SEG payment

Hello all, I installed my PV solar system in August 2022, then waited for MCS certificate for 3 months, after that applied for SEG with Octopus. Setting up the export account took about 3 months. So, as a result, I have already exported more than 1600 kWh to the grid, before my Outgoing Octopus went live.
My question is who will pay for the exported electricity from the moment of installation until the moment the export account is set up?
In my opinion, this bureaucracy process took an unreasonably long time. They have to pay for each exported kWh, just like we regular users do when we import electricity.
Please share your experience in this matter.
Thank you.

Vitali My question is who will pay for the exported electricity from the moment of installation until the moment the export account is set up?

As far as I know, nobody.

Vitali no one.

I was in a similar position, took 3 months to complete the full process and when I asked Octopus if they would pay me for the export until the day they had set everything up, they refused.

Vitali I don't think anyone pays for the delay. My MCS didn't take very long though as it is the installer that issues it. I don't really see why you can't get an export MPAN before installation which was the main delay in my case. Luckily my system was installed in December 2020, so didn't export too much before I had an export tariff in February 2021.

Do you know why it took so long? Mine was just a couple of weeks back in September. Did yo have everything they needed - MCS certificate, DNO letter etc. Was the delay with them being able to set p the MPAN number?

Karen Do you know why it took so long?

I have no idea Karen. I have a 12 week email thread between me and Octopus where I chase them every week but getting the same response - We are trying to get this finalised for you so I will be back in touch once we have an update.

I am glad that all setup processes fell on the autumn-winter time. But it's not fair anyway.
I have never considered the national grid as a charitable organization to donate... 🙁

Try contacting them via twitter direct message if you have that option (maybe even create a twitter account for the purpose!)

They seem to be much quicker to sort things that way.

My installer ( end of nov 2022) had all the MCS to me the day after installation. The export MPAN took another week, so I was not paid for 9 ? days from Octopus. A lot of this will be down to your installer providing what it is the purchaser of the power requires.

Roberto You're lucky one. 😃

Interestingly, out of the blue today I received a bill from Octopus for the period before they completed setting up the export MPAN with a credit for all the previously exported energy. So, it might be possible to get paid for that period. Not sure what set it off though.

Cdent Very interesting!!! And at what tariff rate did they credit/calculate this period??? 15p/kWh or maybe 4.1p/kWh?

Cdent
refused point blank to credit me.

Without an agreement your effectively just pumping in electricity into the grid.
Your directly supporting those illegal cannabis farms etc.

Vitali it was at 7.5p/kWh, which is what I originally signed up to before moving onto Agile outgoing.

positor1 very odd, as I said mine was out of the blue and their email said

It looks as though there was a period (from 7th June 2022 to 7th June 2022), where we didn't charge you for the energy you used. We've now added these charges to your bill, so your account is completely up to date.

Vitali

Did you provide a pic of the export reading like they asked for on the application when you applied?

That should be the date and value you can claim from I think, if you provided the requested data on the form (MCS Cert, DNO info, Meter reading...) then as far as I'd be concerned this would form the start basis for your SEG payments.

If Octopus sit on it for 12 weeks even when you chase, then it's not really your fault.

I lost some kWh export whilst I was awaiting the data I needed to apply from the installer, but I think Octopus credited me back based on the original reading I gave them up to current (I have a smart meter so it sent them automatically once they set it up).

LordHippos Yes, I provided all requered information and I have a second generation smart meter.
However, I received the following reply from Octopus:
You will be paid from the date that this is set up not from the date of request.

I'll wait for the first bill with my export and see. Maybe they say one thing and do another, as in the case of Cdent.

When I moved to Octopus it took them a few months to get everything sorted out. The first two bills they forgot to tie my usage up with the SEG payment. On the second bill they charged me for the day I switched from flexible to E7 that they missed off the first one. Then they charged me just for my off-peak electric and added the peak rate usage onto the next bill. It was a bit confusing to look at but the figures were all correct in the end

Vitali DM them in twitter see what they can do? It's potentially an unreasonable length of time to wait for setup. Mine was mere days I think!

Like they expect you to pay for energy you use from day 1, I think the opposite is sort of fair as well, at least at the point in time you recorded it with them officially.

I had exactly the same so whenever I was exporting I would just switch stuff on in the house to stop it as I knew I wouldn't be getting any money for it. Quite childish but there you go 😃

For Octopus users:
Does Octopus pay for export every month from the date of setting the export account?

If you are also an Octopus customer for import, then it should form part of your monthly bill. I had to chase them up, as they missed it off for the first two months and they then sent a separate one for my export. By month 3 everything was running smoothly. They offset what you have exported against what you have imported for the month and just charge the difference. In the summer when you are exporting more than importing I believe you build up credit

I took meter import and export readings the day my PV went live and when finally everything was sorted I took more readings and then had a "debate" with Octo along the lines that "the energy that has come from you through my meter I will pay you for, and the energy that has gone the other way that you have benefitted from you must pay me for, even though bits of paper were not in place".
They agreed to that .

Vitali yes they should do, usually as part of your normal monthly bill

Yes. Though for the last 4 months I have only had a SEG bill and no normal bill which means I have a lot of credit. Though thank you to our government I wont have a bill for a while.......

They will pay.
When you install your solar system wait 1-2 weeks then make picture of your meter showing your export amount. Then when you start setting up your account they will ask you for meter export figures. Give them you number from picture and as backup upload your picture. Thats it. They will swallow your picture like pelican and voila you have paid for most you generate.

Hi all,
We've just had our solar system fitted at the end of February.
I think I've got all the necessary paper work to be able to claim something from the energy we export / dump into the grid.
Is it just a case of saying to our energy supplier, (Scottish Power) please buy my surplus energy 'at whatever ridiculous price you want to pay us'
At the moment I don't want to move away from Scottish Power as we have a good Fixed Tariff rate until well into the latter part of this year.
Has anyone got any dealings with this company?

Xeroid Kid Just call them and tell them you want to get started on the SEG, and they'll tell you what they need to get started.

HipHopAst When you install your solar system wait 1-2 weeks then make picture of your meter showing your export amount. Then when you start setting up your account they will ask you for meter export figures. Give them you number from picture and as backup upload your picture. Thats it. They will swallow your picture like pelican and voila you have paid for most you generate.
Now this I like.

Xeroid Kid Wait! You don't have to stick with your current supplier for your SEG. They can be different. Not all SEG licencees cover all areas but most areas have more than one. Shop around and get the best deal you can - it won't affect your supply tariff.

Do you have a battery? Beware some SEG suppliers (and I think Scottish Power may be one of them) are a bit leery of batteries. They consider any power imported from the grid and subsequently exported as "brown power" and may ask you to prove that you can separate this from power you export from "green" power, i.e. solar. See this article from the Energy Saving Trust
https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/smart-export-guarantee/

Perhaps there are Scottish Power users who could comment on whether they actually enforce this cos their rate is pretty good. But as Clueless Chris says - you don't have to stick with them - you can go to anyone for your SEG.

Hi Karen,
Thanks for your advice, that article is very interesting. I hopefully don’t export too much to the grid, I want to collect all the electrons available to us! I’ll make some enquiries regarding SEG with Scottish Power.
I’ve used the charger that came with the car, 2Kw to use up excess, it’s nice to know you can drive ‘smug’ knowing that the power you have in the car has been derived from your own solar panels.
I just love it!

Xeroid Kid I know they don't offer much, but it is worth signing up for SEG, because you will have to work really hard to use all your solar in the summer. I could charge the battery (8.2) and get a full tank of hot water from my iboost by midday. Even with a car to charge you could still be exporting some. I'd get registered just in case. I was slow chasing up my MCS and DNO paperwork last summer, and missed out on payment for over 300kw (about £40)

Hi Karen, Just filled out the forms for our SEG with Scottish Power. I’ll see if I correctly filled them in soon enough I suspect.
Thanks for your feedback.

HipHopAst I'm in the same boat, I have the paperwork but octopus haven't yet got access to the smart meter so cant start Seg. Idea of pre-dated photos is a great one.

When you say export meter which pictures do Octopus ask for ?
My new system has the:
1) the Main smart Meter. ( import and export figures)
2) the EM115 clamp meter ( import and export)
3) the dedicated import/export emlite meter installed as part of the givenergy solar install.

All were at obviously at 0 export when solar was commissioned, why do you suggest waiting a couple of weeks ?

justpassing Octopus just wanted the numbers from the main smart meter when I signed up

Martyn if you installed via eOn, and then go with their pittance of a 5.5p per kWh SEG, then they will promise to back date to the installation date.