Scottish Power blocking solar installation

stevebirch

Hi all, I'm new to this but would like to share my experience today of dealing with Scottish Power.  We have recently been exploring having a solar panel set and battery combo installed at our house, and although several installers say "its not a problem" I contacted Scottish Power (our provider) to double check.  what they tell me is stunningly offensive.  I cannot have a solar setup without a smart meter, I cannot have a smart meter as their installer isn't currently offering any dates for install in my area.  when I pushed this further I was told that its probably due to a phone signal issue.  Nope, sorry, don't believe them, we do not have a land line and the 3 occupants of our house all report 4 or 5G signals 99% of the time.   effectively Scottish Power are forcing us to remain on their electricity tariff, with costs rocketing, and they are preventing us from installing solar to combat the every increasing costs.  Has anyone else come across this blocking technique form their energy provider??

70sbudgie

If Scottish Power have you on a capped tariff, perhaps it is worth contacting other suppliers?

You may have to take a hit on short term prices, so you would need to do the sums to see whether the longer term benefit of PV (and a smart meter) would offset.

Reed_Richards

Where are you?  In the north it's a radio signal not a phone signal.  You need a smart meter to measure your export but if you were prepared to forego being paid for your export perhaps there wouldn't be a problem? 

ispookie666

What has your utility provider got to do with solar install? DNO is the one who might raise objections. 
There is no need for SEG to be with Scottish Power

flyinggoose

Why would you call your utility provider about solar installation? Am I missing something here...

QrizB

stevebirch said:

... I contacted Scottish Power (our provider) to double check.  ... Has anyone else come across this blocking technique form their energy provider??

I can only echo flyinggoose:

flyinggoose said:

Why would you call your utility provider about solar installation?

It's none of their business.

If you want SEG payments you will need an export meter, and this is usually achieved by fitting a smart meter. But that won't prevent you having a solar PV installation, with or without battery.

Heedtheadvice

For information Scottish Power is possibly also the DNO. Though they will be different parts of Iberdrola the parent company.

Perhaps there is a mix up and the SP people were the utility and were answering an assumed different question about agreeing to SEG.

Whilst the DNO can refuse the higher power generation (G99 levels) they, if I remember correctly, cannot refuse the lower power (G98, 3.65kW) typical PV systems.

OP are you certain you spoke to the correct contact and there was not a mixup?

Irrespective of who your DNO is (it might not be Scottish Power in your area) a G98 compliant system still gets automatic approval. It has nothing to do with communications. Your installer simply notifies the DNO

SEG (the current export payment) does require a smart meter to measure the export (as well as the import) and if one cannot be installed for you, whatever the reason currently, then they (the Utility provider not the region DNO ) cannot measure export and will thus not allow you to sign up for paid Solar PV. You can still install Solar.

Spies

They can't dictate what you can and cannot have on your house. 

A smart meter is not a requirement to have solar PV, likewise they are obligated to allow a minimum of 3.68kw to be fed back into the grid. 

Heedtheadvice

Ah yes 3.68kW .......not 3.65 I writ above....