Single Phase Solar on 3 Phase Power in SA

• 

  SBOB on 20/03/2022 - 22:41

  +1

  Or is the smart meter just sum the power on all phases and I only need to pay for 1kw?

  This. It's all net metering

  • 

    Quantumcat on 20/03/2022 - 22:56

    Are you sure? You only don't pay for electricity /don't get paid for export usually as you are consuming the power before it gets to the grid

    • 

      SBOB on 21/03/2022 - 09:20

      +1

      Its net metering for multiple phase supplies.
      If you have one phase its irrelevant as you consume it .
      For multi phase you may not be consuming on the phase thats connected to the inverter, but the supply metering calculates a the totals as 'net'
      You dont get individual phase bills on your power bill (for domestic/home connections).

      • 

        netjock on 21/03/2022 - 10:06

        Think it is only net metering behind the meter. If you generate 3kw and behind the meter you consume 1kw and export 2 kilowatts. You don't get charged for 1kw at market rate and 3kw at feed in.

        • 

          SBOB on 21/03/2022 - 11:02

          @netjock:

          Think it is only net metering behind the meter. If you generate 3kw and behind the meter you consume 1kw and export 2 kilowatts. You don't get charged for 1kw at market rate and 3kw at feed in.

          correct. you get a '2kw' export net total.

          The meter doesnt care what you do on your side of the connection.
          The elec company side is what the meter is measuring and its net metering this.
          On single phase, like i said, its irrelevant , but on 3 phase the instantaneous totals of each phase is net metered, such that its irrelevant which phase you're consuming on and which phase you're exporting on.
          A+B+C=Total. (and A, B or C phases can be either positive or negative values depending on whether you're consuming or exporting on that phase)

  • 

    lgacb08 on 21/03/2022 - 22:15

    This is not always true, there was a guy on whirlpool having this issue exactly with origin doing the dodgy to their advantage and in the end he had to switch retailer to get net metering. So best is do your research, it might be different in each state. you can always get the retailer that do net metering but it might not be universal.