For the past few months I have been comparing Solar systems and about to place orders. However prior to this I started phoning electricity companies to see what FIT meter costs are and is there anything else I might need when installing Solar.
I am with AGL; however they don’t provide the FIT meter, that comes from your energy distributor, in the case of Sydney that’s Energy Australia. So spend another 30mins on hold and call Energy Australia and they tell me that apart from the FIT meters which they won’t have until April, you’d also need to replace your old meter with a Time of Use Smart Meter. This also allows you to purchase power at different times of the day and pay peak, off-peak and shoulder rates. The Smart Home off-peak rates of 8.14 cents / kWh between 10pm – 7am is great way to run pool pumps, washing machines and dishwashers. “Can you install a Smart Meter for me” I ask? “We install them for free but only for Energy Australia customers, since you’re an AGL customer you’ll need to get them to do it.”
So back to AGL and another 30mins on hold, do you have Time of Use billing I ask? “Yes” they say, “so can you put me on a Smart Meter” I ask? “Oh no we don’t do that, you can get your solar power installer or electrician to do that and the meter has to come from Energy Australia.”
So after spending most of the day back a forth between energy companies I decide to become an Energy Australia customer again and get 5% off electricity and gas bills and cookbook if I stay with them for 2 years. Once I become an Energy Australia customer I can then apply for a Smart Meter and then go on Time of Use metering. Also I won’t become an Energy Australia customer until after the April meter read. Hopefully by which time they will also have Gross FIT meters available for the solar installation.
Has anyone else had these experiences? Am I on the right track here with Smart Metering & Gross FIT metering with Energy Australia?
Considering Solar & the Power Company Run Around
(10 posts) (7 voices)-
Posted Monday 25 Jan 2010 @ 10:32:59 pm from IP #
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hahaha - its laughable isn't it (or at least it would be if it wasn't such a PITA). The utilities companies have been slow moving snails for the last hundred years and now that there is finally some change in their business it is becoming clear that they don't have the processes or systems in place to be able to do anything more than their old business model where they sell power to you (not vice-versa).
I have had a similar experience trying to get information out of Energy Australia. I'm told conflicting things by different people over the phone about the supply of meters, the responsibility for installation, the costs for installation and the time lines for meters. I think things are moving a little too fast for them and they are struggling to keep their own employees informed. We'll get there but it might take a few more years of sorting out before the distributed generation model gets integrated into the energy retailer's business model.Posted Monday 25 Jan 2010 @ 10:49:12 pm from IP # -
Russell Moore
MemberAll my contact with my power supplier, Integral Energy, has been through emails.
They have been fairly forthcoming, and at least I have their replies in print, and I don't have to sit on the phone for ages.
Does Energy Australia have an email address?Posted Tuesday 26 Jan 2010 @ 11:32:29 am from IP # -
kenn
MemberSome more light shed (ahem, pun intended):
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/300-cost-for-meter-to-measure-solar-feed-20100127-myz6.html
Posted Thursday 28 Jan 2010 @ 4:08:16 am from IP # -
GJOESQ
MemberMay panels aren't up as yet because I'm waiting for an SB2500 which are currently out of stock. I'm attempting to preempt any complications with the meter but to no avail. When I contacted Energy Australia, Kylie told me that there are NO gross meters in Australia but that they are on order and will be installed by July 1.
She said that we can't get any old electrician to install them. I was told that only an Energy Australia authorised sparky can do it. I was also told that a time-of-use net "Smart" meter would be installed at my expense ($355) and later, when the gross meters arrive, I'd have to pay again for that one as well! What a joke!!!
I think we need to get onto out members of parliament and lobby for the government to waive that second fee.
Posted Thursday 28 Jan 2010 @ 1:21:02 pm from IP # -
Yes that's the story I got as well when I spoke to Energy Australia this week. No gross tariff meters until July. You can fit a net meter today and in 5 months time change to a gross meter and pay again for it and the installation. The amount back in from Net FIT wouldn't cover these costs.
So if you live in an Energy Australia region, there is no point putting panels on the roof until June. Is that right?
Posted Tuesday 2 Feb 2010 @ 6:24:39 pm from IP # -
Michael L.
MemberAint it just Great? Here in Vic they are supposedly rolling out the "smart" meters, and charging us for them whether they have been installed them or not! Even if we have already paid for a FIT meter, we still have to pay for the "smart" meter. And to add insult to GBH, the linesmen from Jemena, who work for AGL, told me the "smart" system doesn't work, and probably won't even get in to full use.
Posted Monday 8 Feb 2010 @ 5:37:04 am from IP # -
ghostgum
MemberNote that in Victoria they are now listing the metering charge separately from the supply charge. Previously it was about $44 per quarter. Now it is about $50 per quarter ($30.70 supply charge + 19.45 meter). So the increase is $6, not the $19 that you might first think.
Posted Monday 8 Feb 2010 @ 10:02:41 am from IP # -
Whe you say " no point to putting panels on till June" I guess it depends on why you're putting panels on in the first place. If it were solely for financial reward then there is little incentive. If it were solely for environmental benefit then there is just as much point as before.
Posted Tuesday 9 Feb 2010 @ 6:59:41 am from IP #
