Post-Installation FAQs
Congratulations on your installation! Below please find some Frequently Asked Questions about the processes to follow and their answers. As always, please ring our office if you have any additional questions.
For first time installations:
- What is an EWR? – An EWR is an Electrical Work Request or ‘Form 2’ is a mandatory form that must be submitted by an electrical contractor to Energex advising them of a completed solar install. Your unique EWR Reference Number can be found on the next page.
- How does my retailer know about my solar install? – Once generated, Energex automatically sends this EWR straight to the Electricity Retailer linked to your account (i.e., Origin, AGL, Energy Australia, etc.) Your retailer then needs to action this EWR by sending a metering technician out to your property to either exchange or reconfigure your meter to read for solar.
- Can my system be left on after install? – Your installers on the day will determine whether your system can be left on prior to your metering works. This is all dependant on the current type of meter you have. If you are unsure, or would feel more comfortable with the system off, you can turn the system off by following the ‘Shut Down Procedure’ on the front of the inverter.
- Why is there a disconnected meter sitting in my meterbox? –In the event that a meter has been disconnected and is sitting in your meterbox, this means your installer has disconnected and removed your ‘off peak’ meter for your retailer to collect. We will remove your off-peak meter when installing a hot water timer and moving your hot water system over to your ‘peak’ tariff.
- When can I change retailers? – If you would like to change retailers based on their offerings of feed-in tariffs and electricity rates, please wait until after your metering works have been completed by your current retailer. If you do change at any point prior to this, please alert the office as your EWR will need to be redirected to the correct retailer.
- My retailer has completed their metering works—now what? – Now you are free to turn your system on (if it is not yet already)! You can action this by doing the reverse order of the ‘Shutdown Procedure’ or by ringing the office and we can walk you through it. Even if the isolators next to your inverter are in the ‘ON’ position, please also ensure your “Solar Supply Main Switch” in your meterbox is also switched to ‘ON.’
For replacement, additional, or upgraded systems:
- If you had a pre-existing solar system, your metering set-up is already compatible for solar. Therefore, your new system can be left on when the installation team leaves. If not on, please refer to the ‘Shutdown Procedure’ on the front of the inverter—follow this in reverse order to switch the system on.
- If your hot water system or pool has been put over to your peak tariff and your off peak meter removed, we will generate an EWR for the removal of your off peak tariff and meter. Your retailer may decide to exchange your meter to a more current one if the existing one is outdated. You will hear from your retailer who will advise when someone comes to site to remove the off peak meter and/or upgrade your meter. Your system can still be left on regardless of this.