Meter operator contract

[lazy farmer]

Hi have just had our meter operator contract renewal come through.
Is there any point in shopping around ?
Currently we are paying £399 a yr for the privilege of them remotely reading our 50kw solar meter.
The renewal offers £254 for 3 yrs £208 for 5 yrs and £170 if we renew for 10yrs.
I’m suspicious as to why they are going so low. They pay 3.3p for export units. Is this the reason why ?

 

[Exfarmer]

I believe you are talking about your Mpan meter, in which case I do not believe you have any choice as to who operates the meter, if I am wrong please correct me. It is the biggest rip off going as the charges apply to both sides of these meters ( a charge to the import and the export ) the meters themselves cost about £200 new and remote monitoring by other companies is £20-50 per annum
your exports however can be freely traded. I expect you are on the early FITs regime which was very generous on the FIT but the export was not so good. It will certainly pay to shop around, the transfer is seamless and rates currently are 5-6 pence

 

[sjt01]

Our metering is with Siemens. 10 years ago it was over £500 but they have been cutting it gradually, now around £350 a year for the last 5 years, for a import export half hour meter. We have a 200 amp mains connection

 

[Exfarmer]

Our metering is with Siemens. 10 years ago it was over £500 but they have been cutting it gradually, now around £350 a year for the last 5 years, for a import export half hour meter. We have a 200 amp mains connection

I think you will find that they are actually charging you directly , only for the export. The size of connection is irrelevant as the meters use clamp on connections

 

[sjt01]

I think you will find that they are actually charging you directly , only for the export. The size of connection is irrelevant as the meters use clamp on connections

The size of the connection will determine whether it needs to be half hour metered, maximum demand metered or just basic counting kWh

 

[Exfarmer]

The size of the connection will determine whether it needs to be half hour metered, maximum demand metered or just basic counting kWh

Sorry I was pointing out that the meter operators are rapacious , the meter size is the same, whatever the connection size or type. Many use just the same elstor meter and the information can be read by hand whatever the connection type Or the reporting.
however we as producers have no say or choice in metering

 

[Scoobyscotlad]

10 year MOP contract with SSE, £240 annually.
Data Colection contract directly with IMserv- £156 annually, your electricity provider may well try to charge up to £50/month for this.