New solar panel installation

savethepandas

Just had seven panels with a Solis inverter installed, through a government scheme.

We currently have the old style electric and gas meters. After several missed appointments for the installation of smart meters, finally BG decided that the gas meter was partially subterranean, so couldn't be replaced with a smart meter. So the electric meter wasn't replaced either.

Installation company know what meters we have, but have not advised to change them.

Have been googling today, but am just getting very confused with conflicting ideas.

So any help on SEGs and smart meters appreciated.

Ectophile

There's no way you can be paid for export without a smart meter.  Older meters have no way to measure export, but newer meters measure electricity going both ways.  It was different in the days of feed-in tariffs, but you can now only be paid for measured export.

If you have an old fashioned spinning disc meter, and it starts running backwards when the sun comes out, you should tell the electricity company.  But not all spinning disc meters will do that; mine stops and makes grinding noises instead.

Now all you have to do is wait for some sun.  You may see some next week.

QrizB

Agreed, there's no practical way of being paid for export without a smart meter. Did BG give any reason why they decided not to fit the electricity one, even if they couldn't fit the gas one?

savethepandas said:

Just had seven panels with a Solis inverter installed, through a government scheme.

Which scheme was that? It might help others to know that such schemes exist.

gefnew

Yes you can have an export meter fitted to the system.
You will have to pay for this.

Spies

QrizB said:

Agreed, there's no practical way of being paid for export without a smart meter. Did BG give any reason why they decided not to fit the electricity one, even if they couldn't fit the gas one?

savethepandas said:

Just had seven panels with a Solis inverter installed, through a government scheme.

Which scheme was that? It might help others to know that such schemes exist.

Scotland isn't it? 

savethepandas

I'm in Hampshire and the installer came from Cardiff, so nothing to do with Scotland.

I don't know the name of the scheme, but annual income needs to below 30K and someone in the household needs to be on a benefit from a list.

My OH started a claim for PIP in June, so think the scheme criteria changed and in November we were accepted, although still waiting for the PIP decision.

savethepandas

Did BG give any reason why they decided not to fit the electricity one, even if they couldn't fit the gas one?

No, seemed to imply it was both or none. Did get a feeling, I was being fobbed off, but others with the same house builder, have the same problem. Have had other suppliers since and phone calls to me to install smart meters finish as soon as I mention the subterranean gas meters.

Feel I need to contact my current supplier on Monday.

savethepandas

savethepandas said:

I'm in Hampshire and the installer came from Cardiff, so nothing to do with Scotland.

I don't know the name of the scheme, but annual income needs to below 30K and someone in the household needs to be on a benefit from a list.

My OH started a claim for PIP in June, so think the scheme criteria changed and in November we were accepted, although still waiting for the PIP decision.

Also, the current energy rating of the home had to be one of the furt her letters in the alphabet.