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Trev2655
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Oct 31, 2026 8:18 PM UTC
Question

Are FiT customers being taken for a ride by Ofgem

I have had solar panels on a Feed in Tariff (FiT) for several years and have recently added batteries (along with exchanging the inverter for a hybrid equivalent and, at the FiT provider’s request, a new bi-directional meter to comply with the requirements set by Ofgem).

I understand the logic behind supplying my provider with NET figures and how they will vary with the season and the weather and what they represent. However I fail to understand or accept that it is a measure of all of the pv that I have ACTUALLY generated which to me is the entire essence of the FiT and the agreement that I entered into originally.

This misunderstanding is exacerbated by the fact that the software supplied with the batteries and inverter indicates that I have generated considerably more pv than the NET figures from the new meter indicate over identical periods.

Surely any power imported or exported is entirely separate and irrelevant to the FiT. A simple meter fitted to record the pv generated and nothing else would solve the issue but unless I’m mistaken Ofgem won’t accept this.

Why?

All of this leads me to conclude that whoever set the rules at Ofgem is either taking us all for idiots or they quite simply fail to realise that there is a difference and that the system they use is flawed.

I happen to be an Aeronautical Engineer and if I can’t see things moving I don’t understand them!!!

Looking at some of the threads spanning the last few years elsewhere in this forum I am not alone in this conclusion; including some much more qualified and experienced than me.
However I seem to be the only one who is questioning it.

Can someone explain it to me as it’s doing my head in?

Thanks.

 

    4 replies

    Peter E
    Super User
    Peter ESuper User
    Super User
    Oct 31, 2026 9:15 PM UTC

    Hi ​@Trev2655 

     

    Thank you for coming on here to ask this question. First of all I'll say that I don't have solar so I'm therefore not completely familiar with this situation but I've always known that the phrase Deemed Export applies in circumstances like these. Have a look at the link below. Deemed Export is the figure that was assumed to be exported before there were export meters. It's half of your PV rating** so it's irrelevant what you know to be actually exported. It seems you can challenge the level of export if it's substantially greater than the Deemed value. 

     

    https://www.fitariffs.co.uk/FITs/principles/export/

     

    As an additional point you can refuse the ‘floor price’ for the export and leave the scheme which could be good news for you as SEG (solar export grant) values are generally higher than the FIT floor price but you will need MCS certification of the system to get it which would need to be provided by the installer. That could be an issue for an older FIT system which may pre-date MCS.

     

    Let us know how you get on.

     

    Peter

     

    ** It was assumed you used half and exported the other half. Not an unreasonable assumption except that the average figure for most installations is use 40% and export 60%.

     

     

    Reducing my yearly fossil fuel usage with an EV (-900 litres petrol saving about £950/year), A2AHP (-8,700 kWh gas, cost neutral) and Timed Immersion heater (-1,500 kWh gas, £20/year more expensive but reducing as the gas price goes up)
    Rank 1
    Trev2655Author
    Rank 1
    Oct 31, 2026 9:42 PM UTC

    Peter, firstly many thanks for coming back so quickly. I have taken advantage of the export assumption that 50% of my generation is exported and without doing some serious number crunching I am inclined to stick with it; primarily as I have an electric Aga which I think would actually eat into that percentage. I’m quite overtly playing the system and feel that the FiT is better for my circumstances than the SEG.

    It’s really this business about whether it is correct for Ofgem to insist on using NET figures when they seem to vary so much from what on the face of it (to me at least) are identical circumstances. I can’t help feeling that I and everyone else in this position am being short changed.

    It might be a can of worms but sometimes it’s necessary. If I’m right then I’m quite prepared to take it further but at the same time I’m quite happy to be proven wrong if I can understand why.

      Peter E
      Super User
      Peter ESuper User
      Super User
      Oct 31, 2026 10:28 PM UTC

      The one thing I will say as you've mentioned that you have a home battery is that you should be able to use most if not all of your solar and use it to offset your import tariff (26p/unit?). The gain here is that your import tariff is likely to be much higher than any SEG you could get (12p) and certainly a lot higher than your FIT and no MCS certification needed. A big win indeed. And if you are on Deemed Export my understanding is you still get paid the FIT. However, I thought that if you added a battery you lose the FIT but I'm seriously out if my depth here. I'll tag ​@BPLightlog to ask for assistance.

       

      Peter 

      Reducing my yearly fossil fuel usage with an EV (-900 litres petrol saving about £950/year), A2AHP (-8,700 kWh gas, cost neutral) and Timed Immersion heater (-1,500 kWh gas, £20/year more expensive but reducing as the gas price goes up)
      Rank 1
      Trev2655Author
      Rank 1
      Oct 31, 2026 11:18 PM UTC

      There’s no question of anyone losing an FiT as a result of adding a battery but, as I discovered (and contrary to my assertions that the battery is entirely separate from the panels) one has to report the action to the provider as when connected to the inverter along with the panels it introduces the issue of import/export and NET variables. That I understand but it is the fact to me that this no longer measures the pv generated. This is where my issue originated.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement

        OVO Energy Ltd, Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ, (Company no. 06890795) registered in England and Wales.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is registered in England and Wales (Company No. 02716495) at Floor 5, Crescent, Temple Back, Redcliffe, BS1 6EZ.

        OVO (S) Gas Limited is part of OVO Group Ltd