I am currently researching in preparation for a solar panel install. I understand that a new power company power meter must be installed to “isolate” your house from both the grid and your solar system. This is required under legislation.
This is ostensibly a safety measure to ensure the grid is not live from your feed-in. Fair enough. But the power meter also isolates your home from any power available from your panels.
I have 2 issues with this:
1/ its main purpose seems to be a revenue interlock to force a customer to pay a bill. Well now I am angry, I never default. In any case there are plenty of existing measure to recover funds without this type of bullying.
2/ technically it is very easy to prevent feed in when the grid is down given the smart meters in use these days (I am an engineer).
Simply put, I want my fridge and freezer to stay on when there is a day time power outage. Perhaps my reverse cycle air conditioner too if I have enough panels. Not an issue in low sunlight as inverters switch off when there is insufficient input.
I am therefore considering having dedicated solar circuits installed (retro fitted) to run those appliances during the day with the option to grid connect when I want. Of course there will now be no feed-in return funds plus tricky meter box but also my total power consumption reduces in compensation.
In this way the solar system works for me when it is most needed. I am South Australian and need to accommodate the supply uncertainty…
Do you or your members have any comment and advice?