PV Feed In Tariff

DaveyDave

Got an email from Electric Ireland saying I have €98 credit. Logging in it looks like they had to refund my last bill and charge it again, then issued credit. I can't see the break down of credit as it's just an adjustment. Guessing there's no way for their system to issue a PDF like a bill when it's credit only. I'd like to see what my measured FIT was in the 6 months I had a smart meter.

Now I need to wait 2 weeks to see if they issue the cheque or will I have to call them like last time when I closed my account for the refund.

silver_sky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120290298#Comment_120290298

You can register on esbnetworks.ie to download that data since you had the smart meter installed. You need to divide the amounts by 2 to get the kWh as it's in 30 min increments. Also they advised me that the time is the end time for the usage. e.g. 09:00 in their report is for usage between 08:30 - 09:00. I know that Bord Gais show the time based on the start of the period. Not sure about Electric Ireland.

KCross

FYI: I got my latest Energia bill. As others have said also, I have FiT payment included again and it appears to be backdated.

So, I got a bill in Oct with FiT backdated to my joining date(Sep 2022). Then nothing in the early Jan bill and todays bill has it and it appears to be backdated to Oct based on my calculations as I am on deemed export.

No €200 rebate from the govt in this bill. I got 2 already. I think the 3rd one will be in the next bill as its based on a March date I think?

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298068#Comment_120298068

Yeah the last 200 is coming at the start of march

DaveyDave

I see a few people talking online about the €200 credit not being taken, apparently credit has to be in the account before the bill comes in, not before the bill is taken two weeks later. So if you get your bill today, the credit tomorrow and the bill is taken from your account in a week or two, the credit isn't used.

Not a big deal, just see some confusion about it.

Mickeroo

Hadn't realised we still had one more 200 credit before they stopped.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298068#Comment_120298068

When you say ‘FiT backdated to my joining date(Sep 2022)’ you mean date for getting solar and NC6 form going to ESB or moving to Energia as a customer?

When did your NC6 go in roughly? Mine was Sept las year and haven’t seen any Energia FIT so far – last bill was 2nd Feb. Are we required to notify Energia we've solar? I assumed the NC6 form did all that and they notified the suppliers.

Mickeroo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298355#Comment_120298355

Have you gotten it from the horses mouth that your NC6 went in and was processed? Don't rely on what your installer says, contact esbn.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298355#Comment_120298355

you mean date for getting solar and NC6 form going to ESB or moving to Energia as a customer

The latter.

I was with BG until Sept. They paid me in full for my FiT from Feb-Sep (after alot of "shouting"!). Energia have paid me in full for my FiT from Sep-today so I have a full year of FiT paid up!

Are we required to notify Energia we've solar? I assumed the NC6 form did all that and they notified the suppliers.

You dont need to notify your provider. As you said, the submission of the NC6 to ESB Network should trigger the FiT. If you are with Energia and you still have got no FiT I'd guess that your NC6 was not submitted. You need to send an email to ESB Networks and get it checked and if they dont have it you need to get onto your Solar PV installer.... you probably wont get any backdated FiT if they messed it up! 😕

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298355#Comment_120298355

I got an email from Energia last Wednesday saying I was eligible for FIT payment, literally the day the solar got installed (and presumably NC6 got filed)

Unless you got the email then I wouldn't assume you're getting the FIT

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298382#Comment_120298382

Yeah, they sent me a confirmation from ESBN that it was accepted. I asked to see that confirmation as others here got stung

DrPhilG

Girl on Facebook today reported that's SSE insist that she can't have deemed export without a smart meter.

Where to even start with that nonsense.

curioustony

My advice after several (very long) successful interactions with 2 suppliers.

Get ready for a long haul. Have patience. Try to treat it as entertainment. Perseverance pays.

Always note the date & time and record the name of the person you are talking to. Keep a brief record of what was said. Refer to this during calls.

Be polite. Does not help anybody if you start ranting.

Refuse to go on hold unless the hold time is agreed first, or a complaint number is provided.

Get a formal complaint number. Ask, insist for it on the phone. Note it, and ask for confirmation by email.

Stick with it, it will take time. Remember it costs them more than you.

Watch out for: a call that does not resolve anything, but closes the complaint (call to check complaint status, and if you think it is happening say that you do not accept this as a resolution to the complaint); being put on hold and never taken off (use this if it happens); 'a supervisor will call you back' (agree timeframe); internal complaints (ask for a number that can be referred to the CRU)

At all times keep the message simple and in your head. Do not be distracted by excuses. You are entitled to FIT, when will it be paid?

Thus far I have not needed to get to the CRU. By following the above, I have always had a pretty solid case should it have been necessary.

The more complaints happen the less nonsense will be tried.

Jonathan2712

I was with SSE until September last year, and when I left I hadn't had any feed in tariff payments. I kind of wrote it off in my mind, as I assumed that they wouldn't pay a former customer even though I exported electricity when I was a customer. On a few occasions I thought I would call and push it, but never got around to it. Anyway, last week the sent me a cheque out of the blue, for E231. A decent result in my view.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120300287#Comment_120300287

Good advice. Ta

con747

Below is the latest from my complaint with Bord Gais.

Hello XXXXX,

 

Thanks for your recent email to Bord Gáis Energy. I’m sorry about the delay in replying to your correspondence.

 

The way it works is that you wont get your first payment until a smart meter has been installed. You are still due payment since when you first were approved for the exporting. This was the 23 March 2022. If you wish to be put on the Smart Adopters list to ge the smart meter put in please let us know and we can get it sorted for you.

 

Once you have the meter installed you can sign up for the export tariff with is 18.5 cent per kWh. This will all be backdated to your approval date. We have a dedicated team for Microgen queries. The number is 01 611 01 48 or our email is microgenhelp@bordgais.ie.

 

I hope this answers your query.

slave1

FFS, and to think they put that in writing🙄

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305327#Comment_120305327

It's hard to know how to tackle that shower, I have the old backwards meter so unsure how far to go with them on this.

ELM327

Barstewards. That's not the CRU policy

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305332#Comment_120305332

I have the old backwards meter so unsure how far to go with them on this.

Thats tricky alright.

If you want to proceed I would get a formal complaint reference from BG and then open a CRU complaint. They paid me in full once I did that and I have no smart meter so clearly what they have replied above is not true/required to get paid from them.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305455#Comment_120305455

I have the complaint number but the CRU won't entertain it until the Bord Gais complaint process has run its entire course. Which leaves me wondering just how far to go and if it's better to just leave it and let the old meter do it's thing over summer and see if ESBN bother trying to replace it. Once I don't refuse a smart meter I find it hard to see how Bord Gais can withhold any payments due but who knows.

Hellrazer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305475#Comment_120305475

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120256463#Comment_120256463

I asked the same question in this thread.

Im in the same boat. I havent refused a smart meter- it just wont fit in the cabinet where my fuse board is located without major renovations.

The advice I was given was to stick with the backwards spinning meter but watch the meter readings until forced to change.

Im not sure how far to push it with Bord Gais either.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305332#Comment_120305332

Honestly I'd just switch provider, doesn't seem worth the hassle of staying with them

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305587#Comment_120305587

I will, but the problem is I signed a new contract in November with a 40% discount off the unit rates for electricity only and there is nothing remotely as good on offer now. I don't mind too much having a fight with them for a while and see what the CRU might have to say when it gets that far.

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120305634#Comment_120305634

Fair play, you’re the 1st of us here with a 24hr meter banging on the door with BG and CRU. 

I know you say the CRU won't entertain it until the provider complaint process ends. It has now in the sense they have said their criteria for a payout (need to have a smart meter to receive the FIT which is backdates from NC6 submission date). So BG will likely consider the issue is resolved. You could now ask the CRU to verify what the provider proposes is correct as that’s not your reading of it. If CRU say that is correct, well that sucks for us all. Best to ask BG to confirm it's their final position and let them know you'll ask the CRU to respond. That might change their stance. Then you're entitled to ask CRU to review

Or...do nothing yet. If you're in contract to Nov, you don't need to do anything on it now. You could start the complaint up again in a few months and their position may have changed and you're entitled to deemed export from NC6 submission with 24hr meter.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306099#Comment_120306099

I replied earlier, asking them to show me where it states in the guidelines set out by the CRU the stance they are taking in the email and I will be charging interest at market rate until it is solved and mentioned small claims court to see if it speeds them up a bit!

loyatemu

if you have a smart meter, do you have to be on a smart tariff to get FIT?

(apologies if this has been asked 100 times before, it's a long ol' thread).

jkforde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306184#Comment_120306184

there's two kinds of FIT (CEG) - deemed export FIT which isn't metered but estimated based on inverter rating (no smart meter required), and metered FIT based on metered export by an activated smart meter on a smart tariff.

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120306184#Comment_120306184

no

axe2grind

I have a day/night meter and this is in my bordgais account.

"Your microgen deemed payment

You're eligible for a microgen payment based on a deemed export quantity. Your payment will be made every six months, after you've completed six month's export. This will appear as a credit on your electricity bill."

I think they changed recently to 6 months from an annual payment. So it's better, but still poor.

yankinlk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120307766#Comment_120307766

Is BG the provider that said you have to be a customer to get paid FIT? Ie to get the 2nd 6 month payment you need to remain a customer and not switch?

Any provider that puts weird clauses on paying FIT should be bottom of the list.

axe2grind

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308102#Comment_120308102

I queried this when on to them about microgen and understood that this is not the case. If I moved, I would get paid FIT till the date I changed provider. He specifically said, I cannot get FIT from them from the date I change provider. I assume that one would still need to wait till the 6 months are up, before being paid whatever was due.

browne_rob5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308102#Comment_120308102

A poster on the EV forum has said that BG said they will pay him for Microgen after he has left by bank transfer. It would be a lot easier for BG and the customer if they just put it as a credit on the final bill.

SD_DRACULA

delete

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120309161#Comment_120309161

If I moved, I would get paid FIT till the date I changed provider. He specifically said, I cannot get FIT from them from the date I change provider.

Correct, they are only liable for the time you are a customer of theirs which makes perfect sense.

I assume that one would still need to wait till the 6 months are up, before being paid whatever was due.

Possibly. I opened a complaint and got paid shortly after I left them. I didn't have to wait. It took a formal complaint to get paid though so if you say nothing I suspect you would get nothing until their next payment window. BG are pulling the p*ss with that, imo.

con747

The latest from Bord Gais.

Hi XXXX,

 

Thanks for your recent email to Bord Gáis Energy.

 

I'm sorry for the delay in replying to your email.

 

Your day meter doesn't have a deemed capacity, so it is not suitable under the export tariff program. The only meters that are eligible for payment are day/night meters and smart meter that both are and aren't activated. Once you have updated to one, we can backdate the payment and begin the export tariff. You can request to have the meter exchanged to smart for free by being put on an early adopters list. 

The information is available on MyGOV.ie, this article states "Smart meters and smart infrastructure are essential to the delivery of the benefits of the energy transition, including for micro-generators. Smart meters can measure the profile of demand at the premises and thereby allow micro-generators to maximise their self-consumption." I have linked the website below. Please get back if you have any further queries.

gov.ie - Micro-generation (www.gov.ie)

I wonder do any of them know what deemed FIT is.

idc

Deemed fit only applies if you have a day/night meter as we can't be switched over to a smart meter yet.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120310758#Comment_120310758

I was under the impression deemed FIT is calculated based on the inverter size not on meter type?

idc

It is but only if you have a day/night meter. The only reason it's like that is because when they introduced smart meters they made a balls of it. As they didn't provide for any way to replace day/night meters with smart ones! The traditional day/night plan people have can't be replicated on a smart meter. It's bizarre as smart meters can support day/night/peak or day/night/extra cheap night plans. Possibly the hour change also messes it up!

the_amazing_raisin

Last time I was a BG customer I was honestly left astounded that any electricity got to my house at all. I know call center staff generally don't give a crap but BG are right down their with Eir

Ah well, it's not like they're in charge of pumping highly explosive gas into people's houses for heating and cooking

Oh wait....

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120310794#Comment_120310794

I'll have to have a read of the CRU guidelines again and check that.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120310685#Comment_120310685

Con747, I think I misunderstood your situation.

You have an old analog meter(s).. yes?

And are you on a 24hr or day/night tariff?

If you are on a 24hr tariff then they are correct and you are eligible for a smart meter.

If you want FiT you have to get a new meter. Either a d/n meter (go on deemed export) or a smart meter in which case you would be on measured export.

Keeping quiet and having a backward spinning 24hr meter is probably better as that is effectively giving you FiT anyway at full day rate.

Id say let it go! 😉

the_amazing_raisin

@con747 I know you're under contract but I still think you're better off switching. As @KCross said having the backwards spinny meter is definitely a plus, so try to keep it

But I don't think you'll be getting the FIT out of BG anytime soon, and if switching means you will get it then it'll almost certainly outweigh the break contract fee

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311109#Comment_120311109

Yeah, old backwards 24hr rural meter, I still can't find where it say's anything about it on the CRU website though. I can't find the guidelines on it easily on the CRU website. Bord Gais stated they will pay the deemed export backdated to NC6 submission once a new meter is fitted so I will leave it at that I think and see how long it takes ESBN to get to me. I'll just keep the meter reader at bay and add the usual 2 units per billing cycle.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311161#Comment_120311161

Bord Gais stated they will pay the deemed export backdated

You will only get deemed export if you are not eligible for a smart meter. The only ones not eligible are those on day/night tariffs so you won’t get that unless you specifically ask for a d/n tariff.

Your choices are

1. stick with current meter and enjoy your backward spinning meter for as long as you can. No paid FiT in the meantime but what you have is better than FiT.
2. Switch to a d/n tariff which will require a meter change and then you get deemed export FiT
3. switch to a smart meter. You stay on 24hr tariff and get measured FiT

You should do 1!

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311260#Comment_120311260

I always intended to stick with the meter I have until ESBN came knocking, It was more getting clarification on the deemed FIT payments in connection with the old meter I wanted from Bord Gais. I know they want me to request a new meter but that's not going to happen! Once I don't refuse a new meter it should be ok until the rollout gets to me.

bullit_dodger

I'd be of the same mind as KCross, that 1) is the way to go. Keep your backwards spinning meter as long as you can. It's a gold mine :-)

However, there are some of us on D/N meters (getting the deemed export) and consuming virtually 100% of what we consume. So we are using the electricity generated from the panels and getting paid for units which we're not exporting. Best of both worlds. For me, I also get a few euros a week from a few old bitcoin miners I have lying around from energy I'd otherwise be exporting, which also heats the office a few degrees Celsius and reduces the need to turn on the heat.

But yeah, backwards spinning meters.....you might be getting covid that day they want to change it out - LOL

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120314337#Comment_120314337

I reckon COVID is too mainstream now, a vomiting bug on the other hand is usually enough to send anyone packing

ELM327

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120310803#Comment_120310803

Great thing is that they are not involved with either. BGE are a supply company owned by Centrica. Gas Networks Ireland deliver the gas and ESBN deliver the electricity.

Doesnt change the fact that they are ashower of barstewards though!

loyatemu

Last time I was with BGE for my gas and electric, they got my billing wrong every single bill for the year and I ended up spending hours on the phone to their useless call-centre staff explaining how percentages work. I would only go back to them now if they were way way cheaper than everyone else, which they never are.