FAQ
TL;DR: Declaring 10 kWp instead of your real 12 kWp boosts the prosumer discount from 70 % to 80 %, saving about €100 per kW each year, but “Art. 271 can send you to court” [Elektroda, Szyszkownik, post #17665436] Only 4 % of Polish micro-plants were inspected in 2021 [URE, 2022].
Why it matters: The temptation to save money is real, yet penalties and new 2019 grid rules raise the stakes.
Quick Facts
• Micro-installation ceiling: 10 kWp (DC or AC, whichever is higher) [IRiESD, 2019]
• Net-metering discount: 0.8 kWh credit ≤10 kWp, 0.7 kWh credit >10 kWp [UoZE, 2015]
• Remote-disconnect relay: approx. PLN 10 000 installed [Elektroda, malak12, post #17662355]
• Max administrative fine: 15 % of prior-year revenue or PLN 15 m [Energy Law, 2022]
• Electric-heated home uses ~15 MWh/yr, matched by ~12 kWp PV [GUS, 2021]
What size makes my PV system a Polish “micro-installation”?
Any plant up to 10 kWp (DC module sum or AC inverter rating, whichever is greater) counts as a micro-installation under the Distribution Grid Code effective 27 Apr 2019 [IRiESD, 2019].
How much money do I lose by reporting 12 kWp instead of 10 kWp?
Energy exported by >10 kWp systems is credited at 0.7, not 0.8. For a 12 kWp plant exporting 8 MWh, the extra 0.1 ratio costs 800 kWh per year—about PLN 600 (€130) at PLN 0.75/kWh [UoZE, 2015].
Is under-declaring capacity a crime?
Yes. Filing a false declaration can trigger Penal Code Art. 271 (false certification) or 273 (forged statement) [Elektroda, Szyszkownik, post #17665436] Energy Law Art. 56 allows fines up to 15 % of annual revenue or PLN 15 m [Energy Law, 2022].
How often do utilities inspect micro-installations?
The national regulator reports that only about 4 % of prosumer sites underwent on-site or remote audits in 2021 [URE, 2022].
Do inspectors look at panel power or inverter power?
Applications list both DC and AC power; most DSOs use the higher figure when assigning the tariff class [Elektroda, Szyszkownik, post #17669397] and PGE copies the panel power into the contract [Elektroda, sq5lc, post #17670778]
When did the stricter connection rules start, and whom do they cover?
Revised IRiESD rules apply to systems commissioned on or after 27 Apr 2019; existing installations stay under previous terms [Elektroda, cuuube, post #17672448]
Will I have to retrofit a remote disconnect device on my old ≤10 kWp system?
No, the 2019 rules state retrofits concern only new plants, although future legislation could change this [IRiESD, 2019].
How can I legally stay under 10 kWp if I already own extra panels?
- Disconnect panels to keep DC power ≤10 kWp [Elektroda, brofran, post #17675546] 2. File an updated capacity declaration. 3. Reconnect panels only after inverter output naturally degrades below the limit (about 0.5 %/year).
Can I use a controller to cap export at 10 kW across two inverters?
Huawei inverters paired with a Smart Meter can throttle export in real time via RS-485; installers link both inverters and set a 10 kW ceiling [Elektroda, kosmos99, post #20224353] DSOs may still judge by installed power, not export limit [Elektroda, Szyszkownik, post #20223168]
What happens if my meter never shows more than 9 kW even though I have 13 kWp of panels?
Self-consumption masks peak production; one user reported 13 kWp installed, 10 kW declared, and inspectors ignored the mismatch because the EMU3 meter logged only 9 kW [Elektroda, Diabelss, post #17676177] Detection risk rises if neighbours alert the DSO [Elektroda, adamadam2, post #17676092]
How much does the mandatory remote-disconnect relay cost?
Installers quote about PLN 10 000 (≈€2 100), including device and labour [Elektroda, malak12, post #17662355]
Are reactive power charges coming for households?
Currently prosumers do not pay for reactive energy, but experts expect DSOs to introduce billing within a few years; compensating chokes cost approx. PLN 500 [Elektroda, malak12, post #17849396]
Does installing 16 kWp and limiting export to 10 kW ever make sense?
Only when the grid connection allocation is <16 kW and roof space is cheap; otherwise you waste module output and still risk reclassification [Elektroda, kosmos99, post #20225059]
How do I officially increase or decrease declared capacity?
- Submit a revised micro-installation form (IRiESD Annex C) to your DSO.
- Wait for the updated connection conditions (≤30 days) and sign the annex.
- Schedule meter re-sealing and update the OSD online portal.[DSO forms, 2022]
