Some electricity providers have announced that they will pay 14c/kWh for surplus electricity generated on farms and supplied to the grid, but this is still not high enough, according to the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF).
Chair of the MREF Pat Smith called on the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to ensure that price paid for surplus power generated is closer to the retail price, contrasting this 14c/kWh with the 50c/kWh price that business customers are locking themselves into in two-year contracts.
“14c/kWh for micro generation is nowhere near enough compared to the prices these same utility companies are demanding for the energy they are selling to their customers,” he said.
“Thousands of homes and small businesses with micro generation can now get a regular payment from their energy provider for the surplus renewable electricity that they are generating on their own premises.”
Smart meters
Smith also stated that the ESB should make it a priority to install smart meters, which will allow those generating surplus renewable energy to export electricity to the grid for payment.
He claimed that some farms, homes and businesses connected to the grid via three-phase connections had been informed that the ESB had no plans on installing smart meters.
“The CRU and ESB Networks must ensure that everyone with a micro-generation installation - whether on a single- or three-phase supply - should have a smart meter installed as a priority to ensure that they get paid for all surplus power exported to the grid.”
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Some electricity providers have announced that they will pay 14c/kWh for surplus electricity generated on farms and supplied to the grid, but this is still not high enough, according to the Micro-Renewable Energy Federation (MREF).
Chair of the MREF Pat Smith called on the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to ensure that price paid for surplus power generated is closer to the retail price, contrasting this 14c/kWh with the 50c/kWh price that business customers are locking themselves into in two-year contracts.
“14c/kWh for micro generation is nowhere near enough compared to the prices these same utility companies are demanding for the energy they are selling to their customers,” he said.
“Thousands of homes and small businesses with micro generation can now get a regular payment from their energy provider for the surplus renewable electricity that they are generating on their own premises.”
Smart meters
Smith also stated that the ESB should make it a priority to install smart meters, which will allow those generating surplus renewable energy to export electricity to the grid for payment.
He claimed that some farms, homes and businesses connected to the grid via three-phase connections had been informed that the ESB had no plans on installing smart meters.
“The CRU and ESB Networks must ensure that everyone with a micro-generation installation - whether on a single- or three-phase supply - should have a smart meter installed as a priority to ensure that they get paid for all surplus power exported to the grid.”
Read more
More than agriculture stretched on climate obligations
Farm renewables won’t contribute to 25% emissions cut
Farmer pulls the plug on solar PV plans amid delays and low returns
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