Energy Matters Forums

[tonyp]

Has any one had simular experience. Had 1 kw sys installed several months ago. Synergy wanted to change the meter but house has 3 phase. I put them off due to the $660 cost and asked about the cheaper option of 1 phase. I have since contributed 300 odd kw hr to the grid but the last bill was estimated at a reading 6 mths ago charging me 48 dollar when my meter was winding back. When they changed my brothers meter they ignored the 200 kwh he had contributed to the grid. If we stole power of synergy we would be in court.
THANKS FOR THE FORUM TONYP

[munter]

TonyP,
There seem to be quite a few people experiencing trouble with their electricity provider when they connect domestic solar. I don't want to make excuses for the retailers but I would point out that I think its likely that rather than intentionally having a policy of theft they are probably just struggling to implement fair systems for the rapid roll-out of feed in tariff compatible billing.

The utilities business is typically slow moving and hasn't experienced much change in the last 20 (or more?) years. Consequently the retailers don't have the resources on hand to reconfigure the way their systems and the way they operate to match the whim's of whatever political master they may be subject to. I think this causes them to make mistakes, treat people unfairly and leave their customers frazzled. This pain is most felt by the early adopters (of which you may be one?).

None of this would make it any less painful but perhaps an understanding of the situation they are in may help you make the best of the situation. My suggestion is that you document your concerns in a letter and send it to them (keep a copy). They probably won't resolve your issues as a result of the letter (presumably they will have bigger problems keeping them occupied) but you will have your communication on the record for when the immediate stress around the changeovers is over. At that point, re-raise your issue and look to get a credit for the power generated. If you don't get a result with them directly look for the appropriate ombudsman for assistance.

[Joey]

Has any one had simular experience. Had 1 kw sys installed several months ago. Synergy wanted to change the meter but house has 3 phase. I put them off due to the $660 cost and asked about the cheaper option of 1 phase. I have since contributed 300 odd kw hr to the grid but the last bill was estimated at a reading 6 mths ago charging me 48 dollar when my meter was winding back. When they changed my brothers meter they ignored the 200 kwh he had contributed to the grid. If we stole power of synergy we would be in court.
THANKS FOR THE FORUM TONYP

Hi Tony ,

Welcome to the forum ,

Yeah your right stealing power is a criminal offense , but I really doubt Synergy are connecting you up with a new meter and purposely stealing your contribution.
I am also connected with Synergy and called them up before my system was installed and they suggested if I wanted to be credited with everything I export to grid it would only be possible with the new meter , the old meters where never intended to read backward or count what is going backwards.

Also you need to realize that not all power your PV system makes is recorded even with a new meter , only power in excess of what you are consuming is exported to the gird , EG if you are using 1KW in your house and the PV is making 1KW , there is no import or export recorded on the meter , without a new meter there is really no way of knowing how much you consumed and made during the period without the new meter.
The 300kw displayed on your inverter gives no indication of what was exported to the grid , being summer they could safely assume your usage has risen as 99% of peoples usage does during summer and that the 300kw was absorbed in your usage.
It would take a complete energy audit to calculate what happened with this 300KW , costing far more than $48 I can assure you

While its great making this contribution in the scheme of synergy customer 300kw is quite trivial , I was speaking to a customer of mine last Thursday who's power usage is 90kwh per day $1051.75 for 65 days , up from his last bill $653.75 , the increase due to air conditioning and pool. , So basically everyone last bill in Perth on a standard basis is higher than the previous bill , in your case what they are using as a reference is when most peoples bills are at their lowest.

[tonyp]

Hi folks
Spent an hour today on the complaints line
they agreed to pay me for kwh fed back in with the old mechanical meter. The price of the new meter had reduced from $660 to $268. Feel like I had a win. Feels better than threating to disconnect if you havent paid them for an estimated amount that you definitely dont owe them. Its my brothers turn to spend an hour on the phone to them.
Tony

[rg767]

I am no fan of Synergy, but to be fair your mechanical meter will have been going backwards anyway. And you have no choice but to change the meter under REBS, which of course you knew you had to do.

You might hope that they don't read what you said about them on this forum: I think that if someone said that about any company in a public forum that they could end up in the legal system. Not to mention the forum owner.

[seamus]

Please share your experience with Synergy in relation to the old meter and them pating you for the difference. Are they crediting you account based on the meter reading being less than a previously read meter.
I find it a very difficult pill to swallow if Synergy holds a position of "The meters are not meant to be read backwards."
On the synergy website it reads "Your electricity meter is a very reliable, precision instrument that registers the amount of electricity been drawn from your premises." http://www.synergy.net.au/at_home/how_c ... eter.xhtml

Apparently the electromechanical type meter uses an aluminum disc acted upon by two coils. One coil is positioned in such a way as to produce a magnetic flux in proportion to the voltage on the disc, and the other coil produces a magnetic flux proportional to the current. This causes the disc to rotate at a speed proportional to the power (voltage times current) being used. A permanent magnet is also installed in such a way as to exert an opposing force in proportion to the rotating speed of the disc.
If this were the case, the flux generated would in fact result in the meter moving in the opposite direction just as accurately as when it moves forward.

[samsamtheelectricman]

Spent an hour today on the complaints line
they agreed to pay me for kwh fed back in with the old mechanical meter. The price of the new meter had reduced from $660 to $268


That is the correct fee has never been 660.00 son dont know where you were told this.

The old meters go backwards until changed but are not able to register the solar you sell back to the grid to pay you your credits.

Your house is still producing solar and running off solar until the meter is changed you just dont get paid for it until you change your meter.

Not having a go at you but some people really dont know how the solar works and have been given wrong information by solar companies and then they go to synergy all mad and dont beleive it when they are given the correct information,

[Smurf1976]

IYou might hope that they don't read what you said about them on this forum: I think that if someone said that about any company in a public forum that they could end up in the legal system. Not to mention the forum owner.

I'm no lawyer but my understanding is that there is no issue if what you are saying is factually correct. That's how I've seen it explained on another (stock market) forum - no problems if it's common knowledge in the general community but steer well clear of unsubstantiated claims about individuals.

So, there's nothing wrong with saying that your 10 year old Mitsubishi car broke down last week but it wouldn't be wise to then launch a personal attack on the CEO of Mitsubisishi simply because your car broke down.