To Fit Export Meter or Not ?

[Worcester]

@TedM many thanks for the replies, time to beat up E-On!

 

[yves]

Hi all,
Thanks for all information you gave here. I have looked throw the whole post but few points remain not that clear for me:
As far as I know, it is up to the costumer whether to install or not an export meter if P<30 kW but if P>30kW it is required. In both cases, the export meter could be installed separately to the import meter (i guess that means no need to removed the import meter already installed), then in which cases is it viable to install an import/export meter since this kind of device is more expensive?
For the installation of the export meter, does an MCS installer is allowed to do that job ? and for an import/export meter ?

 

[Worcester]

Update from e-on, they are happy for us to fit the export meter, so long at it is compliant with the relevant codes.

i.e. yes an MCS certified installer can fit an export meter.

The £1000 / year is simply their policy for paying the export element of the feed-in-tarrif for systems >30kWp. Less than 30kWp and they will take it as deemed at 50%.

OUCH! So no export meter going in here. Seems like we'll be shopping around if any of our customers will be exporting anything worthwhile.

 

[TedM]

Are you saying that EON would still charge £1000 a year even if you used (and paid for) a private meter operator?

What size system is this BTW?

 

[JD6400]

So if the installation is on a property that has a very low consumption of power , it would probably be more economic to opt for the import / export meter at around the £ 250 - £ 500 per year cost and the associated half hourly billing tariff cost uplift and pay a good site more for the power used for that first year than to go for just the export meter ?
Or even look at a possible new supply to use for the import load only (This would be for a heavy user and as long the cost of the new supply is right , obviously .)
What do others think to this ?

 

[SibertSolar]

A kWh meter that registers energy in both directions (import/export) is not normally much more expensive than a uni-directional meter. Lots of available models are configured for bi-directional metering by default. I can't believe that some DNO's are actively discouraging consumers to meter their actual exported energy by charging such extortionate rates as described on here! I have often been told that sub-10kW installs are "normally" not viable for export metering anyway (within a typical domestic user profile point of view) as the extra 1.5p/kWh you might gain is often offset by the cost of the meter alone and even a nominal £100 annual "metering fee" by the MOP/DNO can wipe out any gains made.

If they allow an MCS approved installer to fit an additional export (or import/export) meter (MID approved, of course...) consumer-side of the existing primary/utility meter then why can't they just accept the exported energy readings as proof to pay the full 3p/kWh export tariff instead of assuming/deeming a 50/50 split?

Confused.com

 

[TedM]

It should be that simple but, of course, it isn't.

The export part of FiTs paid to the suppliers is priced in different ways for deemed and metered exports.

Suppliers are only paid 3.1p (in the current year) for metered exports - which is the amount they pass on to the customer. There is no way for the supplier to make a profit from metered exports.

For deemed exports they are paid based on a formula that is based on the market price - and I expect, as they still only pass 3.1p on to the customer, that the suppliers actually make a profit from this.

 

[SibertSolar]

ah, that makes some sense Ted, thanks. I didn't realise that the suppliers actually have different costs for the export part of the tariffs.

 

[Worcester]

Are you saying that EON would still charge £1000 a year even if you used (and paid for) a private meter operator?

What size system is this BTW?

Yes, when asked why, they just said that's what they charge, no reason.

It is a 50kWP system, below 30kWp it is 'deemed' at 50% so unless a small user then should generally be OK.

Also it transpires that you can have someone else pay the export element, it doesn't have to be the same provider as the generation, so we checling thos out and are looking around at other providers.

 

[Jeffmo65]

sorry to hijack this thread . My question is on a PV installation that we have just had to go to to resolve some issues ( installed by others) Please confirm with me the correct wiring from inverter through to CU ok:
1. inverter to AC iso 1 -
2. iso 1 to supply side of meter
3. Load side of meter to AC iso 2
4. AC iso 2 to either garage unit mcb/rcd or existing CU with designated circuit for pv .

Any input to confirm would be good cos im having a brain fart at present thinking that after all my installs i am wrong
Many thanks guys and gals
5

 

[SibertSolar]

Sounds reasonable Jeff, what exactly is the problem you have found with the system though? Or were you just looking for confirmation on the wiring/direction?