the house and are not renting.

clairanne

There are 3 things to be metered, FIT, electricity used by yourself, and excess returned to the national grid, are there three standing charges, i.e. one for each type of metering or just one standing charge, or no standing charges at all?

energysavingexp

clairanne wrote: »

There are 3 things to be metered, FIT, electricity used by yourself, and excess returned to the national grid, are there three standing charges, i.e. one for each type of metering or just one standing charge, or no standing charges at all?

most people have 2 meters your normal one that shows use from the grid the other one shows total solar production
this is this one that you get paid the fit on what ever the reading you get paid 43.3p per kwh production then 3.1p for 50% of that reading for export

as for the standing charge there is none on solar production you only pay a standing charge if that is what tariff you are on from your energy supplier

HalloweenJack

i didnt think even generation (or export) meters were routinely fitted? hence why the export figure is assumed to be 50%

energysavingexp

HalloweenJack wrote: »

i didnt think even generation (or export) meters were routinely fitted? hence why the export figure is assumed to be 50%

you need to have a generation meter to claimm the fit
but you dont need an export meter this is assumed to be 50%

HalloweenJack

energysavingexp wrote: »

you need to have a generation meter to claimm the fit
but you dont need an export meter this is assumed to be 50%

thats it - damn am tired today!