Net Metering - I hope my last electric bill is wrong

[DavidT]

My bill issue appears to be resolved. I'll know for sure when I get my April bill, but they did issue me a corrected bill for March. Here's what the guy said: The net meter has two channels - Channel 1 transmits the flow of energy coming in from the grid, Channel 2 transmits the flow of energy my solar panel system is sending to the grid. Even though BGE's website details the net of both, my bill was only picking up Channel 1. So any time I was producing more than consuming I wasn't getting credit for the over-production.

I wonder how many solar producers are getting short changed on their net meter bill due to not looking at their numbers close enough to know something's wrong. For me it was very obvious since my system over-produces. But for someone who only produces a small fraction of their total consumption it might not be so obvious.

[DanS26]

The comments in this thread are a perfect example of why you do not rely on the POCO meter.

Install the necessary measurement systems to check and verify the amount and $ on the POCO billing statement.

The TED system is good as are other comparable systems. Small price to pay to verify the POCO billing.

It's not that expensive and you may even find it interesting to monitor your usage on more than a monthly basis.

[DavidT]

...The TED system is good as are other comparable systems. Small price to pay to verify the POCO billing..

$199 for the TED 5000-G. I thought TED systems were closer to $500. Does the 5000-G work well? I'd also like to be able to monitor individual circuits from time to time. For example, I'd like to know just how much juice the AC unit is consuming. Sounds like the TED 5000-G can do that. Yes?

[russ]

The comments in this thread are a perfect example of why you do not rely on the POCO meter.

Actually the POCO meter was perfectly fine - the billing was wrong. More of a case of seeing what they do.

[falcon269]

Meter swap

I installed solar panels. When BGE swapped a Smart Meter for a Smart Meter, they used an estimated reading for the old meter. I was billed for over 1,500 kwh that I did not use. I know because I wrote down the reading daily for two months before the panels were installed. The PSC says that BGE must photograph the meter reading on all meters removed. I am waiting to see that photo!!! It has been five months in dispute, and the PSC is waiting to hear from BGE about my complaint.

I am curious to know how many customers received Smart Meter estimated readings, since the point of the Smart Meter is to give continuous accurate readings. An estimated reading should not be necessary.

[DavidT]

My current bills seem to be correct, but I do believe that BGE short changed me right after the meter switch. It wouldn't have been worth the effort for me to fight it though so I just sucked it up and moved forward. If I had known about the photo requirement perhaps I would have continued to pursue it.

I've got a little over a half year of production history now. I'm happy with the panels thus far. They are producing more than I consume, but I doubt they'll hit the production guarantee this year. Might fall a little short.

[falcon269]

If I had known about the photo requirement perhaps I would have continued to pursue it.

I've got a little over a half year of production history now. I'm happy with the panels thus far. They are producing more than I consume, but I doubt they'll hit the production guarantee this year. Might fall a little short.

My production also exceeds my usage. The system was supposed to cover 58% of my usage, so even though it is not producing the total design amount, it is adequate.

Contact BGE and the Public Service Commission and ask for the photo. I don't think there is a time limit on retaining the photo. It probably will take a complaint to the PSC to get any action/compliance. I am waiting to hear from the PSC on my month old complaint. You can file a complaint online.

[MelonLord]

Not so patiently waiting...

...for BGE to trade our 'smart' meter for a net meter, and I honestly can't believe it's anything more than a software switch.

In any case, I hope you guys don't have the lease / Power Purchase Agreement. We got a quote for that from Solar City, and one question that always bothered me was with respect to excess production. You pay Solar City (or whoever) for what's produced at a retail rate, but BGE only gives you retail for what you actually used. BGE only pays you wholesale for the excess, so you basically end up paying Solar City for the power you provide to the grid if the system is oversized. We ended up purchasing our system outright from a local company, and it's a smaller system. I'd tell you how well it matches our usage, but we're still waiting for BGE to net meter us so we can turn it on.

My production also exceeds my usage. The system was supposed to cover 58% of my usage, so even though it is not producing the total design amount, it is adequate.

Contact BGE and the Public Service Commission and ask for the photo. I don't think there is a time limit on retaining the photo. It probably will take a complaint to the PSC to get any action/compliance. I am waiting to hear from the PSC on my month old complaint. You can file a complaint online.

[falcon269]

BGE overcharge

...for BGE to trade our 'smart' meter for a net meter, and I honestly can't believe it's anything more than a software switch.

The net meter is a different meter (probably). It took me six months and a complaint to the Public Services Commission to get a correct bill from BGE. They started with an overcharge of about $400. I wrote down my meter reading daily for several months to have evidence, and that is the only reason I ever got a bill that was not larcenous.

[MelonLord]

The net meter is a different meter (probably). It took me six months and a complaint to the Public Services Commission to get a correct bill from BGE. They started with an overcharge of about $400. I wrote down my meter reading daily for several months to have evidence, and that is the only reason I ever got a bill that was not larcenous.

Thanks for the head's up. Will be taking a photo of the too-stupid-to-net meter before they swap it, and will save a screenshot of our monthly/daily/hourly energy usage as well. We also have the micro-inverters, can't wait to use them!

[mapsolar]

My utility company (BGE) replaced my "smart meter" with a new net meter the day before my solar system went live. I've received two utility bills since then. The first one showed my usage while on the new net meter being several hundred kWhs. I knew that was a mistake, but figured it might have had to do with the meter transition. I didn't bother calling them since during this past month BGE's website was showing that my current estimated electric bill was going to be about -$40 (negative). That's right about what I expected given my current solar production plus the true up they'd owe me from that wrong reading.

I get my second bill and the meter reading has gone UP by almost 500 kWhs! So it's says that I owe them money instead of them owing me. That's way bogus according to my meter. My meter has spun backwards from zero by about 250 kWhs (99,750). 500 kWhs would be a bit less than half of what my pre-solar usage was during this time of year. My bill should be negative. My system is large enough that it produces more than I consume.

Did someone at BGE forget to flip a switch a check a box on a computer screen? BTW - That estimated bill function on BGE's site that I mentioned earlier was turned off about a week before I got my bill. Said it couldn't be calculated at that time. Anyone else have a similar experience when they first went live? I'll be calling BGE on Monday morning, but for now I've got to stew over this all weekend.

Over the years we have seen this time and time again with bills of several thousand dollars in some cases( New net meter started a 0 and went negative with power generated by solar system when meter reader read it... bill system thought it had gone around the other way). The estimated bill is the best because you only really catch up when they read it again, which at our house is once a year. It's the estimated verses actual issue. I suggest calling them to check the meter calibration and have it read again. I would also follow up and learn how to read it myself, keeping a log. Smart phone pictures work well. Usually the meter will give you the date and time, then different rates and numbers that go with that rate, as it cycles around. You will need to get the codes and what they mean as each utility is different. You should be able to see real time demand and kWh today/lifetime etc. If there is a TOU (time of use rates) then it also will be shown.
I track power used by our major machines and devices, power production of my alternative energy sources, and what the net meter reads. As I found out everybody stopped conserving energy because they felt it was free and abundant now that we had solar. Once they understood that turning off lights and machines was still a good thing our power bill settled in.
So you may have a hard time determining where the issue is, but once you keep track and write it down spread sheet style you can start to understand the areas of concern, and possible corrections. Call the utility and see if they can explain the bill and your rates. It is hard to grasp sometimes how the bill is separated and what creates those charges. It is hard for some utilities to even explain it to us so don't get overly frustrated. It never hurts to ask and try to understand.

Good luck
MAP

[Naptown]

...for BGE to trade our 'smart' meter for a net meter, and I honestly can't believe it's anything more than a software switch.

In any case, I hope you guys don't have the lease / Power Purchase Agreement. We got a quote for that from Solar City, and one question that always bothered me was with respect to excess production. You pay Solar City (or whoever) for what's produced at a retail rate, but BGE only gives you retail for what you actually used. BGE only pays you wholesale for the excess, so you basically end up paying Solar City for the power you provide to the grid if the system is oversized. We ended up purchasing our system outright from a local company, and it's a smaller system. I'd tell you how well it matches our usage, but we're still waiting for BGE to net meter us so we can turn it on.

They are taking about a month to swap meters and a few days longer to send the "ok to turn on email"
They claim installs are up 400% from last year