Yes Kesa32 its too slow and too bogged down in paperwork
and the bloke that reprogrammed the meter said I was not the only one
who has been waiting for 3 months
I know how those others are feeling
VIC Solar power system - is it beneficial?
(369 posts) (34 voices)-
hamish05
MemberCongrats oldbill. I hope that now you are connected you will soon feel the wait has been worthwhile. It's been a nice afternoon of sun to kick of with.
BTW, coming home just now, I passed the Jemena truck, that changes over the meters around here parked at the park. Both people in the cabin were having asleep in the sun!
Posted Tuesday 28 Jun 2011 @ 6:32:07 am from IP # -
oldbill
MemberThanks Hamish
and also thanks for your advice and encouragement
I fed back 1.1 kwh and only used 200w up to 4pm
so even mid winter with no major appliances on
It has started to pay
I have my afternoon nanny nap in my lounge chair now that I am retired
Posted Tuesday 28 Jun 2011 @ 8:27:25 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberJemena blokes turned up on time on Monday (2 months to the day since PV installation) to install smart meter. Everything went smoothly, although they would have walked away without explaining how to read the meter if I hadn't asked them to show me. No paperwork or info sheet. Even though the bulk buy group I went with I'm sure filled out all the paperwork early on including the PFIT form for EnergyAustralia,when i rang EA they asked me to download PFIT form and mail it to them in Sydney. Hope that's the end of the paperwork.
Fingers crossed.
Have been averaging around 2kwh per day production in a old fashioned melbourne winter - based on previous daily usage and keeping track of the old spinning disc meter figures. I will miss watching the meter spinning backwards. Digital readout just not as exciting.LOLPosted Tuesday 19 Jul 2011 @ 10:54:58 pm from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberHamish05. Would love to be in your position in 6mths. Previously quoted from telephone conversations with Jemena and EnergyAustralia:
'Jemena advises that my network tariff will be assigned to TOU rates. EA then advised me that its "systems" aren't able to provide/meter TOU at present so I will stay on my current rate of approx 17.8 cents per kwh 24/7 until it systems are upgraded sometime in the future.Posted Thursday 21 Jul 2011 @ 9:40:58 am from IP # -
hamish05
MemberMaybe my retailer (Red) has had similar problems, as they claimed they "were validating the data" for the billing delay. I am also with Jemena and I have been worried about the Peak and Off Peak split (which they determine from their download from my meter). It shows 26% more OP than Peak which is more than what I have estimated so am happy.
The $171 was for 5 months, Feb10 to July13.
However, I still don't trust them or their "not so smart meter" As I have said before, why should I?
You may find it safer to record your meter readings regularly until everything settles down.
Posted Friday 22 Jul 2011 @ 1:27:28 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberMeter is reading at noon today - 18.2kwh consumption and 5.2 kwh production over last 4 days. That seems about right, given Tuesday and Wednesday I hit all time low production under 1kwh each day with little sun/heavy cloud cover with rain periods in Northern Suburbs. Yesterday a little better and today much better so far.At 1pm in full sun inverter is showing continuous 1030-1045w output.Highest reading i have noticed so far was 1235w some weeks ago.
Have been averaging just over 2kwh per day for last two months but last 4 days equalled only 1.3kwh
Daily consumption of 4.55kwh is about right. Turning off standbys, kids at work during day now, has reduced consumption by 1kwh per day even with gas fire fan running most of Tuesday in particular and watching Tour til too late on tv.
Article in Green Guide yesterday by Charles Wright reflected my circumstances. You get PVs and then start reducing use to maximise returns.
Next step is to find more efficient bookshelf speakers to go with my new efficient Bantam Gold T-Amp 2X25 watts (8ohms)at 90% efficiency running off my ipod touch. Maybe that could be the subject of a new thread? How to achieve the Most efficient/greenest high quality stereo system not using headphones?Posted Friday 22 Jul 2011 @ 3:20:26 am from IP # -
hamish05
MemberIn regard to my previous post here dated 22July, I have had to take a backward step on the subject of” trust” regarding the Peak and Off Peak split on my Electricity Account.
I actually had the temerity to request a “breakdown of my consumption” for the period of my latest account. My meter only has one total consumption figure and it requires a download of stored information to be dissected for P and OP components.
Well it was forthcoming, pages and pages of numbers that were horrifying in their supposed complexity. Additional information was also presented in simpler format of “average readings for each 30 mins of a 24hr day covering the 95 day billing period.
There were also helpful graphs which clearly showed average daily consumption patterns for the entire billing period.
It was a simple matter to dissect out the Peak usage from the average readings and multiply that by the total of Peak billing days during the period. I am charged Peak rates between 7am and 11pm Mon to Fri. (no shoulder rates...yet)
If all this sounds complicated it wasn’t, it worked out exact. I guess I had every right to be suspicious, but on this occasion it was ill-founded.
Posted Wednesday 28 Sep 2011 @ 7:55:35 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberOldbill - Did you get your first bill yet? My first "solar" meter reading was 11 days ago. For the 3 mths metered the result was 324 kwh produced and 301kwh consumed.
Haven't received a bill yet from EnergyAustralia, though EA also read my gas meter the following day and I received that bill last Monday. So at least i take the delay to mean I'm on their books as pFIT and causing them billing problems.
Over on Whirlpool GreenTech forum there is a thread about EA and problems with PV customers, so I'm patiently/ apprehensively waiting for the bill to come through.Posted Friday 28 Oct 2011 @ 9:53:51 pm from IP # -
hamish05
MemberHi sunbeam, The anticipation of the account.... it’s a wonderful feeling, in fact it’s a little perverse looking forward to receiving your Electricity Account!!
How much of your total PV generation did you export back to the grid? Given the 324 kWh was your total PV generation. (It’s the M13 meter reading)
As Melbourne’s weather improves we are starting to see some great PV generation, the winter months were a bit of a downer and I just broke even with my bill, so looks like spring, summer and autumn accounts will put $$$s in my pocket.
Posted Friday 28 Oct 2011 @ 10:54:09 pm from IP # -
oldbill
MemberSunbeam
Would you believe no I am still waiting for my first bill
I rang Tru Energy nearly 3 weeks ago to find out what the problem was.
The excuse was that sp-ausnet and Tru Energy computers have thrown a hissy fit
and won't talk to each other.
I was promised they would email sp to have the numbers manually transfered
and I should have a bill in around 21 days
we shall see
As soon as I get it I will postCheers
Posted Saturday 29 Oct 2011 @ 2:53:47 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberHamish05. My EM1200 meter came with no manual I have been reading it as Item3 (Total kwh) as my consumption and Item13(Generation) as my gross production. Is that correct? Is there a way I can determine my nett generation? As per your previous comments I don't trust Provider to get it right and would like to have some way of knowing how correct the bill is (when it comes!)
I would estimate 50% nett - with low daytime consumption and that mostly the fridge and night time tvs/computers charging. Buying an Electrolux fridge certainly made a huge difference in my consumption (around 2+ kwh per day reduction). Also i think my gas heater fan uses much more electricity than I had assumed. Its a 30 year old Vulcan. Cold days = much increased elec usage I noticed from my daily readings.
Oldbill. Your wait doesn't inspire confidence in me as EnergyAustralia is now owned by Truenergy.
Posted Saturday 29 Oct 2011 @ 5:57:53 am from IP # -
hamish05
MemberHi sunbeam. I also have an EM1200 meter.
Reading (03) is the amount of kWh you have used from the grid, i.e. imported.
Reading (13) is the amount of (PV) kWh you have exported to the grid from your Solar generation.
Your “Total Solar generation” is read from your Inverter. (There may also be a daily generation figure)
Therefore by subtracting your meter (13) reading from your Total Inverter generation you will know how much of your PV is being used by your household activities.
If you then if add that to your Meter (03) reading it will give you a total household consumption.
Hope this is helpful.
Posted Sunday 30 Oct 2011 @ 12:24:28 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberHamish05-Thanks for that. I just looked at inverter, kept pushing a button and finally found TotalKWH equals 673kwh. For a 1.5kw system over past 150 days averaging 4.5kwh per day approx. Sounds about right?
Inverter reads Total 673kwh generated
I can't use your formula for the moment given the inverter was spinning my old meter backwards for 2 months. I will keep track of the inverter figures from now on.
However if I only pay for (3) right?So for 90 days billing period:
(3) was 305kwh @18c = $55
(13) was 332kwh @60c = $199
Nett difference = $144. Minus $65 approx service charge = $79 credit = happiness
Hope to see similar figures when bill comes. Thanks again H05.Posted Sunday 30 Oct 2011 @ 2:02:34 am from IP # -
oldbill
MemberSunbeam
I would ring Energy Australia and check that you are on a solar tarrif
The next door neighbour is with Energy Australia and had to hurry to get
a application for solar in in time to get the 60c
To the best of my knowledge solar tarrifs are time of use tarrifs
yet you are showing just 1 @ 18c kwh
Mine are approx peak 26c kwh (7 am to 11pm M to F) off peak all other times 16c kwh
FIT 66c kwhHope I am not the bearer of bad news
Posted Sunday 30 Oct 2011 @ 2:22:48 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberOldbill Won't soot the messenger. I have a letter 18/8/11 from AE congratulating me on successfully installing a net meter and confirming I am on PFIT so no worries there. It confirmed 60cents PFIT and mentioned that my next bill will include export/import/nett credit etc. It made no mention of TOU.
Previously I wrote:
'Jemena advises that my network tariff will be assigned to TOU rates. EA then advised me that its "systems" aren't able to provide/meter TOU at present so I will stay on my current rate of approx 17.8 cents per kwh 24/7 until it systems are upgraded sometime in the future.
I haven't had any advice contrary to that since.Fingers crossed.Posted Sunday 30 Oct 2011 @ 2:41:27 am from IP # -
hamish05
MemberI am on TOU metering. As an exercise I decided see how sunbeams 18 cents (flat rate) worked out with my last 2 accounts.
By adding both P and OP components and dividing by the total usage both accounts worked out to 16.7 cents/kWh.
We are proactive in shifting dish and clothes washing to the OP times, also SHW boost.As you might have guessed, not much to do today!
Posted Sunday 30 Oct 2011 @ 3:50:43 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberH05. Like you keeping out of the cold gale today.Thought about effect of off peak if i was moved on to a TOU tariff but not much other than clothes washing, vacuuming that i could move to weekends. Ban the soninlaw's 32" tv and big computer that he uses for games and movies maybe? Make them move out of home? That would work.
BTW my exact rate is 17.8 cents less 7% which equals 16.7cents approx. Strange that..Posted Sunday 30 Oct 2011 @ 4:28:28 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberWell my AE bill came today. Not big on details.
Simply says:
Electricity Generation Credit = $179Electricity used = 295.1 kWh @ 17.8700c = $52.74
Supply charge = 90 x 72.00000c = $64.80
Total Charge =$117.54 including 8% discount and GSTThe $62.36 remaining credit will go automatically to paying the AE gas bill of $96.25 that is paid by direct debit also and is due 3 days before the electricity bill. Saves me from ringing AE to see if i could do it that way.
So for the 2 bills I have to cough up a total of $36.20. Happy days!
Would like to see some more detail about how the $179 was worked out. At 60c perkWh thats 298.3 kWh produced. Thats spot on with my recording. At least it will justify my obsessing with daily reads of the inverter and meter. LOL.
Still waiting Oldbill?Posted Wednesday 2 Nov 2011 @ 5:45:35 am from IP # -
hamish05
Membersunbeam, So the bottom line is about what you expected I think. NICE!
Doesn’t make any sense that you wouldn’t have got a more detailed account, after all it is your money they are playing with!
I suppose you will ring them for an explanation?
Don’t forget to mention the Ombudsman; they have to pay every time someone contacts them to query a retailer’s ineptness.Posted Wednesday 2 Nov 2011 @ 7:02:22 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberI'll wait and see the second bill in 3 mths. Will email them to suggest they include a line in the bill showing kWh generated and not just the dollar figure. Not a problem for me as i keep a spreadsheet of readings(justified as learning a new skill). Its not that i inherently mistrust them its just that i prefer to have my facts available if i need to argue the toss with them.
Posted Wednesday 2 Nov 2011 @ 7:57:20 am from IP # -
oldbill
MemberSunbeam
Yes I am still waiting for my bill
Was interesting to see the bit about the remaining credit going off the gas bill
My neighbor who is with Energy Australia asked about that and was told they don't do that
I will let him knowCheers
Posted Wednesday 2 Nov 2011 @ 8:41:30 am from IP # -
sunbeam
MemberJust noticed that its 4 months today since the bidirectional meter was installed. I still haven't received an invoice for it. I had a notion that "smart"meters were being rolled out over time and we would pay for them in instalments via increased supply charges.
So, Is installation paid for via the "supply charges" element of the electricity bill? Jemena installed it and EA are the retailer. In this area 3058, there has been some new meters installed this year but the program appears haphazard. My mate a couple of streets away got one but not his neighbours. Came home one day from work and noticed a new meter in the box. He hadn't requested it or installed any PV panels etc.
Don't need to bring it to attention of Jemena or EA at the moment.
OldBill still waitin for your bill?Posted Friday 18 Nov 2011 @ 2:00:00 am from IP # -
hamish05
MemberSunbeam, The supply charge is supposed to carry the cost of the new (not so) smart meters, (for ppl without PV)
For the year 2008 my supply charge was $146
For the year 2009 ...............................$160 (+9.5%)
For the year 2010 ...............................$234 (+46%)
For the year 2011 ...............................$248 (+6%)The jump (46%) 2009/10 was supposably to finance the cost of the new smart meters.
My supply charge on a "Time of use PFIT Solar Plan" year 2011 is $236.
Not only did I have to purchase the meter ($362) I am paying almost the same supply charge as ppl without PV!!!!! Just another slug, whilst attempting to help the environment.
I contacted the Ombudsman in the hope of recouping some money that I had paid toward the smart meter during 2010..... I was totally unsuccessful.
Caution, the $ figures are approx and I suspect differ between Retailers
Posted Friday 18 Nov 2011 @ 3:59:28 am from IP # -
oldbill
MemberOldBill still waitin for your bill?
Yes Sunbeam still waiting
Its been 27 working days since I contacted Tru Energy with a request for it,
and was told it could take 21 days to get the readings from SP-Ausnet
I will be ringing them again next week to find out whats happened with it
Maybe have to go to the Ombudsman to get any action from themPosted Friday 18 Nov 2011 @ 8:38:59 am from IP #
Reply »
You must log in to post.