Electricity Meters Running Backwards

When you compare your electricity bills or check your meter reading you may find your electricity meter is running backwards. This is not by design.

If you are one the unfortunate few to suffer this issue, the chances are you have had solar PV panels fitted to your house.

In almost all cases, customer’s who have this problem have an old analogue meter which doesn’t have a built-in backstop, meaning when the electricity supply is going the other way (i.e. you are pushing power into the grid), the electricity meter runs in reverse.

How are energy companies handling the issue?

It is the responsibility of the solar PV panel installer to check the correct meter is installed and fully compatible with the panels.

If the meter is running backwards then your meter is not compatible. You should contact your electricity supplier as soon as possible and inform them that their meter is no longer correctly measuring the supply of energy.

Once you have informed the supplier, it is their responsibility to correct the issue and, in most cases, this would be done free of charge.

What about my bill?

Be fully aware that your electricity supplier may well estimate your bill from the last known meter reading based on historic usage.

This could mean you are saddled with the difference.