GENERATION AND BILLING
- Generation
The amount of solar generated by the solar system is recorded on the generation meter. If you subtract the exported energy from the generated energy that is how many kWhs that have been used on-site.The dashboard for the inverters provides this subtraction for you. - Billing
Billing can be made from the monthly report produced.
EXPORT METERING AND BILLING
- Export MPAN
The first step in the process of export metering is to get an EXPORT MPAN from the DNO (District Network Operator e.g. SSE). Footprint Zero will make this export application on your behalf. The DNO then provides an export offer. Footprint Zero will accept this offer on your behalf. The DNO provides the export MPAN the grid offer to export energy has been accepted. - Smart Meter Contract
A smart meter contract is then signed with a Meter Operator (MOp). In most scenarios the best solution is to go with the MOp that already operates the import meter (the meter used by your energy provider).
After entering a contract with a MOp Footprint Zero will manage the process of ensuring that the meter installed is capable of measuring export as well as import.
The energy user will hold the contract with the existing MOp. If you are not the energy user (often the case with Landlords) we will need to obtain a Letter of Authority from the tenant to engage with the MOp on their behalf.
Should it not be possible to utilise the current metering infrastructure it is always possible to install a separate export meter with a new MOp. For this service we recommend Stark Connect. - The Cost
Subject to contract an indicative budget is as follows (all number include meter operation, data collection (DC) and data aggregation (DA) services):
- Existing MOp. No upfront cost. £300 + VAT per annum. The MOp owns and operates the meter and provides data connectiona and half-hourly (HH) data monitoring.
- Purchase the meter. The initial cost is £600+VAT and £265+VAT per annum for data connection and half-hourly (HH) data monitoring.
- The Process
A contract is signed with a Meter Operator. The meter operator manages the data feed giving half hourly data for the meter. We have to inform the tenants that their meters will be replaced, they will not need to pay anything. We will also need to inform the energy provider that the meter will be replaced. The MOp goes to site to install the export capable meter (or if there is already an export capable meter, they will reconfigure the meter remotely). This will record how much electricity is exported to the grid and how much is used on site. In some cases a short power down (<60 minutes) may be required to facilitate the meter exchange. If power shut down is required Footprint Zero will coordinate this carefully with the tenants to ensure minimal disruption. - The Off-Take Contract
A contract is signed with an off-taker. The off-taker will guarantee to pay a price for the energy that is exported to the grid for the duration of the contract. The off-taker will raise an invoice in favour of you, the exporter, on a regular basis. They will also automatically make the payment to the designated bank account for the exported energy. Footprint Zero will guide you through the process of finding the best offtaker to sign up with.