SMETS2 with solar panels?

thriftyish

We moved house last year into a house with solar panels. At the time we viewed the house, I remember the previous owner commenting that he had the original electric meter (with a spinny disc, but numbers rather than a dial - analogue not digital) and he implied this was better for the solar panels (Its also Economy 10)

This week my fuel supplier has offered us a SMETS2 meter, and I would love one, but I am unsure if that would leave us worse off?

Can anyone clarify how it works, or point me in the direction of a website that can? We provide a quarterly reading for to our FIT provider. Do we automatically use the electricity we generate first, and any extra energy we use comes from the grid, and starts ticking the normal meter reading upwards? Is there any way to work out what energy we are using from the solar panels? Will my normal meter tick backwards if we produce more energy than we use, is that the benefit of having the disk?

I read that the solar panel meter records all energy produced and that the FIT supplier assume a rate of 50% used. We probably use more than 50%, so if this is the case, we would be worse off!

Thanks in advance

Petriix

A SMETS2 meter will measure your import and export. In theory at least, as soon as you have an accurate export meter you should inform your FIT provider and move on to metered export payments. However, I don't believe they would have any way of finding out.

A smart meter won't change how the electricity is used. You still get the opportunity to use it as you generate it, otherwise it's exported as usual. Your meter should not go backwards; if that's happening now then you are effectively defrauding your supplier.

I'm not sure why you would want to replace your perfectly functional meter. Do you have a particular reason for wanting a smart meter? 

Mister_G

When I had my solar panels installed eight years ago, we had the old style spinning disc meter.  Yes, it did go backwards, but my MCS installer had to notify my supplier and it got changed out for a SMETS1 meter pretty quickly.

This meter does record both import and export but my FIT supplier just uses the deemed 50% figure.  Interestingly, I've been keeping a record of the meter's export figures and I'm certainly a lot better off on the deemed 50% figure.

thriftyish

A smart meter won't change how the electricity is used. You still get the opportunity to use it as you generate it, otherwise it's exported as usual. Your meter should not go backwards; if that's happening now then you are effectively defrauding your supplier.

@Petriix I don't think it would ever get the opportunity to go backwards. We run a server 24hours a day, have two freezers and are a family of six. I haven't checked, I just can't see any other benefit of keeping the original meter, yet the previous owner seemed to think it was a big advantage. 

Petriix said:

I'm not sure why you would want to replace your perfectly functional meter. Do you have a particular reason for wanting a smart meter? 

My supplier want me to switch to a smart meter. I like the idea as I can see at a glance what we are using and so keep better control. My children are good at leaving things like lights switched on, even during the day and I would like to keep a closer eye on our usage.   I have read they sometimes record incorrectly and people have had big problems, leaving the owner massively out of pocket - which is why I am reluctant

Mister_G said:

When I had my solar panels installed eight years ago, we had the old style spinning disc meter.  Yes, it did go backwards, but my MCS installer had to notify my supplier and it got changed out for a SMETS1 meter pretty quickly.

This meter does record both import and export but my FIT supplier just uses the deemed 50% figure.  Interestingly, I've been keeping a record of the meter's export figures and I'm certainly a lot better off on the deemed 50% figure.

@Mister_G Thanks for this, I rang the installation company and they said the same would apply to me, I will be able to see our import and export amounts, but as my FIT is with a different company they dont do anything with those figures and I would still provide my FIT readings to my FIT provider.

Petriix

Running a couple of freezers and a server wouldn't use anywhere close to your peak generation so, if your meter isn't of the more modern type fitted with a ratchet to prevent it running backwards then you will definitely be getting an undue benefit, even if your total daily usage is greater than your generation. You should only be able to use the electricity as you generate it.

A smart meter is great in principle, but I'm not aware of anyone who has a functioning IHD after switching, and I don't know if any currently available IHD can display exported electricity so there is likely to be minimal benefit unless you want to switch to Octopus Agile or similar.