solar panels with import export meter with night rate as an grid option

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livealittle

75 posts

Master Geek

#174915 10-Jun-2015 16:28

Hi

After some advice - currently with Contact with two meters for day/night rate and have solar hot water heating.
Looking at installing more solar panels via the solar city scheme.

Have just been advised by contact that I can't stay on the day/night plan with an import/export meter.

Question - has anyone else had the same issue with not being allow to be on a day/night plan whilst having a import/export meter?
Is there any work arounds?

thanks

SumnerBoy

2074 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1322308 10-Jun-2015 16:40

Yep! I asked this very question of Meridian and was told I could. And I have since had the panels installed and am still on a Day/Night plan, with the import/export meter. So far it has been great as I am getting 25c/kWh for anything exported (up to 150kWh a month), and only paying something like 14c/kWh at nights. So I try to export everything I can and run as much as possible at night.

However that all changes on July 1st when Meridian's export rates drop to 7-10c/kWh depending on the time of year. At that point I will be trying to *use* as much of my PV generated electricity as possible.

I have a PV diverter which will divert any excess electricity to my HWC so it can be used an energy store, but I am on the lookout for other places I can dump my excess PV too...a Tesla battery would work nicely...

livealittle

75 posts

Master Geek

#1322338 10-Jun-2015 17:38

thanks for that, but since you have had yours installed things have changed and due to "technical issues" they can no longer offer night rate with an import/export meter. Am hoping that there is some kind of work around and there is quite a difference with rates. On the positive you go down to a low user so the rates reduce....would still prefer night rate.
Is there any questions I should be asking as I want to bee 100% sure before committing.
Thanks

SumnerBoy

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#1322340 10-Jun-2015 17:40

Have you tried Meridian?

livealittle

75 posts

Master Geek

#1322347 10-Jun-2015 17:50

yes been on the phone with them and first person I spoke with said yes it can be done then the second person I spoke to said that due to "technical issues" with the import export meters it can't be done so thought I'd ask around as I am hoping that I can have my cake and eat it too aka have panels and still be able to access night rate rates

SumnerBoy

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#1322369 10-Jun-2015 18:12

i could be wrong but I think I only have a single smart meter, with two registers that record day/night usage. Then the import/export meter sits in front of this. Perhaps you would need an upgrade to your current two meters to a single smart meter like mine?

I would definitely try and push the issue as it is obviously possible.

livealittle

75 posts

Master Geek

#1322394 10-Jun-2015 19:07

hi

thanks for that, yes contact said that both smart meters would be removed and replaced with a single smart meter.
Thought I might try again, I wonder if it's a ploy to prevent people try to get the best deal possible.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1322488 10-Jun-2015 23:05

SumnerBoy: Yep! I asked this very question of Meridian and was told I could. And I have since had the panels installed and am still on a Day/Night plan, with the import/export meter. So far it has been great as I am getting 25c/kWh for anything exported (up to 150kWh a month), and only paying something like 14c/kWh at nights. So I try to export everything I can and run as much as possible at night.

However that all changes on July 1st when Meridian's export rates drop to 7-10c/kWh depending on the time of year. At that point I will be trying to *use* as much of my PV generated electricity as possible.

I have a PV diverter which will divert any excess electricity to my HWC so it can be used an energy store, but I am on the lookout for other places I can dump my excess PV too...a Tesla battery would work nicely...

2 possible options for extra pv dumping or storage. An override on the chest freezer thermostat. So it store the dumped energy in the form of lower food temp.

If your fridge has a mechanical defrost timer. Replace it with a version that only runs at midday. So you will be more likely to use solar for the defrost elements and the refreeze afterwards.

And I'm guessing you already have different hot water thermostat settings for grid power and diverted solar.

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SumnerBoy

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#1322490 10-Jun-2015 23:18

Yep got two elements, bottom and middle, bottom is powered by the PV diverter and middle by nightly grid power. The bottom thermostat is set to as high as it will go, the middle cuts out at 60.

Interesting idea about the freezers. Cheers.