We had solar panels installed last autumn at great expense. As winter turned to spring we were pleased to see nearly all our electricity costs were being covered and were smugly looking forward to this increasing in the summer.
Unfortunately we were persuaded by our electricity company 100Green to have a smart meter installed at the end of May. We have always had relatively low energy consumption. Our electricity bill for February was actually -£4, owing to the energy relief of £67. For March, it was £21, for April £46 and for May £38.
However, immediately after the smart meter was fitted our bills went through the roof. They leapt to £226 for June, then £201 for July. It’s as if we were running a kiln day and night.
The meter installers denied that they had interfered with our solar panels. They sent someone round who confirmed there was a problem but was unable to fix it. The person who fitted our panels also spent hours at our house but was unable to fix it.
We are refusing to pay the enormous direct debits so have been switched on to a really expensive tariff. The whole situation is very frustrating situation and we wish we had not agreed to get a meter in the first place. Can you help?
SB, Brighton
We contacted 100Green and it placed your account on hold while the problem was investigated. However, by the time its meter engineer called the issue had already been fixed by the solar panel company. Owing to a mistake when the meter was put in, it appears you were being charged for the energy your panels were generating, rather than having it knocked off your bill.
After the problem was fixed, 100Green could see the immediate drop in your energy use and has credited £700 back to your account to cover what you have been overcharged. A happy ending, and with the smart meter in place you hope to start earning some money by selling excess energy back to the grid.
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