Reverse Energy Detected - usage gone up 71% !!

[bluenev]

I have just asked EDF to swap my 17 year old meter, Ferranti Type FNN2Q (or 20) (Big old black meter!). The wheel is spinning backwards when we are exporting around 2Kw but the numbers are going FORWARD!!!
This has only happened on the sunny days... 7 in 40 days. On the cloudy days we generate around 250w for 5 or 6 hours a day whilst using 500w. Apart from when we use the washing machine or dishwasher, which is done when its sunny.
We have generated around 95 kwhr in 40 days since 04Dec11 with our South facing 4kwp system. Not bad for the sun being at it lowest.
Once this glitch is sorted, I'm looking forward to powering the whole kitchen and all our energy guzzling TV's and the PS3!

I look at a few local PVOutput users graphs to see how we did each day but have a Wattson that tells me yesterdays usage/generation etc. I knew something was wrong when our best sunny days coincided with our highest usage.

I am working on an automated device to supply the surplus energy to an immersion heater (as per another thread) to replace my toes that can reach the on/off switch of an oil filled radiator!
:lol:
Watch out for Wheels going Backwards and the numbers going forward!

Nev

 

[darrens1973]

i have 4kw on my roof, just popped upstairs to see my generation meter reading, noticed the led on the EDF meter was flashing at the same rate as the generation meter led, turned everything off apart from my PV and guess what, the EDF Meter is still flashing away !!!
I am about to ring EDF now, on the flip side my mums and my business partners are running backwards so will have to get them to contact their suppliers I guess. Should we be checking for this when we commission then, if so this was never mentioned in any course I did or 2 of my sparks have been on !!!

 

[liquidity]

You might wish to check that your EDF meter isn't the type than can record import and export - what make/model is it?

 

[danesol]

LOL - no but i am running a wife (who likes to be warm and does enough washing for an army !), 2 kids, 2 televisions, 2 play stations, computer, laptop, 2 tropical fish tanks with lights and heaters 24/7.

Sounds about right to me especially if you have large HD plasma's , PS3's take a huge amount and pcs range from 200wphr to 900wphr

If you havent got one already, want would be useful for you is a monitor of what you are actually using, then as soon as you switch on something you can instantly see what its actually using

 

[darrens1973]

my meter is a horstmann S123, dual rate with export facility, how di I know that the export facility has been activated and it is not adding to my bill, guess I need to turn everything off for an hour or two and compare meter readings

 

[liquidity]

I'll venture a guess that the LCD display will display the different stored values for import and export, automatically swapping every few seconds?

 

[bluenev]

EDF's green team got EON to install a Landis+Gyr Single Rate Watt Hour Meter.... in an agreed couple of weeks. Magic service. Looks like it is working as we are using 27% less from the mains in the 2 months we've had Solar PV.
Hoping to be a lot better than that over a full year.
Not sure if the meter actually flashes for each Whr exported but we are certainly not being charged for exporting anymore! :shades_smile:

We also see a message, "r.Ed.", on the Unit alternating with the reading. Not sure what this means!

 

[liquidity]

red = reverse energy detected - 100% OK as you have a PV system

 

[bluenev]

red, cool... must have been sunny!

 

[pwboston]

On my EON meter it flashes red to say i am drawing power, and stays solid red when im sending it back. Not too sure if others meters are like that, but i can see when im sending it back down the grid.

 

[Gary K]

On my EON meter it flashes red to say i am drawing power, and stays solid red when im sending it back. Not too sure if others meters are like that, but i can see when im sending it back down the grid.

My meter is the same but, but when I have a solid red LED it also flash's R.E.D but the figures do not rise so I assume the meter is not adding anything when we are exporting.

 

[darrens1973]

my meter is a dual tariff meter, night/day. It flashes all of the time, never goes solid red. I do have red in small letters on the screen above the total unit reading, I turned everything off yesterday for 2 hours, the PV Generation meter went up 1.4 units and my EDF Meter stayed the same so I guess that proves that even though my LED is flashing it is not adding to my bill.
There is nothing on my meter to say about export, I tried to download some info on the meter and ther is nothing available !!!

 

[Orffyreus]

Although it would be good practice for installers to advise customers to contact their supplier if a meter runs backwards, suppliers do have an obligation to check after an installation has been notified.

According to the Balance and settlement code (BSC) overview of micro generation, a copy of which can be downloaded from the link below.


http://www.renewable-energy-resource.net/support-files/introvone.pdf


Page 3 paragraph 2 states


The Supplier responsible for the Import Meter is obliged to check the existing Import Meter does not run backwards at times of surplus. A 'backstop' or an electronic meter will prevent the meter from running backwards.


The full BSC documents says


. When informed of the installation of microgeneration, the LDSO should inform the Import Supplier that the respective site is capable of microgeneration; and

. The Import Supplier and Meter Operator will investigate whether the relevant Meter is fitted with a backstop and where applicable replace the Meter with one that is fitted with a backstop.

As a footnote, customer agreements and terms will probably put the onus on the customer to notify the supplier.

 

[MicraShed]

EDF's green team got EON to install a Landis+Gyr Single Rate Watt Hour Meter....

We also see a message, "r.Ed.", on the Unit alternating with the reading. Not sure what this means!

Ive had a 2.5kWp system live for a week now and the first few days were fine, then suddenly on day 4 we get the rEd message and since then the import meter has been climbing at roughly the same rate as the generation meter (slightly less) even with almost everything in the house powered down.
Red LED stays lit solid (as it does at night on the generation meter when the system has shut down and the inverter is on standby) but the units are clocking up:cry_smile:
Phoned Scottish Power today to query it to be told (and I jest ye not) that the RED means that the meter is sending a reading down the electricity mains cable to Scottish Power.

Hmmm

I think I'll phone them back on Monday and try and speak to the Micro Generation team.

Odd though that all was fine for a few days then suddenly its like some anti tamper system has kicked in.

 

[rod123]

Hi,

I had a 4kw system installed on the 16th November. Since then we have generated about 130kwh which seems a bit low to me but saying that, the weather has been pretty awful and my system faces SW so is not getting the best of what sun we have.

I give my electricity readings to British Gas each month and was staggered to see that my usage for the period 21/11 to 22/12 had gone UP 71% on the previous month. I was expecting our usage to drop after the installation especially as we have made a concerted effort to use the washing machine and dishwasher during daylight hours. I have noticed on our electricity meter the letters r.e.d which I understand means reverse energy detected. I have spoken to the installer who have advised me to contact BG as the meter appears to be recording the energy we have exported back to the grid. I have emailed BG and will wait to see what sort (if any) reply I get but I would like other people’s opinions or comments if they have come across the same issue and if so how was it rectified ?

I am mortified that I am now creating my own electricity and exporting it back to the grid but being charged for it 

Many thanks

did this get resolves ? I think I may have the same problem. I have had solar panels for about 18 months and all fine. My electricity compnay then fitten a digital import meter and my electricity useage has increased.