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Solar Power

Asked by Martin WrigleyLiberal DemocratDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 8 September 2025UIN 73293

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring tariff payments for electricity exported to the grid from solar panels to be backdated to the commissioning date of the installation, rather than the date of Distributor Network Operator approval.

Answered by Michael Shanks

Backdating payments made under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) to an installation’s commissioning date is not permitted, as exports cannot be accurately measured until an export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) is in place. An MPAN can only be issued once the District Network Operator (DNO) has approved an installation, confirming it meets adequate technical and safety standards.

This process ensures electricity exports are correctly settled and attributed while safeguarding both the installation and the network.

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