Dumb meters and solar

Spies

Is it the home owners responsility to ensure that smart meters are installed before the fitting of PV?

I've put off my installation until I can get smart meters fitted, but as long as I've told the supplier I'm getting PV is the ball then in their court to get them fitted so they can bill me correctly?

I suppose there might be an argument that this is actually the best time of the year to have solar fitted with dumb meters as they won't run backwards nearly as much! 

Martyn1981

Hiya, not your concern. Just get the PV installed, and if you have an old mechanical dial meter that goes backwards (many won't) then just let your supplier know to cover your back. Then it's up to them to arrange to get a modern one fitted, and they may take months, even years.

pete-20-11

Just been googling and found the comments in this blog suggest similar

https://greengumption.co.uk/2015/11/electricity-meter-going-backwards-a-need-for-clear-guidance-from-pv-installers/comment-page-3/

basically tell your supplier once the PV is installed and it’s up to them to sort it out.

Spies

Martyn1981 said:

Hiya, not your concern. Just get the PV installed, and if you have an old mechanical dial meter that goes backwards (many won't) then just let your supplier know to cover your back. Then it's up to them to arrange to get a modern one fitted, and they may take months, even years.

So this might actually work out worse than the meter going backwards as I won't receive any benefit for exported energy?

How can I tell if my meter will run backwards?

Edit, figured it out, there's a cog with a ratchet symbol on the front of the meter so it won't run backwards! 

QrizB

Spies said:

Martyn1981 said:

Hiya, not your concern. Just get the PV installed, and if you have an old mechanical dial meter that goes backwards (many won't) then just let your supplier know to cover your back. Then it's up to them to arrange to get a modern one fitted, and they may take months, even years.

So this might actually work out worse than the meter going backwards as I won't receive any benefit for exported energy?

You'll get the benefit of using your own power from the day you turn the system on, even if it's only *cough* four second-hand panels screwed to some timber in your back garden.

Export payments need an export meter and the only sensible way to do that is with a smart meter.

Power you use yourself will be worth maybe 20p/kWh but exports are unlikely to be more than 5p/kWh, so self-consumption is the bigger payer unless you fit a huge array.

Spies

My intention is to use outoging agile so it'll average out a bit above 5p/kWh

[Deleted User]

Spies said:

My intention is to use outoging agile so it'll average out a bit above 5p/kWh

If you want Agile Outgoing then Octopus will insist on a SMETS2 smart meter; MCS certification and DNO sign off on your system. Once Octopus has that information, it will apply to your local DNO for an export MPAN for the smart meter: one meter, two MPANs if you like. You will have to agree to half hour metering before Octopus will agree to SEG payments for Agile Outgoing.

If you are on Agile Outgoing, you cannot be on Octopus’ Go or Go Faster tariffs. You have either to be on Agile import or another one of Octopus’ non t-o-u tariffs.

Spies

What's non t-o-u?

I was intending to just go on flexible. Is DNO sign off not a standard part of commissioning the system? 

QrizB

TOU is time-of-use, like Economy 7 but potentially more flexible. You might have heard of Octopus Agile, Go or Go Faster; all of these are time-of-use tariffs where the price you pay changes through the day (every 30 minutes in the case of Agile).

Outgong Agile works the same way but as an export tariff.

Yes, DNO sign-off is part of commissioning.

[Deleted User]

Spies said:

What's non t-o-u?

I was intending to just go on flexible. Is DNO sign off not a standard part of commissioning the system? 

From the terms and conditions

1. Check we have the right documentation. Aligned with the new Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) we need a copy of the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certificate, the DNO (Distribution Network Operator) Notification form and the DNOs response. For older installs we’re seeing a high level that haven’t been notified to the DNO which can cause several weeks’ delay and frustration.