I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell our solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow?
We've had solar panels on our roof for about a decade and signed up with
EDF energy, our energy supplier at the time, to get the FIT payments.
Until last year it all went smoothly, I read the meter every quarter,
send in the reading via their website, and a payment came by bank
transfer with a week or so. It was, in the long term, a reasonable
return on our investment.
About a year ago EDF changed to a new computer system which simply
didn't work. They told us they couldn't make bank transfers any more
and actually sent us a cheque for one quarter. They have now resumed
bank transfers but instead of arriving right away, payments take nearly
3 months and even the notification of payment takes weeks. When I complained they pointed out that this is permitted under their terms and conditions, which it is, but it's a big change from their past practice.
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell our solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow?
On 26/01/2025 12:40, Clive Page wrote:
We've had solar panels on our roof for about a decade and signed upMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with SSE
with EDF energy, our energy supplier at the time, to get the FIT
payments. Until last year it all went smoothly, I read the meter every
quarter, send in the reading via their website, and a payment came by
bank transfer with a week or so. It was, in the long term, a
reasonable return on our investment.
About a year ago EDF changed to a new computer system which simply
didn't work. They told us they couldn't make bank transfers any more
and actually sent us a cheque for one quarter. They have now resumed
bank transfers but instead of arriving right away, payments take
nearly 3 months and even the notification of payment takes weeks.
When I complained they pointed out that this is permitted under their
terms and conditions, which it is, but it's a big change from their
past practice.
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell our
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another
one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that
made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow?
who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
On 27/01/2025 10:16, wasbit wrote:
On 26/01/2025 12:40, Clive Page wrote:
We've had solar panels on our roof for about a decade and signed upMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with SSE
with EDF energy, our energy supplier at the time, to get the FIT
payments. Until last year it all went smoothly, I read the meter every
quarter, send in the reading via their website, and a payment came by
bank transfer with a week or so. It was, in the long term, a
reasonable return on our investment.
About a year ago EDF changed to a new computer system which simply
didn't work. They told us they couldn't make bank transfers any more
and actually sent us a cheque for one quarter. They have now resumed
bank transfers but instead of arriving right away, payments take
nearly 3 months and even the notification of payment takes weeks.
When I complained they pointed out that this is permitted under their
terms and conditions, which it is, but it's a big change from their
past practice.
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell our
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another
one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that >>> made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow?
who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
Some old spinny disc ones would but later models had a ratchet or freewheel to stop this. As to why, no electricity company wants to pay you as much
as they charge!
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Some old spinny disc ones would but later models had a ratchet or freewheel >> to stop this. As to why, no electricity company wants to pay you as much
as they charge!
Any ideas how old they need to be to spin backwards?
If you end up with negative consumption during a billing period, do they pay you? At what rate?
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Some old spinny disc ones would but later models had a ratchet or freewheel >>> to stop this. As to why, no electricity company wants to pay you as much >>> as they charge!
Any ideas how old they need to be to spin backwards?
Sorry, dunno. If it has a ratchet there is a symbol printed on the dial to indicate this. Take a picture and share it if you’re not sure.
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Some old spinny disc ones would but later models had a ratchet or freewheel >> to stop this. As to why, no electricity company wants to pay you as much
as they charge!
Any ideas how old they need to be to spin backwards?
If you end up with negative consumption during a billing period, do they pay you? At what rate?
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Some old spinny disc ones would but later models had a ratchet or freewheel
to stop this. As to why, no electricity company wants to pay you as much >>> as they charge!
Any ideas how old they need to be to spin backwards?
Sorry, dunno. If it has a ratchet there is a symbol printed on the dial to indicate this. Take a picture and share it if you’re not sure.
Found an example. (You’ll have to scroll down a bit).
https://powerforum.co.za/topic/2552-does-my-meter-go-backwards-test/
Not only are they now paying more slowly but in their wisdom they have decided to not make payments into building society bank accounts.
On 26/01/2025 12:40, Clive Page wrote:
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell our solar
electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another one,
somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that made
payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow?
I'm with Scottish Power and enter my solar readings every 90 days. They
then pay into my bank in the last week of the month in which I enter it.
No problems in the 12 years we've had the panels.
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell ourMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with SSE
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another
one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that
made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow?
who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
On 27 Jan 2025 at 19:01:13 GMT, Max Demian wrote:
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell ourMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with SSE >>> who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another >>>> one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that >>>> made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow? >>>>
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
I generate more than I consume - I'd guess most people do? So even if you have
a meter that works that way, they're going to owe you . . .
Tangentially, I realise we're getting some exceptional weather, but I hadn't expected such an increase from last year in solar generation. May was 30% up, and April beat last year's peak generation month (June) by 20%.
On 17/06/2025 04:55, RJH wrote:
On 27 Jan 2025 at 19:01:13 GMT, Max Demian wrote:
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell ourMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with SSE >>>> who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another >>>>> one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that >>>>> made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow? >>>>>
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
I generate more than I consume - I'd guess most people do? So even if you have
a meter that works that way, they're going to owe you . . .
Not if the electricity you use when your panels are not working cost
more than that what you get for exporting. The days of large FIT are
possibly gone with newer installations.
Tangentially, I realise we're getting some exceptional weather, but I hadn't >> expected such an increase from last year in solar generation. May was 30% up,
and April beat last year's peak generation month (June) by 20%.
Doesn't this highlight the problem with the country relying on variable >output solar and wind. How much do you install? Enough capacity or the
worst case, for the average case or the best case.
On Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:44:22 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:
On 17/06/2025 04:55, RJH wrote:
On 27 Jan 2025 at 19:01:13 GMT, Max Demian wrote:
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell ourMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with SSE >>>>> who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another >>>>>> one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that >>>>>> made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow? >>>>>>
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
I generate more than I consume - I'd guess most people do? So even if you have
a meter that works that way, they're going to owe you . . .
Not if the electricity you use when your panels are not working cost
more than that what you get for exporting. The days of large FIT are
possibly gone with newer installations.
It was 42p/unit when the FIT scheme started but that only lasted for a
couple of years. It's been reducing ever since. Don't know the current
rate.
Tangentially, I realise we're getting some exceptional weather, but I hadn't
expected such an increase from last year in solar generation. May was 30% up,
and April beat last year's peak generation month (June) by 20%.
Doesn't this highlight the problem with the country relying on variable
output solar and wind.
How much do you install? Enough capacity or the
worst case, for the average case or the best case.
There is no intention of reying on renewables. That's why Hickley C,
and possibly Sizewell B, power stations are being built, to provide at
base. And Rolls Royce has just been contracted to provide modular
nuclear stations as well.
Eon - yearly in arrears, annual payment received about 3 weeks after the 1st year anniversary.
On 17/06/2025 04:55, RJH wrote:
On 27 Jan 2025 at 19:01:13 GMT, Max Demian wrote:
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sell ourMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First with
solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch to another >>>>> one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I could find one that >>>>> made payments more promptly. Are other energy companies just as slow? >>>>>
SSE
who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
I generate more than I consume - I'd guess most people do? So even if
you have
a meter that works that way, they're going to owe you . . .
Not if the electricity you use when your panels are not working cost
more than that what you get for exporting. The days of large FIT are
possibly gone with newer installations.
Tangentially, I realise we're getting some exceptional weather, but I
hadn't
expected such an increase from last year in solar generation. May was
30% up,
and April beat last year's peak generation month (June) by 20%.
Doesn't this highlight the problem with the country relying on variable output solar and wind. How much do you install? Enough capacity or the worst case, for the average case or the best case.
The problem with intermittency is simply storage. I read this morning
(I've not checked into the figures), that all the storage in the world
is only sufficient for 10 minutes of world demand.
On 17/06/2025 17:44, SteveW wrote:
The problem with intermittency is simply storage. I read this morning
(I've not checked into the figures), that all the storage in the world
is only sufficient for 10 minutes of world demand.
Not just storage.
Unless the storage is co located with the intermittent source,
you have
an overspecified cable that mostly gets underused connecting the source
to the store = more waste and environmental impact
On 17 Jun 2025 at 19:24:57 BST, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 17/06/2025 17:44, SteveW wrote:
The problem with intermittency is simply storage. I read this morning
(I've not checked into the figures), that all the storage in the world
is only sufficient for 10 minutes of world demand.
Not just storage.
Unless the storage is co located with the intermittent source,
Trying to drag this back OT - that is exactly what a typical residential solar/battery installation is.
On Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:44:22 +0100, alan_m <junk@admac.myzen.co.uk>
wrote:
On 17/06/2025 04:55, RJH wrote:
On 27 Jan 2025 at 19:01:13 GMT, Max Demian wrote:
I assume that as I had a free choice of which company to sellMy payments (by cheque) have always been 3 months behind. First
our solar electricity to in the first place, I could now switch
to another one, somehow. But that would only be useful if I
could find one that made payments more promptly. Are other
energy companies just as slow?
with SSE who then moved us to Ovo Energy.
Why doesn't the meter just go backwards?
I generate more than I consume - I'd guess most people do? So even
if you have a meter that works that way, they're going to owe you
. . .
Not if the electricity you use when your panels are not working cost
more than that what you get for exporting. The days of large FIT are >possibly gone with newer installations.
It was 42p/unit when the FIT scheme started but that only lasted for a
couple of years. It's been reducing ever since. Don't know the current
rate.
Tangentially, I realise we're getting some exceptional weather,
but I hadn't expected such an increase from last year in solar
generation. May was 30% up, and April beat last year's peak
generation month (June) by 20%.
Doesn't this highlight the problem with the country relying on
variable output solar and wind. How much do you install? Enough
capacity or the worst case, for the average case or the best case.
There is no intention of reying on renewables. That's why Hickley C,
and possibly Sizewell B, power stations are being built, to provide at
base. And Rolls Royce has just been contracted to provide modular
nuclear stations as well.
On 17 Jun 2025 at 19:24:57 BST, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Unless the storage is co located with the intermittent source,
Trying to drag this back OT - that is exactly what a typical residential solar/battery installation is.
As for more is better. Is this true for domestic solar? If domestic
solar becomes more popular can the wires in the street cope with all the excess generation being fed back into the grid on a nice long bright
day? Possibly more importantly can it cope with an imbalance between
phases when some properties at random will be charging local batteries
while others in the same street will be exporting to the grid.
On 17/06/2025 19:35, RJH wrote:
On 17 Jun 2025 at 19:24:57 BST, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 17/06/2025 17:44, SteveW wrote:
The problem with intermittency is simply storage. I read this morning
(I've not checked into the figures), that all the storage in the world >>>> is only sufficient for 10 minutes of world demand.
Not just storage.
Unless the storage is co located with the intermittent source,
Trying to drag this back OT - that is exactly what a typical residential
solar/battery installation is.
For an individual domestic dwelling if the householder can afford solar
and a battery (now and after subsidies end) this is probably the best
way of using everything the solar on the roof can generate.
The battery cannot however store all the excess generated in the summer
for use in the winter. In X years time after the installation costs are
paid for the income from the export may exceed the cost of the import
from the grid but it doesn't negate the need for national backup to meet
the shortfall when all the solar is producing virtually nothing mid winter.
As for more is better. Is this true for domestic solar? If domestic
solar becomes more popular can the wires in the street cope with all the excess generation being fed back into the grid on a nice long bright
day? Possibly more importantly can it cope with an imbalance between
phases when some properties at random will be charging local batteries
while others in the same street will be exporting to the grid.
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