What is Export Meter?
A meter that measures the electricity your solar system sends back to the grid.
Quick Answer
Smart meters are being rolled out across the UK, and automatically record both import and export. If you install solar panels before receiving a smart meter, your exports go unrecorded and unpaid. You can request a smart meter upgrade through your electricity supplier.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Export Meter Explained
An export meter records the amount of electricity generated by a solar PV system that is not consumed on-site and is instead fed back into the electricity grid. In the UK, modern smart meters serve as both import and export meters, recording electricity flowing in both directions. The export reading is used to calculate payments under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Older analogue meters cannot record exports and must be replaced with a smart meter to receive export payments.
How Does Export Meter Work in the UK?
Smart meters are being rolled out across the UK, and automatically record both import and export. If you install solar panels before receiving a smart meter, your exports go unrecorded and unpaid. You can request a smart meter upgrade through your electricity supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate export meter for solar panels in the UK?
No. Modern smart meters in the UK record both imports and exports on a single device. You do not need a separate export meter.
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John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official MCS and Ofgem data and maintains relationships with MCS-certified installers across the UK.