You can only refuse a smart meter if your offered one. They aren't moving anyone on a d/n tariff to a smart meter.
To move to a smart meter you need to agree a smart tariff to move to before you can get a smart meter. You can't just be moved like you can if you are on a 24hr tariff.
I currently won't be offered a smart meter, not yet anyway.
AFAIK once you refuse a smart meter you don't get the estimated export. Not 100% on what happens if you can't get a smart meter fitted for whatever reason but I think in that case you do get estimated export payment but I could be wrong on that.
Haven't they said everyone will have one by 2025? Which will probably be more like 2035 in reality.
Don't think so....Once offered a Smart meter I don't think you will be eligible for deemed export as far as I can figure out
"they" can say what they want but it anyone can refuse a Smart Meter, covered many times over and also in Dail questions
Then again when like 95% of population has a smart meter do you think providers will still support standard and day/night tariffs ? At a guess EI might be required to still support them but what about other providers -- they might decide to only offer smart packages or make non smart meters have much higher standing charge or rates!
Any one know are gas meters going to follow after electric and also be smart?
Our gas meter got changed out a few years back for one that transmits the reading, so I doubt they'll get any smarter than that. I don't think gas is subject to the same sort of peak production/usage challenges.
Ours did too........but we still get estimated bills !
O/T remark, or maybe not ..... sometimes stuff just does not get joined up
Anyone have the workings on how they calculated the deemed export?
https://www.bordgaisenergy.ie/home/help/how-is-my-deemed-export-quantity-calculated
I think I heard the smart (electricity) meter can be linked to the gas, and presumably water, meters so it can report all 3
I think it uses ZigBee or some other wireless protocol for this
So at some point there'll probably be a push for remote gas reading
I agree it'll probably not be as smart as the electricity meter, maybe daily readings max
The key difference between gas an electricity is that it's easier to store gas, just maintain pressure in the pipes and it'll go where it's needed. So I think you're right that TOU pricing for gas is probably never going to happen
As for water billing, my bet is we'll see that brought in on environmental grounds sometime this decade, and of course there'll be another massive debate over it with huge protests, etc, etc
We've still got the old spinny meters even though there haven't been parts available for years
At some point suppliers will just stop offering discounts to anyone on a non smart meter, or up the rates, or both. At that point any incentive to keep one disappears
Flogas offering 20c (inc VAT) https://www.flogas.ie/solar/micro-generation.html
They would want to pay the most... 52 cents standard rate!
Is this rate of 27.41c up to date? https://www.bonkers.ie/compare-gas-electricity-prices/flogas/4GKJGT/green-future-electricity-42pc-2-year/
It's 52c with no discount, 27 ,(24,hr) 30c/15c DN with discount sort of thing.
That's what I thought, not a bad rate if getting 20c FIT so. The 2 year contract is a bit much but still only a €50 breakage fee and they offer €225 cashback.
I dunno. Ymmv. I will have to excel sheet it when it's switch time. Yer giving back the extra FIT if you use any Day or Night at all. If it only balances out then I'd rather give my money to a company that isn't screwing over the rest of their unknowing customers. The cashback is tempting though 🤔
I know, out of current contract in October so by then all the FIT rates should be on offer to try and sift through the muddy waters that will be.
I've been told you can throttle down the export of power on your inverter to 6kW but for those with PV systems over the 6kW threshold will they be eligible for FIT or is it a case of you've got an 8, 10, 12. kW system so tough shite?
Nice, nearly offsets their high import rates 😏
It's starting to be a trend that several suppliers are offering more for export than their night rate costs
So I wonder will we have a situation where it'll be worthwhile to export everything from your solar and charge the battery to fill using the night rate
For my own case, I reckon I import around 8,000kWh from the grid for the house usage (ignore the cars for now)
A 7.2kWp array will apparently give me annual generation of 7,200kWh
So (8,000*€0.1479) - (7,200*€0.20) = €1,183.20 - €1,440 = -€256.80
So in theory you could cover the standing charge with the profit and your annual bill would be almost nothing
Not the worst deal actually
here's the thing, you are limited to a 6kWp system and then there's the BIK kicker for anyone exporting over €200 worth of power.
(8,000*€0.1479) - (6,000*€0.20) = €1,183.20 - €1,200.00 = -€16.80
then you have to calculate the BIK on €1,000 once €200 has been deducted from the €1,200.
its a real head wrecker.
Not sure what you mean by "throttle down the export of power on your inverter to 6kw"
Yes, it's (usually) a configurable limit the export amount, but the rating on the inverter is the max power that can go through the inverter. i.e. if you have a 6Kw inverter then the max power it can handle is 6Kw, irrespective of if you have 8kwp or 10kwp in panels. You could configure the inverter to only export 4kw of that if you wanted, and the other 2kw (assuming it was a bright sunshining day) would be "wasted", but that 6Kw is the upper limit of what it can deal with.
However with these things there is a second and possibly more important limit. With single phase, you are limited to 6Kw export by ESB. If you did have an inverter which handled 8kw (they don't sell any), if you are on single phase then you are expected not to export more than 6kw. If you are on 3 phase that limit is increased to 11kw. The reason for this, is that ESB have to balance the phases down at the local transformers and if your exporting a shed load on 1 phase, it's more difficult.
Your unlikely get 100% of your 7.2kw array, unless this good weather continues for a few months.
More realistic expectations would be around 5700-5800 a year. I've a 6.9kw array facing south and forecast is for around 5500 for the year. Currently ahead of forecast by 150kWh, it is possible to get nearer 100% but just as likely to get less than the forecast. Base your calcs on the forecast, anything over that can be a bonus.
This tool will give you a better prediction for your setup
https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/#PVP
Is it being classed as BIK, I know of the €200 allowance, didn't see any details yet of how they propose calculating/collecting it.
Will we have to fill out a self assessment bit? Can we claim the standing charge as an expense (can't export without a connection... ) I suppose then the install is a capital allowance then too....
thanks for clarifying
Is it being classed as BIK
I didn't hear it was BIK. Just taxable income like any other.
I know of the €200 allowance, didn't see any details yet of how they propose calculating/collecting it.
Will we have to fill out a self assessment bit?
It has to be via self-assessment. I cant see how it would work otherwise and for the sort of money involved they won't chase it. Lets say you have a decent array and you happen to get €300... are they going to chase the tax on €100 which would only be <€50 to the revenue.... it wont be collected unless you declare it in your self-assessment (is my guess anyway).
Can we claim the standing charge as an expense (can't export without a connection... ) I suppose then the install is a capital allowance then too....
I like your train of thought! 😀
correction on my part, i did a quick search... @unkel confirms it will be treated as income tax.
then you have to calculate the BIK on €1,000 once €200 has been deducted from the €1,200
Why are you saying there is tax on €1000?
The only tax is on anything you earn over the €200. Can you explain the €1000 bit?
he would theoretically earn €1200 in total, take the €200 off it and the remaining €1,000 is taxed. I have since seen that it would treated as income tax as opposed to BIK but that's another issue.
