Looking to get solar panels

Martyn1981

Raggs_2 said:

Long silence, but update now! 4.6Kw installed, limited to 3.7 via inverter. Some south facing, some west, dual mppt inverter.
Went with a local firm and paid around £4.5k.

Question! And if I'd get more views elsewhere, please tell me where to add it, and it may be well answered elsewhere.

We have an old electricity meter, and the wheel is spinning backwards. I've read that it's a legal requirement to inform the energy company, which I've done right now, along with a meter reading (have a photo). How's the bill going to work? I know if I don't inform them, they can retroactively charge me, but I've done that, so is it now just upto them to get a smart meter fitted asap? Or can they continue to guesstimate?

Technically they can try to guesstimate, but that's an absolute minefield for them and they'd have to argue how much generation was consumed/exported and you could argue that you've cut down on consumption, so most likely they will just bill against the meter readings and try to get it changed asap, but asap can be weeks or even years, but don't be afraid to argue if they try to guesstimate, it's their responsibility to have an accurate meter (to read).

Raggs_2

Martyn1981 said:

Raggs_2 said:

Long silence, but update now! 4.6Kw installed, limited to 3.7 via inverter. Some south facing, some west, dual mppt inverter.
Went with a local firm and paid around £4.5k.

Question! And if I'd get more views elsewhere, please tell me where to add it, and it may be well answered elsewhere.

We have an old electricity meter, and the wheel is spinning backwards. I've read that it's a legal requirement to inform the energy company, which I've done right now, along with a meter reading (have a photo). How's the bill going to work? I know if I don't inform them, they can retroactively charge me, but I've done that, so is it now just upto them to get a smart meter fitted asap? Or can they continue to guesstimate?

Technically they can try to guesstimate, but that's an absolute minefield for them and they'd have to argue how much generation was consumed/exported and you could argue that you've cut down on consumption, so most likely they will just bill against the meter readings and try to get it changed asap, but asap can be weeks or even years, but don't be afraid to argue if they try to guesstimate, it's their responsibility to have an accurate meter (to read).

OK, fighting the guestimate is not a problem, we'll still use more than we produce, so it's not like we'll be in credit. Being on the Isle of Wight is going to make it a pain for them to change it too.

Out of interest, do they have to fit SMETS 2?

Martyn1981

Raggs_2 said:

Martyn1981 said:

Raggs_2 said:

Long silence, but update now! 4.6Kw installed, limited to 3.7 via inverter. Some south facing, some west, dual mppt inverter.
Went with a local firm and paid around £4.5k.

Question! And if I'd get more views elsewhere, please tell me where to add it, and it may be well answered elsewhere.

We have an old electricity meter, and the wheel is spinning backwards. I've read that it's a legal requirement to inform the energy company, which I've done right now, along with a meter reading (have a photo). How's the bill going to work? I know if I don't inform them, they can retroactively charge me, but I've done that, so is it now just upto them to get a smart meter fitted asap? Or can they continue to guesstimate?

Technically they can try to guesstimate, but that's an absolute minefield for them and they'd have to argue how much generation was consumed/exported and you could argue that you've cut down on consumption, so most likely they will just bill against the meter readings and try to get it changed asap, but asap can be weeks or even years, but don't be afraid to argue if they try to guesstimate, it's their responsibility to have an accurate meter (to read).

OK, fighting the guestimate is not a problem, we'll still use more than we produce, so it's not like we'll be in credit. Being on the Isle of Wight is going to make it a pain for them to change it too.

Out of interest, do they have to fit SMETS 2?

Off the top of my head I no longer know, but you'll need a smart meter to measure export for payments if you sign up to such a deal.
Forgot to say, congrats on the PV, hope you have as much fun as myself and most of the PV'ers on here. It's not compulsive at all ...............................

Raggs_2

Martyn1981 said:

Raggs_2 said:

Martyn1981 said:

Raggs_2 said:

Long silence, but update now! 4.6Kw installed, limited to 3.7 via inverter. Some south facing, some west, dual mppt inverter.
Went with a local firm and paid around £4.5k.

Question! And if I'd get more views elsewhere, please tell me where to add it, and it may be well answered elsewhere.

We have an old electricity meter, and the wheel is spinning backwards. I've read that it's a legal requirement to inform the energy company, which I've done right now, along with a meter reading (have a photo). How's the bill going to work? I know if I don't inform them, they can retroactively charge me, but I've done that, so is it now just upto them to get a smart meter fitted asap? Or can they continue to guesstimate?

Technically they can try to guesstimate, but that's an absolute minefield for them and they'd have to argue how much generation was consumed/exported and you could argue that you've cut down on consumption, so most likely they will just bill against the meter readings and try to get it changed asap, but asap can be weeks or even years, but don't be afraid to argue if they try to guesstimate, it's their responsibility to have an accurate meter (to read).

OK, fighting the guestimate is not a problem, we'll still use more than we produce, so it's not like we'll be in credit. Being on the Isle of Wight is going to make it a pain for them to change it too.

Out of interest, do they have to fit SMETS 2?

Off the top of my head I no longer know, but you'll need a smart meter to measure export for payments if you sign up to such a deal.
Forgot to say, congrats on the PV, hope you have as much fun as myself and most of the PV'ers on here. It's not compulsive at all ...............................

Yeah, I'm not constantly checking the output. No siree. Not me. Nope. Nor am I wondering if my current daily total generation is good in comparison to other people... definitely not.