FIT meter gives strange readings; installer gone bust!

Qyburn

Apparently it's up to the FIT provider to judge whether the installation, including its metering arrangements, remains eligible.  There's a long guidance document..

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-generators-co-location-electricity-storage-and-hydrogen-production-under-ro-fit-rego-and-seg-version-62

Qyburn

Reed_Richards said:

One way round you get a positive number, the other way round you get a negative number but it's the same number.

Just for comparison do you report your figure as a negative number, or do you just give the number?

Reed_Richards

I just give the number; that is the amount of kWh generated and that is the quantity I am asked to provide.  The fact that the meter displays it as a negative is just an artefact of the way the meter is oriented.  I sent E.on Next a picture of my meter when I switched my FIT payment to them and they did not raise any objection (although I don't know if they even noticed the minus sign). 

Reed_Richards

Qyburn said:

Apparently it's up to the FIT provider to judge whether the installation, including its metering arrangements, remains eligible.  There's a long guidance document..

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-generators-co-location-electricity-storage-and-hydrogen-production-under-ro-fit-rego-and-seg-version-62

The most interesting feature of this document that I can find is that it seems you cannot legitimately get payments for export under the SEG scheme if you charge your battery from the grid (at a cheap rate) then discharge it to the grid (for more money than it cost you to charge it).  I think there are a few people on the forum who do but I guess individual suppliers could waive this requirement if they choose.

Brimar23

A word of caution, I had a battery installed in 2023 and a bi-directional meter fitted. It was reading a negative NET from day one but neither I or my installer recognised the problem. EON my FIT provider didn't notice it either despite being provided with photos of the meter. In April this year EON asked for photos of the meter as part of their meter check process. They pointed out the negative reading and advised me to contact the installer. This I did and found the wiring was wrong and meter replaced. All is now fine. But at the end of last month they said they can't accept the previous meter readings as they were negative figures. They have now demanded I repay £3K FIT's back to them. Needless to say I have declined. The NET values were accurate despite having a negative symbol in front to them. I have argued that they approved the system despite them knowing that it was producing negative readings. They apologised and offered me £50 compensation for their mistake but they still want the £3k back. DO NOT IGNORE THE NEGATIVE NET READING!! Watch this space for updates on my progress.

Qyburn

That illustrates the issue for the OP. If I understand correctly he hasn't received FIT generation payments since January 2024 but the balance has been clocking up as a negative figure all that time.  If he simply swaps the meter wiring round the the net figure will gradually increase but will only start to go positive after he's generated another 3,400 kWh. Not ideal.

As an alternative if he fits a new meter, the correct way round, then he'll start from zero on day one, and hopefully EON will start paying out again.

Third option might be to switch FIT provider if one can be found that's happy with negative reading.  To switch supplier and give the absolute value without mentioning that it's negative, risks getting caught out like the previous poster.

(By "the correct way round" I mean wiring the way the manufacturer specifies and Ofgem expects, and which provides readings in the form that FIT providers expect.)

QrizB

It's just maths; if it's counting backwards, it's still recording the right number of kWh.

Maybe time to try the Ombudsman?

Qyburn

QrizB said:

It's just maths; if it's counting backwards, it's still recording the right number of kWh.

Right. So the options are ..

(1) Wire the meter so it gives negative net readings and do battle against FIT providers who don't expect to see that, and against Ofgem who explicitly say no FIT payment is due for negative readings.
 .. or ..
(2) Wire it up in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Clearly some posters think it doesn't matter which way you go.

QrizB

Qyburn said:

QrizB said:

It's just maths; if it's counting backwards, it's still recording the right number of kWh.

Right. So the options are ..

(1) Wire the meter so it gives negative net readings and do battle against FIT providers who don't expect to see that, and against Ofgem who explicitly say no FIT payment is due for negative readings.
 .. or ..
(2) Wire it up in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

For clarity, I was suggesting the Ombudsman as a route to fight the demand they've made that @Brimar23 pay back £3000.

Also, there's a definite risk that the OP will also be asked to repay the FIT payments they've received for the 3700kWh they've generated.

And yes, it really doesn't matter which way around the meter is fitted.

Reed_Richards

Qyburn said:

QrizB said:

It's just maths; if it's counting backwards, it's still recording the right number of kWh.

Right. So the options are ..

(1) Wire the meter so it gives negative net readings and do battle against FIT providers who don't expect to see that, and against Ofgem who explicitly say no FIT payment is due for negative readings.
 .. or ..
(2) Wire it up in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Clearly some posters think it doesn't matter which way you go.

@Qyburn, I've been searching for this Ofgem statement you refer to in the document you referenced and I haven't found it.  Can you please tell me which paragraph I have to look at?