Bought house with solar panels help needed

Jen123m

Hi we have recently moved into a property with solar panels fitted.
I have no experience with solar panels and unfortunately we received little info re then during the sale. We had to fight for what info we received. We do have the Mcvs certificate and installation invoice. So far we know the previous owner never registered for FIT payments. The panels are owned outright. I have started to fill out FIT application form from British Gas and need to locate the meter. We cannot seem to find it does that mean I need to get one fitted? Our last electric bill was over £200 from when we moved in due to our naivety re the immersion heater and it being left on so need some advice re this and it’s use with solar panels. Any info would be very much appreciated
Thanks in advance

G_M

There must be a meter somewhere! Outside cupboard? Kitchen?Under stairs? Cupboard above the front door?
https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/customer/help/billingpayments/meter_reading/locating_your_meter.html


If you have been billed £200 that must be based on what? A meter reading or an estimated reading. Which? The bill will say.

What else is in the property? Apart from solar panels and an immersion? Central heating? Gas? Mains or LPG? Wet system or under floor or what?

Oil? Electric storage heaters?


Have you got your MPAN?
https://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/gas_electricity_meter_numbers

Jen123m

Hi yes we have gas and electric meters, I’m looking for a meter re the solar panels ie what they are generating.

Jen123m

The last electric bill was based on actual meter readings

Ectophile

With a solar install, there should be two meters. The normal electricity meter that everybody has, and a second one that measures what the solar panels are generating.


The second meter often just looks like a normal one. It may be in the meter cupboard, next to the consumer unit (fusebox), or even near the solar inverter. But there are also miniature ones that hide inside the consumer unit, next to the circuit breakers.


Have you checked that you are eligible for FIT payments? There is a time limit from when the system is installed to when you can put in the claim. If the previous owner missed that, then there may be a good reason there's no second meter - because you can no longer claim anyway.

Jen123m

We have an immersion heater which can run off a gas boiler or electric

Jen123m

Yes I spoke to British Gas re the FIT and they asked for the date and said it was ok and told me to fill out the FIT application

Jen123m

Thanks I’ll will check the fuse box etc to see if it’s there. We thought we had found it but when checking my partner seems to think it isn’t the meter and something else he’s not here atm to ask what

Jen123m

So just to clarify it will def have a meter already ? We dont need to get one installed ?
Sorry it’s all new to me I literally have no idea about any of this and didn’t know how to go about getting advice

Jen123m

Ok so we have googled what we thought wasn’t the meter but I’m thinking it is now !
It is next to the fuse box it is a sdm120d it has 6 digits and reads 0453.56 does anyone know if this is the solar meter readings? On the form it says enter the 5 or 6 digit reading ? So do I write it as it appears here with the decimal point ?
Thanks in advance

greyteam1959

If you have the installation invoice why not contact the installer for help & advice ???