Understanding Smart Meter Readings FIT Readings SEG

SilverStuBBQ

Back in 2019 we had Solar panels installed and set up FIT. However as we were Band D on our EPC our FIT payment currently calculate at approx £0.0295. We recently had a SMET2 fitted and the Smart Meter Export figures are vastly different to this shown on my Export meter that I use for my FIT readings and there seems no correlation between the two. One day the Smart Meter said I'd exported 19Kwh whereas my FIT meter indicated 37Kwh, other days it's 0 on the SMET2 but can be 9 on the FIT meter.
I am confused!

Also I am weighing up whether I can switch to SEG and whether this will be beneficial. Setting up my FIT with Scottish Power was extremely onerous and stressful and I know very little about SEG. I thought that this forum may provide some helpful info that will help me decide.

Apologies if this is a repetitive question but I an not very conversant with this type of media  

[Deleted User]

The meter that was installed with your solar array is a GENERATION meter. FITs are paid for each kWh that your system generates and you are paid export payments on an assumed export figure of 50% of your generation.

Your smart meter shows the actual amount of kWhs exported which equals GENERATION minus home use. It follows that if your system generates 3500kWhs/year and you consume 2000kWhs/year then your meter export will be 1500kWhs/year. I doubt that SEG will work for you. To claim SEG, your supplier will need to apply for an export MPAN.

If you decide to go for SEG, you will retain your FIT payments. You will get SEG as opposed to export: the rates are not dissimilar from export and they can be reduced.

QrizB

According to Ofgem your FIT rate should be 3.92p per kWh generated plus 5.57p per kWh exported (assuming a typical 4kW domestic installation). What exactly does your latest FIT statement say regarding payment rates?

What might help (but equally, might not) would be to move from deemed export to metered export. Before you had a smart meter you had no way to measure how much electricity you exported to the grid, so your FIT aupplier (Scottish Power?) is allowed to deem that you export half of the power you generate. Now that you've got a smart meter you *can* measure your export so you have the option of being paid your export payments on that basis. However if you use a lot of your generated power you'll be better off sticking with deemed export.

For example, using the two sets of numbers you quote:

• 37kWh generated, 19kWh exported. Deemed export would pay (37 x 3.92 + (37/2) x 5.57 = ) £2.48. Metered export would pay (37 x 3.92 + 19 x 5.57 = ) £2.51.
• 9kWh generated, 0kWh exported. Deemed export would pay (9 x 3.92 + (9/2) x 5.57 = ) 60p. Metered export would pay (9 x 3.92 + 0 x 5.57 = ) 35p.

It's your decision. I'm in a similar place (receiving FIT payments and recently had a smart meter fitted) and am sticking with deemed export until I've got a full year's smart meter data to compare with.

[Deleted User]

Where does the 5.5 7p/kWh come from? Suppliers set their own rates. For example, Octopus is 5.5p/kWh fixed or if you happen to export at 19.30 tomorrow night on Agile Outgoing £2.01p/kWh. The spot import price at the same time is £2.312p/kWh.

SEG rates are here:

https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/solar-panels/smart-export-guarantee

QrizB

Dolor said:

Where does the 5.5 7p/kWh come from?

From Ofgem's FIT data, linked to in my post. It's right there on the front second page of the spreadsheet.

[Deleted User]

Sorry, I didn’t notice your link. As you can see from the SEG table, the rates are variable and most SEG payers either insist that there is also an import contract or they reduce the SEG payments. Octopus only offers 3p/kWh for customers on Go and Go Faster.

QrizB

[Deleted User] said:

Sorry, I didn’t notice your link. As you can see from the SEG table, the rates are variable and most SEG payers either insist that there is also an import contract or they reduce the SEG payments. Octopus only offers 3p/kWh for customers on Go and Go Faster.

I agree entirely. For most people with rooftop PV on FITs the FIT export payment is as good or better than they will get on SEG, and with a smart meter you can move from deemed to metered export if you think it's beneficial. (You would still need an export MPAN for this.)

For people with systems commissioned before 30th July 2012 (which includes me) the FIT export rate is lower, only 3.95p/kWh at present. That makes switching to SEG slightly more attractive since there are several SEG rates that are higher than that.