PV panels - does this seem right?

giant08

We have free solar panels installed and due to having the wrong meter installed initially (anti tamper meter apparently)the energy we were exporting was being charged back to us. This was 'resolved' with the installation of a new meter and BG refunded us £300.00. Apparently it is estimated that around 60% of the energy generated goes back to the grid so based on this information I have checked what we have generated over the past 12 months since the new meter was installed and this was 4441KW(verified by the panels provider)and what we have been charged by BG (4862KW). If it is estimated that around 60% goes back to the grid ie 2664KW does the charge by BG seem correct? We have also changed our usage habits so am at a bit of a loss - any thoughts please lovely people - have I got the wrong end of the stick?

macman

What is the rating of your system in kWp? 4441kWh seems very high-that's more than the average UK annual usage. Impossible to estimate what goes back into the grid: for FIT's purposes it is assumed that you export 50% and use the rest.

giant08

Thanks for your reply - I'm not sure about the rating I'll have to dig out the paperwork. AShadeGreener have confirmed the generation as 4441KWH and the BG bills show that they have charged us for 4862KWh usage so we aren't giving anything back to the grid and are using more than we're generating and then some!

silverwhistle

Wander over to the Green & Ethical Money Saving Board and ask the question again. You might have to answer a few questions but you'll get lots of advice..

[Deleted User]

I have seen many solar panel set ups with backward running meters. Installers dont seem concerned, the occupiers are overjoyed and as usual dont say a word about it to the suppliers even though they know they are getting extra. I always have a look at the meters even if they are with other suppliers. Npower meters seem to be the worst offenders .Meter readers havent been told to check for this happening and so the public are getting away with it. Maybe this poster has a backward running meter artificially increasing the kwhr production

Cardew

4,441kWh is very high for a 12 month generation, and as the all? AShadeGreener's earlier systems were 3.3kWp it would be impossible.


Of course a simple explanation could be that the period was over 12 months!


Without an export meter, which is not routinely fitted, BG's figure is just an estimate.

macman

For a rough estimate, how many panels do you have installed? Roughly 200-250W per panel.

giant08

Thank you all for your comments (you are obviously much more clued up than me!). AShadeGreener have confirmed to me this morning that the 4441KW generated is from the 28th March 2013 (when the meter was replaced by BG) to yesterday the 23rd April and they attached a daily breakdown of how much had been generated totalling the 4441KW). Each quarter I submitted the meter reading to BG and they have charged back to me a total of 4862KW for the same period. I have asked ASG to confirm the KWp for the system.
NB The generated total from Feb 2012 to March 2013 was confirmed by ASG as 3591KW and this was the figure accepted by BG in order to give us the original refund (they agreed a 60% input back to the grid).
So if I understand the figures correctly we have generated 4441KW but have been charged for 4862KW which actually gives no allowance for any amount sent back to the grid?