Flogas Micro-generation Update
Micro-generation
What is Micro-generation
Micro-generation is the general term used to refer to the generation of electricity from renewable technologies including solar photovoltaic (PV), micro-wind, micro-hydro and micro-renewable combined heat and power (CHP).
A payment, or Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), is available to all eligible renewable generators that export to the grid, regardless of what energy provider they have a supply contract with.
Flogas is naturally supporting this scheme and already we have hundreds of customers who are benefitting from solar generated electricity that is being fed back into the grid.
How will it work?
If you have a Smart Meter installed, we will be advised of the amount of electricity being generated at half-hourly intervals and we will generate a credit on your Flogas Electricity account for that amount.
If you are eligible for a Smart Meter but have not had one installed, then you are not eligible for the Clean Export Guarantee. Please note that there is a four-month lead in time for ESBN to exchange your current meter for a Smart Meter.
If you don’t have a Smart Meter as you are not currently eligible for one, ESBN (ESB Networks) will calculate a “deemed” amount, which is essentially their estimate of how much electricity will be generated and exported back into the grid for a regular home.
The calculation is that for every 1.2KW panel, 357 kWh will be fed back to the grid. So, for a 4.8 kw installation – 4 standard PV panels, an annual feed in volume of 1,428kwh will be assumed or “deemed”.
This may change over time and will be subject to reviews.
A Smart meter will be the most exact way to be sure you are getting every kWh generated and we are happy to help you get you a Smart Meter installed if you don’t already have it. And to correctly configure your Smart Meter set-up if you already have one. However, we believe the “deemed” amount will prove correct as it has done in other places such as Northern Ireland.
We will credit your electricity account at the same frequency and time as your regular bill with an amount equal to the volume of electricity returned to the grid multiplied by the Flogas microgeneration rate. The first payments were issued from the 31 October 2022 and were backdated to the 15 February 2022 when the government enacted the legislation, or from when you first became eligible to be remunerated for your exported electricity after that date. The above dates have been communicated to all electricity suppliers by the CRU (www.cru.ie). From 3rd June 2023, your export credit will be applied to your account on your scheduled bill date for your usage. You will receive a standalone credit invoice for your export detailing the kWh exported and the period that the credit covers.
For homes and small businesses who have less than 6kw of Solar PV installed – ie 5 or less 1.2kw panels, each supplier will set a feed in rate.
What do I need to do?
Have you completed a NC6 form?
This must be completed and sent on to ESBN to inform them that you have micro generation installed.
ESBN - Micro-Generator Frequently Asked Questions
ESBN are working with customers, electricity supply companies and other industry stakeholders to upgrade meters (please click on link for form) for customers who have informed them that they have installed micro-generation.
Once that’s done, we are informed as your energy supplier, and we will take it from there. We will write to inform you of any further information we need and to inform you of the Clean Export rate we will be paying and at what intervals.
Please note you must be with the same energy supplier for your regular electricity account as your micro generation account.
What is the Eligibility Criteria?
Metered Export Data – Customers that are eligible for a smart meter under ESBN’s led deployment approach under the National Smart Metering Programme must meet the below criteria
- meet the definition of a renewables self-consumer in the Renewable Energy Directive;
- export excess electricity to the network based on data transmitted to ESBN;
- have installed microgeneration and informed ESBN using the NC6 or equivalent form, and;
- have a smart meter installed to record their export electricity data.
Deemed Export Arrangements – Customers that are not eligible for a smart meter under ESBN’s led deployment approach under the National Smart Metering Programme must meet the below criteria
- meet the definition of a renewables self-consumer in the Renewable Energy Directive;
- have installed microgeneration and informed ESBN using the NC6 or equivalent form, and;
- their meter type is not eligible for a smart meter installation, or they are unable to have a smart installed for reasons beyond their control.
How is your export provided to Flogas?
Metered export recorded or deemed quantity calculated and provisioned by ESBN that is provided to Flogas will be the final determination of the quantity of export for which you will be credited.
What is the export tariff?
An export tariff rate of €0.18.5 (exc. VAT), €0.20 (inc. VAT at 9%) per kWh will be applied to the excess exported electricity. Effective date of the rate is 6 November 2023. Flogas reserve the right to vary rates.Publicly available tariffs are available to view at www.flogas.ie.
What happens if the export tariff changes?
A notification by email or letter will be issued to you 30 days in advance of the effective date of the tariff change
How often will your account be credited?
Excess exported electricity will be applied to your account as credit every two months using the metered or deemed calculation provided by ESBN that is applicable to your account. Statements will be issued to you detailing the export, rate(s) and if the credit is based on the metered or deemed calculation.
Can you sign with Flogas for an export tariff only?
Customers must be registered with Flogas for their import electricity to be remunerated by Flogas for excess export electricity. If you switch to another registered supplier, Flogas will credit any export to your account up to the effective date of your switch.
How do these Terms and Conditions affect existing contractual arrangements?
- These terms and conditions are in addition to the Flogas Residential Customer General Terms and Conditions for the Supply of Energy available at - Microgeneration - Terms & Conditions
- These terms and conditions will have no impact on any existing import contractual arrangements that you have with Flogas.
- Refer to Flogas Residential Customer General Terms and Conditions and our privacy policy at flogas.ie/privacy for details on Data Protection.
- For more information on our Customer Charter and Codes of Practice please see flogas.ie.