My system includes a smart meter in the meter box on the pole which has 16mm2 cable from the 10 KVA transformer. My inverter's voltage limits include an allowance for the voltage difference between the smart meter and the inverter at peak export, with the agreement of the local Essential Energy inspector. The inspector was prepared to allow a slightly higher peak grid voltage but that wasn't necessary as derating is minimal with the current settings.
EE have a policy of not allowing private service upgrades to transformer poles which has been interpreted by the local EE inspector to include wiring upgrades rather than the addition of more services. He won't allow our pole to inverter 20m private overheads to be upgraded from 6mm2 to the necessary 16mm2, instead requiring a separate pole and then underground to the inverter plus upgrading the overhead to the house to bring the house connection up to current allowable voltage drop standards. I had a quote of approx $15K a few years ago to put all power underground from where the inverter is located so now would be well over $20K excluding a new pole and its associated costs. The PV savings don't justify an additional $20K investment. Furthermore our feed-in tariff is set to drop from 21 cents to 12 cents mid October adding $400+ to our annual power bill which increases the existing PV system's pay-back period significantly.
MY12 RRV 4.4 TDV8 AB, +LLAMS, +e-diff, +ACC stop/go. Produce LLAMS for LR/RR, Jeep GC/Dodge Ram
VK2HFG and APRS W1 digi
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