Changing smartmeter to get Feed in Tariff - Shell refusing to help

AngelaBee

I've just had 10 solar panels and a battery fitted through my local county council's Group Buying Scheme initiative.  I'm currently with Shell Energy (locked into dual fuel contract till January 2021) but was recommended by the panel supplier to register with Octopus Energy to get the feed in tariff.  However Octopus tell me that my existing smartmeter supplied by Shell (previously First Utility) won't work with their system and I need to upgrade from SMETS1 to a SMETS2.  So I contacted Shell today only to be told that because my meter is working correctly and not faulty that they refuse to upgrade me to the newer meter.

Not sure what to do next - although their prices seem competitive, I'm not impressed by Shell's customer service so would like to switch.  If I switch before the end of the contract I will be penalised £30 per fuel.  So should I wait till next January and miss out on payments in the meantime or switch for my duel fuel and pay the penalty?

Exiled_Tyke

They are probably within their rights to refuse but I would check this out. If you are wanting to join Octopus they may be able to advise.  I recently joined Utility Point with a referral code from MSE Forums (you can search for this) and got £25 back and then posted my referral code up on the same board and got another £25 back which went a long way to recovering my cancellation fee. (They came up as one of the cheapest for me too)  UP may not be suitable for you but again may be you can check that.

If all else fails I suggest you make a very prudent estimate of how much you might get from Octopus between now and January and decide whether it's worth suffering the cancellation charge. Of course is that case you need to be certain that whoever you move to will sort out the meter issue.  (Could you move to Octopus or any other provider on a standard no cancellation rate until you get the meter sorted then move again?) 

pinnks

What I don't understand is the reference to getting the feed in tariff.  The original system has closed and I didn't think the replacement payment system was running yet.  Also, why do you need a smart meter and if you do for an Octopus tariff, then why can they not replace your meter?  

mickyduck55

Not sure this helps but Bulb offer to pay your exit charges up to £30 per fuel?

This is a list of SEG rates.taken off the net

thevilla

SMETS1 meters should be upgraded sometime this year to SMETS2 in an 'over air' software upgrade.  Why don't you ask Shell Energy when their meters are due for upgrade?  I think the upgrades are at supplier request but details are sketchy.  We're only customers after all! 

Essmum

FIT has ended unless the panels were installed before 31/03/19..then you have until 31/03/20 to register the panels.
Some energy companies are doing an export tariff..this wont pay anything like the FIT scheme but it's better than nothing.
Octopus is running the export scheme so ask them if they can install the correct meter for you.