Energy Matters Forums

[kayla1]

I think I already know the answer to this question. Is anybody else out there having problems in Western Australia with getting correct power bills under REBS system?
I had a smart meter installed in 2008 along with my solar system and hoped it would enable me to more closely monitor my home power consumption/generation. Since installation it is my belief that I haven’t yet, had a correct bill. I was proved correct in Jan 09 as meter reading and bill didn’t reconcile. To long winded explanation to go into here, but I was hoping for feedback from others who are having similar issue’s. I have contacted numerous government bodies to try and resolve and it is still sitting in the hands of the energy minister’s office and the ombudsman. I continually contact said departments in the hope that I will receive a correct bill, but are continually told they are working on it. To compound the problem (you out there with solar systems are probably already aware) as of Aug/Sep 09 no power meter readings are being supplied to REBS customer (can others confirm), therefore making it imposable for either me or Synergy to reconcile my account. Due to this fact I fail to see how synergy or anyone else is going to issue a correct debit/credit.
I am also lead to believe that Synergy are obliged to supply us with a power meter reading under their current charter, (Code of conduct to supply electricity to small use customers). Do any of you know what the legal standing is for synergy to adhere to this code?
I guess the long and the short I was hoping to try and a access how many others are being affected in WA. If there are enough of us, putting some sort of petition (probable not the right place on this forum) or similar so that action will be done. I am past the point of being frustrated at lack of inaction. I was even contemplation class action as I think the so called net feed in tariff was the straw that broke the camel’s back........
On a more positive note congratulations to all of you out there who have manage to reduce you carbon foot print by producing clean green power of their own. It a pity the correct regulation/ net tariff/gross tariff etc can’t get it right to promote more installs in WA.
Josh.

[Greenmount Ria]

Hello, Kayla and all of you Solar PV people in WA.
Yes! We are having the most incredible problems with Synergy.
Our problems started on 3 Dec 2009 when, after a year of record keeping on A1 tariff with 2.7Kw PV cells, we decided to try Smart Power. Not a SMART move.

Since then there have been numerous phone calls and e-mails. Luckily I have kept a record of all conversations and a record of our daily meter readings.
We have been told a variety of stories.
Everyone I have spoken to has apologised and told me they were fixing the problem.

We were told by Synergy, not to pay the February account of $13 since it was not correct. There seems to be a stalemate.
I have offered, many times, to send them my meter readings, to no avail.
They do not seem to know how to calculate our account.
Surely, if I can calculate it, they should be able to.
My neighbours have received correspondence regarding the new tariffs, but we have had no correspondence to date.
What a sad, sad, mixed up company.

[karlajensen]

I have a mate in Melbourne with a similar story, he just refused to pay until it was sorted, went to the ombudsman who clearly ruled in his favor. took almost a year!

I hope I dont have the issue here in WA, with 5.18KW of panels i'm going to be feeding in ALOT!
today I generated 25.52KW/hr, used 3KW/hr from the grid and fed in 18KW/hr to the grid.
thus as you can see gets complicated as the numbers dont add up, there will be some periods where generated matches load thus the meter doesnt read as credit or debit.
actual usage more like 25.52-18+3 or about 10KW/hr.

thus for payback type calculation feed in 18x $0.47 + offset 7x$0.219 - use from 3x $0.219
or about $9.40 profit for today.

Payback for me.....mmm 3.3years call it 4 in reality as today was pretty low use day, summer with the AC running much different story!

[kayla1]

karlajensen, Your system sounds great. just curious how did you managed to get a 5kw plus system approved in WA as i was under the impression that under the net feed in tarif for WA systems are caped at 5kw. Still have not recieved a responce from any of the energy minister office, Ombudsmans office or Synergy i gess they will choose to contact me one of these days....... Just a peace of advise monitor your system closly as mine seemed ok, it was only when i got to the stage of taking daily reads that the descrepancy became aparant.

[Patsy]

Hi, I have only just found this page and am not surprised at the amount of posts on this issue.
On the 27th July '10 I received an "estimated" Synergy A/c which was four times as high as the previous months, because there was no meter reading for the feed in tariff. I contacted Synergy and arranged for a new meter reading. This was done on the 3rd August. Synergy said my direct debit would be delayed until the 6th September 2010. No new account came, so I rang Synergy and was told that the direct debit would be extended until the 8th September. Still no account came so rang Synergy complaints and was told that it would all be sorted out by the 13th September and my bank account would not be debited until then.

I have no great confidence that this will be done. I was concerned because I am due to go on extended leave and want to have it sort out before I go. I am beginning to think that the best thing would be to cancel the direct debits.

Incidentally I was told that the problem was caused by the meter reader just reading the smart meter through the glass panel in the meter box, and not opening the box to read the smart meter. I have fixed him! I have now pasted a sign inside the window "SMART METER SOLAR GRID CONNECT SYSTEM" so in future to get a reading he will have to do it properly .

[Luth]

Hi all,

in regards to Meter reading in WA: Do not contact Synergy for this as it is Western Power business. You can apply with Western Power to become a " Self Reader ". You will receive a Postcard reminder every 2 month at around the 14th to read your meter, note it on the card and send it back (Postage free).
Hope this helps. Remember that Synergy is the Retail-Arm ( Accounting only ) of Western Power.
If there are any problems with the reading contact Western Power not Synergy. You can arrange a separate reading with Western Power which may incur an extra fee.
Cheers
Luth

[vom]

Hi

Synergy is not the retail arm of Western Power. It has been a company in it's own right..so to speak..since April 2006 when the WA government split the Western Power Corporation into 4 seperate companies.. Horizon Power, Synergy, Verve and Western Power. In small print at the bottom of the self read card it tells you to contact your retailer with any queries. If you want to read your own meter ..contact Synergy who will update their database which then advises the Western Power meter reading department electronically. Western Power contractors do the meter readings but at Synergy's request. If you are a Synergy customer and are not happy with your bill or any other part of it including the reading then it is Synergy you contact....
posted by an ex Synergy employee..hope this helps..

[Patsy]

Thanks a lot for your reply. I have solved the problem by covering up the window on the meter box. The meter reader now has to open the box to do a reading. Before he was just reading the meter through the window and not doing the feed in to the grid.

[karlajensen]

RE the 5KW, this is an inverter limit, not a panel limit.

Currently I run 2 x CMS2000-1's each running 2.59KW of panels (rated) in 2 strings of 7 panels.
now given the knockdown in performance due to temperature in particular a system typicaly produces only 80% of its panel ratings.

Hence my new plan is to ditch one of the CMS2000's and replace with an SB3000TL, to which I'll attach two strings of 10 panels. this will give it 6290W total and still be on the 5KW limit for inverters.

If I had my time again from scratch I would run 10 panels on the garage, and two strings of 11 on the main roof for a total of 32x 190W giving 6290 W on an SB5000TL.

My recommendation for anyone who has big use / big house or wants to make a bigger contribution to the reduction in CO2 emissions (say to include their cars like me) or simply make money out of the PFIT
then ~6KW on a 5KW inverter (which is well within the CEC guidelines to do so) is they way to go.

My bills have been perfect -1st one was a few hundred in credit, the next $500+, the most recent $400+ and expecting this next one to be about $400 in credit -not bad considering its been bloody hot.

[Icehouse]

I received my first correct bill on Friday after 12 months and 2 times to the ombudsman. Currently $800 in credit. Has anyone actually received a cheque yet? Did it just happen or do you have to apply for a refund?

David