Solar panel meter readings

rooster47

You are required to give an energy supplier quarterly solar panel readings, contractually, to generate a return on your investment. Until this quarter, despite the best efforts of the energy supplier continually changing their website, making it more and more difficult to find to the appropriate place to return the meter reading, all has been well previously. But now, to my horror, my latest quarterly meter reading is too high to be accepted!!! You try telephoning them, it's an ordeal in itself, but finally I speak to a human. He can't input the meter reading either! It seems, so its claimed, its the UK Governments fault, its been too sunny! How to get around the problem? Email a photo of your meter, showing its reading and your account number upon that same recording device, but since you don't have an account number on the meter itself that's impossible. 

I'm not unique, I know of someone who's had the very same issue.

Who's really to blame for this fiasco? I don't know but someone had best get it sorted pdq, if global warming is to be believed matters can only get worse

MX5huggy

I do it randomly between every 3 months and 18 months no issues with SSE (now OVO) I would swap to Octopus if I did have any issues. 

wmb194

rooster47 said:

You are required to give an energy supplier quarterly solar panel readings, contractually, to generate a return on your investment. Until this quarter, despite the best efforts of the energy supplier continually changing their website, making it more and more difficult to find to the appropriate place to return the meter reading, all has been well previously. But now, to my horror, my latest quarterly meter reading is too high to be accepted!!! You try telephoning them, it's an ordeal in itself, but finally I speak to a human. He can't input the meter reading either! It seems, so its claimed, its the UK Governments fault, its been too sunny! How to get around the problem? Email a photo of your meter, showing its reading and your account number upon that same recording device, but since you don't have an account number on the meter itself that's impossible. 

I'm not unique, I know of someone who's had the very same issue.

Who's really to blame for this fiasco? I don't know but someone had best get it sorted pdq, if global warming is to be believed matters can only get worse

Doesn't that just mean e.g., displaying a piece of paper with your account number in the same picture? You could write today's date, too. Ensure that the meter's serial number remains visible - the company must know it's registered against your account.

We had this with Scottish Power in the last quarter, saying that the panels' output had been above expectations and had to take photograph of the meter. It ended up delaying the quarter's payment by a month. I don't think it's the 'government' but there's a database everyone uses that has predictions for solar irradiation in every postcode across the country and you cannot blame them for trying to attempt to validate the meter readings they receive.

Albermarle

This is a Savings and Investments forum. You would probably be better off posting it in the Energy forum.
Energy — MoneySavingExpert Forum

rooster47

wmb194 said:

rooster47 said:

You are required to give an energy supplier quarterly solar panel readings, contractually, to generate a return on your investment. Until this quarter, despite the best efforts of the energy supplier continually changing their website, making it more and more difficult to find to the appropriate place to return the meter reading, all has been well previously. But now, to my horror, my latest quarterly meter reading is too high to be accepted!!! You try telephoning them, it's an ordeal in itself, but finally I speak to a human. He can't input the meter reading either! It seems, so its claimed, its the UK Governments fault, its been too sunny! How to get around the problem? Email a photo of your meter, showing its reading and your account number upon that same recording device, but since you don't have an account number on the meter itself that's impossible. 

I'm not unique, I know of someone who's had the very same issue.

Who's really to blame for this fiasco? I don't know but someone had best get it sorted pdq, if global warming is to be believed matters can only get worse

Doesn't that just mean e.g., displaying a piece of paper with your account number in the same picture? You could write today's date, too. Ensure that the meter's serial number remains visible - the company must know it's registered against your account.

We had this with Scottish Power in the last quarter, saying that the panels' output had been above expectations and had to take photograph of the meter. It ended up delaying the quarter's payment by a month. I don't think it's the 'government' but there's a database everyone uses that has predictions for solar irradiation in every postcode across the country and you cannot blame them for trying to attempt to validate the meter readings they receive.

The 'human' I spoke to suggested displaying a piece of paper in front of the meter was not acceptable for validation. Is this a 'back door' means of delaying payments perchance?

What's the database website?

My latest quarterly claim is less than the same quarter 3 years ago and only a little more than the same quarter last year, 5.5%.

If OVO can cope why can't Scottish Power? Oh I forget its Scottish Power, they get great reviews don't they!

happybagger

A relative of mine had a house with her partner, who left. The partner had been giving readings every quarter. My relative wasn't aware until it came out in chat one day - she had not had any payments for over 5 years, and hadn't sent any readings. Email reminders were going to the ex-partner.

Despite this, and a bit of a battle, including photos, land reg documents, and signatures from the ex, the firm accepted the reading after 5 years and payment was made. Despite the contract not been followed to the letter.

inspectorperez

If it's of any interest rooster47, I have had a 16 panel array since 2011 and have maintained a spreadsheet from Day 1.

January 2022 was the highest solar harvest for me compared to all other January's. March 2022 was the highest for 10 years. April/May/June 2022 were all "good" but less than the equivalent months in 2021. Given this type of fluctuation (my readings have all been accepted by EDF), I'm not sure what your provider's problem is with validating your readings.

EDF send an eMail reminder each quarter which includes a secure link for reading input and confirmation of meter serial number etc'.

Not sure the explanations your are receiving stand up to scrutiny!

rooster47

inspectorperez said:

If it's of any interest rooster47, I have had a 16 panel array since 2011 and have maintained a spreadsheet from Day 1.

January 2022 was the highest solar harvest for me compared to all other January's. March 2022 was the highest for 10 years. April/May/June 2022 were all "good" but less than the equivalent months in 2021. Given this type of fluctuation (my readings have all been accepted by EDF), I'm not sure what your provider's problem is with validating your readings.

EDF send an eMail reminder each quarter which includes a secure link for reading input and confirmation of meter serial number etc'.

Not sure the explanations your are receiving stand up to scrutiny!

Couldn't agree more. I too have a spreadsheet of monthly readings from installation.

My panels were installed 2012 and, as you say, March was brilliant. April - June  were very slightly better than 2021.

So it seems EDF and OVO are organized re validating solar panel readings and Scottish Power proving themselves to be less so. Is it any wonder their complaint line is so busy! 

QrizB

Welcome to (one part of) the Energy forum.

rooster47 said:

So it seems EDF and OVO are organized re validating solar panel readings and Scottish Power proving themselves to be less so. Is it any wonder their complaint line is so busy! 

It's a common complaint here in Energy, although BG gets just as much stick and SSE weren't any better.

My FIT is with E.ON Next (previously nPower) and historically they've been quite accommodating for the occasional missed reading.