Energy Matters Forums

[Sherpa2]

We have installed a 3.5kW feed-in system and received our first bill from Simply Energy and shock-horror! We appear to have been charged for our solar feed-in. We didn't receive our bill until late Friday so now have to wait until Monday for answers. Can anyone put my mind at rest please?

We have a new meter which reads Import and export. The meter numbers are the same except for a "-1" suffix for import reading and "-2" suffix for export. The meter type is listed as "basic" for both and I think this may be the problem. Can someone with a similar system with Simply Energy please let me know what their meter type listed on the bill is?

The export exceeded the import reading so you can imagine my shock at receiving an increased bill rather than a credit!

[Tracker]

Needless to say, you WILL get it straightened out.
Many find issues with the first bills..
.. I suspect that it has more to do with AUTOMATION of the billing system, and that it requires human intervention to ensure that figures go in the right columns.

Simply Energy - I think others were complaining about them a short time back..
Something about charging a fee for processing the SOLAR FIT.

At least it seems that you have SOLAR and are on the fixed rates, and not TOU..
Most say that fixed is better than TOU..
I'm Not convinced yet.... .. . It all depends on how much "USAGE" you can transfer to Off-Peak..

Good luck today..
..
.

[bpratt]

Most say that fixed is better than TOU..
I'm Not convinced yet.... .. . It all depends on how much "USAGE" you can transfer to Off-Peak..

If you are a DINK (double income- no kids), then you are out of the house during the day, i.e. peak rates, then TOU is great.

If you work from home, pensioner, young family, then TOU is going to hurt you big time (unless you have a 10+ kw solar system).

[Sherpa2]

Thanks guys - Simply Energy admit their mistake and are going to re-bill. As for fixed Vs TOU, we're one income, one stay-at-home plus one freeloading (joke)Uni student.

[Aus]

I installed my PV system 3.5 years ago and Simply Energy tried the same thing out on me. They ARE adding the electricity you export onto the electricity you import when needed, and then try and charge you for your export as well. I spent over a year pointing this out to them before they rectified their "error" and they are very aware of what is happening. I had a friend, also with Simply Energy, who installed a PV system about 2 years ago and the same thing happened to her. If you look at the little energy profile graph they insert on your invoice you will notice that it also is adding your export to your import and giving a false graph - the CO2 emission line is also base don this false information. This bill charging mechanism has nothing to do with the type of meter you are using.