Import supply meters affected by onsite generation
Correspondence and other
Publication date
Industry sector
Supply and Retail Market
Since the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme in 2010, an increasing number of consumers have installed renewable electricity generating equipment, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) at their homes or premises. In some cases the import supply meter, which measures the electricity a consumer uses from the grid, is being affected by this onsite generation. This sometimes results in inaccurate meter readings that can lead to billing issues and affect the accuracy of electricity settlement1.
The National Measurement Office (NMO) is responsible for ensuring that the requirements in the Electricity Act, with respect to the accuracy of meters, are met by suppliers and distribution companies. As the electricity markets regulator, we have an important role in protecting the interests of existing and future electricity consumers. We have been working together with industry parties to try to understand this issue better and to develop solutions to protect consumers with onsite renewable electricity generating equipment, by ensuring accurate meter readings.
This is a complex problem which interacts with different parts of the electricity system. Identifying and resolving the faulty meters requires cooperation from different industry parties. We believe this has led to gaps in identifying and then correcting problems. We welcome the proactive steps that have been taken already by industry participants to resolve this issue going forward.
This joint letter sets out the issues as we understand it and clarifies the current obligations and expectations on industry parties. Alongside this letter, we will publish a domestic consumer factsheet, to answer their questions and to assist them if they suspect their meter is being affected.
Notes
1. Electricity settlement is the process for comparing the amount of energy that an electricity supplier has arranged to be put on to the network with the amount that their customers have consumed