Investing in solar energy is a great way to do your bit for the environment, but for most homeowners, the appeal lies in the significant energy savings. By powering your home with free energy from the sun, you can slash electricity bills. Include a solar battery, and you can almost become independent from the electricity network. However, in order to install a rooftop PV solar system, you’ll need an electrical smart meter.
Smart meters offer two-way communication between your home and your electricity retailer, providing real-time usage data and more accurate charges. In fact, because there is no manual intervention required to read a smart electricity meter, retailer fees and charges can also be reduced. In this article, we’ll explore why you need a smart meter for solar energy.
The importance of accurate measurements
Traditional electricity meters rely on estimated usage and are nowhere near as accurate as their modern counterparts. We’ll explore this further shortly, but the improved accuracy provided by smart meters makes them essential for solar setups. This is because retailers need to know exactly how much solar energy you export back to the grid.
Being eligible for feed-in tariffs
To expand on the last point further, installing solar makes you eligible for a feed-in tariff through your electricity retailer. Unless you have a solar battery to store excess energy, solar power must be used as it is generated. So, when the sun is shining, your system may produce more power than you need. Rather than waste it, your electrical smart meter allows you to export unused energy back to the grid. The retailer gives you a credit on your account for the power you export, and while the amounts aren’t enormous, every saving helps. Plus, the more money you save, the faster your solar system pays for itself.
Smarter solar energy use
If you’re installing solar, you want to maximise its benefits. By understanding your energy consumption trends you can make better decisions about how you use power. For example. If you identify times of the day when solar production is high, this is the best time to run costly appliances. Smart meters allow you to access real-time data and more clearly understand how you can save money each and every day.
Compliance with regulations
While there are currently no rules saying you must install a smart electricity meter, that time will come. The Australian Energy Market Commission is already taking steps to ensure 100% of homes are fitted with smart meters by 2030. It’s a bold goal, but there are already regulations in place for installing smart meters in new homes. Essentially, upgrading now means you won’t have to worry in the future, and your home will be better able to support new technology.
Want to upgrade to an electrical smart meter?
If you’d like to get more control over your energy consumption and set your home up for solar energy, it’s time for an electrical smart meter. Supply Workforce offers electrical smart meter upgrades by fully trained, qualified and authorised ESI workers. If you’re ready to harness the power of solar energy, contact us today to prepare your electrical system the right way.
