More solar panels, yet fewer disconnected inverters
Fluvius action plan keeps number of complaints down
Fluvius continues its efforts to avoid disconnecting solar panel inverters, and with success. This is proven by the further decrease in the number of open complaints. On the eve of a hopefully sunny summer, the grid operator analysed which connections are at risk of suffering from this phenomenon based on anonymised data from one million digital meters. The network checker, a handy online tool to check whether you are at risk of a failing inverter, also got a makeover. Customers can even more easily and accurately check whether they are at risk.
In recent years, disconnecting solar panel inverters regularly caused short-term problems for a small proportion of the one million solar panel owners. At times when there is a lot of sun and therefore a lot of own production but little consumption, it can happen that there is a temporary and very localised threat of excessive voltage on the electricity grid. Then the inverters of the solar panel installations fail, to protect both the grid and the electrical installation in the home. In 2023, 5042 complaints linked to that kind of situation were reported. To tackle those problems structurally, Fluvius last year strengthened its action plan with new measures: Failure of solar panel inverters: Fluvius strengthens action plan .
Halving complaints by 2024
Thanks to the targeted action plan, the grid operator was able to halve the number of complaints.(Fewer complaints about failing inverters thanks to Fluvius action plan) In addition to structural work on the electricity grid and the installation of additional cabins, as provided for in the grid operator's 10-year investment plan (Fluvius adjusts investment plan by strengthening electrification companies), the grid operator also worked out short-term solutions. For instance, since last year Fluvius has been using a thicker overhead cable type that can better handle the higher peaks on the grid. And thanks to data from the digital meter, the grid company can proactively detect and fix upcoming voltage problems.
Decline continues
These targeted investments are again translating into a drop in complaints about failing inverters this spring. In the period from January to May this year, Fluvius received 5 per cent fewer complaints than in the same time frame last year (1 255 versus 1 321) despite the sunnier spring and 8.5 per cent more solar panel installations connected to the grid last year. Thus, after halving complaints last year, the downward trend is clearly continuing.
Only 1% high risk
With many more beautiful summer days ahead, it is important for everyone that this positive trend continues. Therefore, during a very sunny period in April, the grid company carried out an in-depth study of around one million connection points. This was to identify which customers have a high or low risk of inverter failure. The good news in this is that only one per cent are at high risk of seeing their solar inverter fail during periods of high sunshine.
More clarity through new network checker
While waiting for a definitive solution, through grid reinforcement or the addition of a cabin, Fluvius is keen to give its customers clear information about the state of their local electricity grid - and its effect on their inverter. The grid company is doing this by launching a new version of the grid checker on my.fluvius.be this month. The online tool for people who suspect a failing inverter got a solid makeover: more user-friendly and with information based on data from the digital meter.
With an explanatory graph, the network checker clearly shows which risk group you are in: high, medium or low. And is there effectively already a voltage complaint? Then the customer is also immediately shown an indicative resolution time.
5000 queries per month
As is the case with the action plan, the network checker is also constantly evolving. This allows each user to provide feedback on the user experience with each visit. Fluvius can then use this feedback to tailor the tool even better to the customer's needs. Every month, some 5,000 Flemish people use the network checker to check whether they are at risk of a failing inverter. They gave the network checker a score of 4.2 out of 5.
Compensation
Despite all the positive developments and favourable prospects offered by the planned investments, it is of course still quite annoying if the inverter fails now. If the installation is registered in my.fluvius.be and the cause of the failure is not the indoor installation, the customer is entitled to compensation for this inconvenience. If Fluvius is unable to remedy the fault within 30 days of reporting the problem, the lump sum will be automatically paid into the bank account. This happens at the end of November each time, after the grid operator itself contacts the customer concerned for this purpose.
Check the grid checker via My Fluvius - Log on
Questions about failing inverters? Find all the information here: What about failing inverters | Fluvius
Lara Lammens