Being charged at 2am despite solar HW system

[stevo]

We have recently been shifted to a smart meter (December 24). Since that time our solar hot water has been flashing red during the day, something it didn't do before.

I have just discovered the AGL app and was looking at hourly consumption and see a charge as high as 76c at 2am, averaging ~50c per day. This presumably is HW service, but with such long days and sunny weather I would not expect the HW service to ever switch on. 

Unfortunately, I can no longer view old AGL PDF bills so cannot check what the offpeak was for comparison. Nor can I check previous usage because they are averages across all hours.

How can we check the new mater is wired properly and using our solar HW system properly?

[Lester]

Do you have CL TOU on the new metering, ie the HWS is on CL, not on your main circuit and the benefits of solar ??

If so, then it will be charged at whatever TOU rate that it comes on the heat, usually off peak or shoulder, but all these plans and times vary state to state.

If you had analogue meter before, and off peak timer for HWS, they might have set it up same with new digital metering.

That's what the electricity supplier (SAPN) did for us in Nov 2023.

We had a sparky come out and rewire the HWS into the main circuit, and put a timer on that, so we can programme for the HWS to come on to heat during solar soak, or between 0000-0600 when we get power for 8c/kwh.

A better option for HWS is to put it onto the Catch Power unit, but that's about $1000 plus installation.

[stevo]

Hi Lester, thanks for responding.

I have no idea what the meter has on it or whether it is connected correctly. It's one unit, and I have no way to know what to do to read/set it, hence my questions. All I can see are hot water charges at 2am for a large solar HW system, long sunny days and a red flashing light.

Sans an AGL reply, I'll have to wait until next bill and see if controlled load has spiked, I'll be seeking a solution (and a refund). I think our average has been about $40/qtr (AGL has deleted our online bills so can't check), so if it stayed at or near 40c/day it'd come out about right but at the moment, that appears to be the minimum, not the average. 

We'll be shifting to a TOU supplier soon anyway. Had enough of these peak rates while most of our consumption is day time. That's at least one good thing to come out of this smart meter.

Thanks for the reply.

[Lester]

Ok, so no bill yet @stevo . . . it's almost impossible to tell what sort of metering you have, and if single or TOU tariff. 

Also how it's set up, if still have CL or if just a peak / off peak sort of plan.

Actually, you should be able to go to the app, click on Overview, and click View plan details.

That should tell you what you are on, post up a screen shot of the info (without address) if you need help deciphering. 

Don't rush into TOU tariffs, they may, or may not, be better for you homes power usage.

[stevo]

Our plan is not TOU Lester, I know that much. No change has been made from our 'value saver', even since the new meter. That part is pretty straight forward and not my issue here.

As for TOU contracts, when AGL hits us for ~40c for every kwh (except for controlled load), and I can get cheaper than that on peak with a TOU supplier, I only have to weigh up the inevitable increase in daily usage charges.

With TOU I am incentivised to use our greediest appliances between 10 and 3 and if peak is still cheaper than AGL, I can only save money doing the switch. I'm 6 miles deep with a spreadsheet on this so no surprises for me on this front.

Appreciate the input.

Stevo

[Caban]

@stevo 

I used to have my SHWS on my CL too. When switched to TOU I looked at the rates for that load including the daily CL fee. Even though the CL rate was less than the OP Rate on the TOU I would need to use a lot of CL power to make it worthwhile, so I had the CL removed.

For the SHWS I now have the Electric Booster turned off and just use the Solar. When the water gets warm I stick on the Booster during OP hours. This only happens a few days a year.