Is this a good quote for Solar?

nigelpm

JimLad wrote: »

I was of the understanding that you get paid for your "export" whether you used it or not? Is there any harm in heating your water when you dont need it? I guess its just not environmentally friendly?

Two points.

1) You are needlessly wasting energy that could be used by the grid.

2) You are putting extra wear/tear on your immersion element.

Also (likely a moot point as you might not want the iBoost anyway) but if your meter goes backward then it's a big advantage to turn it off!

nigelpm

jackieblack wrote: »

We have noticed that our loft, which used to get very hot in the summer, remains considerably cooler since the roof was covered in PV panels

That's interesting. We moved to a new house so have not idea how hot the loft was before but it must have an impact.

mac2008

nigelpm wrote: »

Two points.

1) You are needlessly wasting energy that could be used by the grid.

2) You are putting extra wear/tear on your immersion element.

Also (likely a moot point as you might not want the iBoost anyway) but if your meter goes backward then it's a big advantage to turn it off!

Of course if your electricity meter is an older style one with a spinning dial and does go backwards (not all of them do) you should inform your supplier at the earliest opportunity. But hey, you might be 'too busy' for a few months or 'not notice'

After I told British Gas, sadly it took about five months to find a suitable appointment time to change mine

Importantly, you should also check your existing meter does not add exported units onto your usage. Some models of Siemens digital ones do this as an anti-fraud measure apparently - see http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3191844

nigelpm

mac2008 wrote: »

Of course if your electricity meter is an older style one with a spinning dial and does go backwards (not all of them do) you should inform your supplier at the earliest opportunity. But hey, you might be 'too busy' for a few months or 'not notice'

After I told British Gas, sadly it took about five months to find a suitable appointment time to change mine

Importantly, you should also check your existing meter does not add exported units onto your usage. Some models of Siemens digital ones do this as an anti-fraud measure apparently - see http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3191844

Did you have to pay for the meter replacement?

Given, some energy suppliers (All?) have clauses in their T&C to require the consumer to have a meter that is fit for purpose presumably one would also be responsible if you had a meter as above as well?

JimLad

nigelpm wrote: »

Two points.

1) You are needlessly wasting energy that could be used by the grid.

2) You are putting extra wear/tear on your immersion element.

Also (likely a moot point as you might not want the iBoost anyway) but if your meter goes backward then it's a big advantage to turn it off!

Two good points! Dont think my meter will go backwards as my house was only built 3 years ago and its a digital one!

Currently i have my hot water set to heat up early for our morning showers and then again late afternoon for any washing up or extra showers. Im hoping that with the iboost i can ditch the afternoon one. What do people think?

mac2008

nigelpm wrote: »

Did you have to pay for the meter replacement?

Given, some energy suppliers (All?) have clauses in their T&C to require the consumer to have a meter that is fit for purpose presumably one would also be responsible if you had a meter as above as well?

Sorry to take this thread slightly off topic.

My position was that the meter was not owned by me and therefore it was their responsibility to ensure it was working correctly. I've heard it argued that because we've made changes (i.e. adding solar PV) that has made the meter unsuitable, we do have to pay.

I think it depends a lot on who happens to pick up the 'phone and if they actually understand what you're talking about. I called British Gas' metering chaps directly - 0845 955 5820.

BG changed mine without quibble and the chap upgraded the isolator (between the import meter and my CU) to a double pole one for free as he said something about good practice (usually about £50 to do this I believe).

nigelpm

JimLad wrote: »

Two good points! Dont think my meter will go backwards as my house was only built 3 years ago and its a digital one!

Currently i have my hot water set to heat up early for our morning showers and then again late afternoon for any washing up or extra showers. Im hoping that with the iboost i can ditch the afternoon one. What do people think?

Nope, it definitely won't go backwards.

Definitely, in the Summer you might even just be able to give you short iboost at say 5am - may work out cheaper to use immersion rather than have the GCH come on at all.

Winter - might still get away with the afternoon but if the GCH is coming on anyway probably best to use gas over the immersion.

Will need experimentation.

JimLad

nigelpm wrote: »

Nope, it definitely won't go backwards.

Definitely, in the Summer you might even just be able to give you short iboost at say 5am - may work out cheaper to use immersion rather than have the GCH come on at all.

Winter - might still get away with the afternoon but if the GCH is coming on anyway probably best to use gas over the immersion.

Will need experimentation.

I see...Do you have to set times when the iboost works? I was under the impression that whenever you were exporting 200w or more then the iboost came on and only turned off when the thermostat clicked. 24 hours a day. Then when the gas heating came on it didnt need to use as much / any to get it up to the thermostat temp

Martyn1981

nigelpm wrote: »

Did you have to pay for the meter replacement?

Given, some energy suppliers (All?) have clauses in their T&C to require the consumer to have a meter that is fit for purpose presumably one would also be responsible if you had a meter as above as well?

But the meter must also be 'fit for purpose', even if there is PV.

Check out Ted's comments and links (reply #7) on this Navitron thread (he's a site moderator, and specialist in providing/finding regs etc):

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,22180.msg257712.html#msg257712

Regarding the meters that count export as import. They can (I believe) be changed to not add export to import, but regardless, would presumably also be classed as not fit for purpose if they couldn't cope with PV (or other) export.

Mart.

nigelpm

Martyn1981 wrote: »

But the meter must also be 'fit for purpose', even if there is PV.

Check out Ted's comments and links (reply #7) on this Navitron thread (he's a site moderator, and specialist in providing/finding regs etc):

http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,22180.msg257712.html#msg257712

Regarding the meters that count export as import. They can (I believe) be changed to not add export to import, but regardless, would presumably also be classed as not fit for purpose if they couldn't cope with PV (or other) export.

Mart.

Interesting. I wonder how this would work though if you were in credit to your supplier - presumably they could bill you for it and you'd not really have a leg to stand on.

Completely theoretical of course and not something for me to ponder over as I'm not in that position.

Sorry for taking it OT.