I just finished installing a 4.2kwh grid-tie system. The system has been inspected by the AHJ and is currently on-line.
The utility is willing to install a net meter but they want to add some monthly surcharges for the ability to have a net meter.
I have completed the application for the net meter. They are just waiting on a call from me to swap it.
In my situation I do not see this system being able to produce enough power to cause the utility to buy back power from me.
At best I am hoping to see a noticeable reduction in my consumption. Paying a monthly surcharge for a meter that will never see billable watts to the electric utility seems like a waste.
Any excess power I generate during the day is cancelled out by my night time consumption.
The meter I have now is a typical 5 dial mechanical meter by Schlumberger. They would probably replace the meter with a digital equivalent.
My question is this. If I just left the current watt meter in place would it be able to accurately show PV generated power? I have observed the meter spinning backwards in the day-time and at night spinning forwards. My concern is that it is tracking watts accurately in one direction but not the other. Would I be better off calling the utility and have them swap it out?
Another thing that has been puzzling me is I never see a person read my meter. Maybe it is a smart meter but from the simple mechanical dials that I can view from outside the enclosure, I cannot figure out how it would transmit dial positions. I have to think something is counting the revolutions of the disk. If that is the case, will it know if the disk is spinning backwards and then count backwards?
The utility is willing to install a net meter but they want to add some monthly surcharges for the ability to have a net meter.
I have completed the application for the net meter. They are just waiting on a call from me to swap it.
In my situation I do not see this system being able to produce enough power to cause the utility to buy back power from me.
At best I am hoping to see a noticeable reduction in my consumption. Paying a monthly surcharge for a meter that will never see billable watts to the electric utility seems like a waste.
Any excess power I generate during the day is cancelled out by my night time consumption.
The meter I have now is a typical 5 dial mechanical meter by Schlumberger. They would probably replace the meter with a digital equivalent.
My question is this. If I just left the current watt meter in place would it be able to accurately show PV generated power? I have observed the meter spinning backwards in the day-time and at night spinning forwards. My concern is that it is tracking watts accurately in one direction but not the other. Would I be better off calling the utility and have them swap it out?
Another thing that has been puzzling me is I never see a person read my meter. Maybe it is a smart meter but from the simple mechanical dials that I can view from outside the enclosure, I cannot figure out how it would transmit dial positions. I have to think something is counting the revolutions of the disk. If that is the case, will it know if the disk is spinning backwards and then count backwards?
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