Filenews 8 October 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
Thousands of consumers who have electricity meters before 2013, in case they decide to install photovoltaic systems will have to replace them with more modern ones that EAC subsequently procured.
EAC can serve its customers seamlessly, although those who installed photovoltaics in June could not use these systems because the meters ordered by the Authority in time did not arrive on schedule, something that EAC attributes mainly to the problems observed internationally due to the war in Ukraine.
In particular, in response to the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Mrs Natasa Pilides, to the question of the Nicosia Parliamentary constituency, Mrs Alexandra Attalidou, the following are also recorded:
"Due to the well-known problems in the supply chain and in the shipping industry worldwide, the above companies had delayed in delivering the new meters to EAC. Specifically, both the three-phase and the single-phase meters were received in the first week of July 2022 (instead of April/May 2022 respectively, as was the schedule in the Tenders).
"Therefore," the minister continues, the stock of new meters, especially for the month of June 2022, was limited and was not sufficient to directly serve the unprecedented demand for the installation of photovoltaic systems."
"Therefore," adds Ms. Pilides, "during the period of June, there were cases when EAC proceeded to inspect the photovoltaic installation without, however, connecting the photovoltaic system to the network at the same time, since the meter was installed with a time delay of a few days".
From the above, it follows that those who were served last June, could not for some time, use the photovoltaics that they rushed to install due to the skyrocketing price of fuel and, by extension, the electricity bills.
Mrs. Pilides assures that from 2013 onwards EAC procures new meters (single-phase and three-phase) which can be used both in premises (residential, commercial and industrial) and in photovoltaic systems.
The minister explains that the older meters (before 2013) did not have the ability to be used in photovoltaic systems because they could not record in two separate numerators the incoming and outgoing energy.
The minister also explains that EAC has in its stock quantities of such meters, which it reuses where it is applied, depending on the needs of the specific connection of the applicant, after confirming their proper operation and accuracy. Consequently, for photovoltaic systems, only meters secured after 2013 are used.
An EAC official in response to a question from "F" said that the number of "previous generation" meters that remain as a stock (and are not compatible with photovoltaic systems) is limited to 500. However, given that since 2013 new meters have been used, it is considered that their number was many times higher and gradually (in the last ten years or so) they were installed in premises.
Due to their incompatibility with photovoltaics, anyone who installs photovoltaic systems should also replace the meters. However, these meters are considered by the EAC to be of good quality and accuracy and can be reused in premises where photovoltaics are not installed.
The EAC, for its part, indicates that these (incompatible meters) are used in areas where it is estimated that modern meters (with 2 numerators) will not be needed, such as apartment buildings where photovoltaics cannot be installed. It is noted that in apartment buildings, even if there is space for the installation of photovoltaics, the installation is very difficult since the consent of all owners is needed.
The use of the two numerators available to modern meters records the entry of electricity into the premises and its exit from the photovoltaic systems and is channelled to the EAC network.
EAC meters measure accurately
The EAC assures that the Meter Repair Control Center is certified, so there is no way that a meter will be installed by the Authority that presents even the slightest problem in terms of recording reliability. The control of the meters is carried out with precision instruments, as reported to the "F" officer of the EAC.
EAC also predicted an increase in demand for photovoltaics, which is why it ordered the new meters, which are compatible with photovoltaics, in a timely manner, he added. The contract involved 10,000 meters of which about 5,000 have been received.
It is noted that since 2020, applications for the installation of photovoltaics have increased by 400% while in the current year, there is an increase of 200% compared to last year.
With the sizes we have at the moment, the installation of photovoltaics is advantageous and the investment is depreciated in a reasonable time, explains an EAC official. Asked about this, an EAC official said that if the investment was depreciated in 7-8 years, it is now depreciated in 3-4 years. I always speak based on the data of the period, said the EAC officer, who added that the situation is fluid.
It is noted that by the end of last August, about 3,450 applications had been submitted for the installation of photovoltaics, compared to about 1,231 in the whole of 2021.
POINT OF VIEW
Dust in vulnerable groups
With the new measures that were announced, the beneficiaries are about 30,000 new owners and the sponsorship, especially for photovoltaics, can reach up to €1,500 under conditions.
For vulnerable households, the amount of the grant amounts to €1,000 per installed kW of photovoltaic system (instead of €375 which applies to the rest of the households) with a maximum grant amount of €5,000.
Of course, in this case, and especially for large families with low incomes, the installation could be done at the expense of the Ministry with the signing of an agreement on the basis of which those who benefited would pay a fixed amount per month, thus returning part of the sponsorship.
