How do I check my Solar panels are working?

First check that nothing has been left switched off — installers sometimes forget to turn everything back on. There are four separate switches, any one of which can stop generation on its own:

• A circuit breaker in your fuse box/consumer unit, marked PV or Solar.
• An AC isolator switch next to the consumer unit, plus the solar generation meter alongside it — a good quick check is that this meter is powered on and its reading is increasing.
• A second AC isolator switch in the loft, next to the inverter.
• A DC isolator switch on the inverter itself, in the loft.

The inverter screen (again likely in the loft) may not be lit up if there isn’t enough sunlight currently.

Secondly, you will need to register for an export tariff or Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) with an energy provider. This does not need to be the same as your electricity provider. Octopus for example provide export tariff’s higher than the base SEG rate — if you don’t already have a preferred provider, please consider signing up via this referral link, which gives us both a credit and helps a little towards this site’s hosting costs (no obligation, shop around and pick whoever’s best for you). You will need the installation documentation (MCS certificate) which you should receive from the builder.

Check your MCS certificate carefully — several residents received certificates for the wrong plot or address. If yours doesn’t match your house, get it corrected before registering for SEG.

Getting the G98 (DNO) letter

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Some suppliers also ask for the G98/DNO notification letter before paying SEG:

• Avant homes — request it from the installer, Solar Site Systems, quoting your site and plot number (Avant customer care or the site office can provide their current contact details).
• Evans homes — ask the site manager to forward it.
• Countryside/Vistry homes — request it from the installer, Clarkson Evans.
• A site-wide G98 letter has been accepted by E.ON and British Gas, so don’t be fobbed off if a supplier initially says they need a per-property one.

Reading your export meter

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On Avant homes, the export reading is on the small LCD next to the fuse board — useful for checking your SEG payments are right.

Monitoring your generation

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Older Avant installations use SolaX inverters, which take an inexpensive WiFi dongle (around £20–25 online) — fit it and use the SolaxCloud app to see live generation. For a full picture of import, export and house usage you’d also need a CT clamp fitted, which is an electrician job.

Newer Avant builds use Viridian inverters, which also have a WiFi dongle available for monitoring — a little more expensive at around £45.