Solar Panels require Smart Meters?

bery_451

Regarding the free solar panel scheme, do they have to install a Smart Meter in your house when they install the Solar Panels?

Or can you opt out the Smart Meter when they install Solar Panels?

happenstance

Depends on the contract you sign with the free panels. Smart meters measure accurately the amount exported back to the grid, so they might make more money not accurately measuring exported units.

Don't you want a smart meter?

matelodave

What's wrong with smart meters

macman

There's no connection. If you want to claim FIT's, then you need a generation meter, so that will normally be included with the PV install. Nothing to do with smart meters, which merely measure usage, and are fitted by your DNO or metering company.

bery_451

macman wrote: »

There's no connection. If you want to claim FIT's, then you need a generation meter, so that will normally be included with the PV install. Nothing to do with smart meters, which merely measure usage, and are fitted by your DNO or metering company.

new generation meters and smart meters are totally different to each other?

I thought the new generation is smart meters

macman

I said 'generation meter', not 'new generation'.
All a generation meter does is measure the output from your solar panels. FITs are then calculated and paid based on those readings.
Nothing to do with smart metering at all.

happenstance

macman wrote: »

I said 'generation meter', not 'new generation'.
All a generation meter does is measure the output from your solar panels. FITs are then calculated and paid based on those readings.
Nothing to do with smart metering at all.

But doesn't a smart meter do away with the automatic assumption of half of generated units are consumed?

macman

I'm not aware that a smart meter is equipped to measure PV generation.
Nor am I aware that the present system of a deemed 50% of output going back to the grid is going to be changed if you have a smart meter installed.

happenstance

macman wrote: »

I'm not aware that a smart meter is equipped to measure PV generation.
Nor am I aware that the present system of a deemed 50% of output going back to the grid is going to be changed if you have a smart meter installed.

Some smart meters can act as export meters.

macman

But does that mean that the FITs provider will (or is required to) use that export option, rather than the deemed 50% from the generation meter?
For most people the deemed 50% is probably a better deal.