Solar install turning out really bad - looking for some help/advice please.

[control4userguy]

I read about all these people waiting for weeks and weeks before they can turn their system on because of the net meter. My installer submitted all the paperwork and had my meter changed a month and a half before they even started installing the system. So as soon as the last wire was tighten down the inspector was there and it was live. 3 months from the time I wrote the deposit check until they clicked it on.

3 months? I wired a deposit while on Summer vacation in Aug and installation was complete and net metering was turned on Sep. 16th. 6 weeks. Sunpower Elite dealer and a fat check.

[SunEagle]

That would't be possible here (installing the net meter before the system is completed). The POCO needs clearance from the city that the system passed inspection, and inspection can't be done until the system is completed obviously. After they receive the clearance, the POCO reviews all the paperwork apparently and then if everything looks ok, then they schedule the meter swap which happen 7-10 business days after they verify the paperwork.

A house one street over who had their inspection passed on 01/15/15 just had the meter swapped on Monday this week (02/09/15), so right about 3.5 weeks from inspection to new meter. My inspection was passed on 02/10/15, so I guess realistically sometimes between March 2nd - March 6th they should be coming out to swap out the meter. Was really hoping it could be done before the end of the month so that March could be a full month with solar.

I guess if you look on the positive side at least the delay is during the Winter months and not the Summer where you would be losing a lot more of solar production waiting on the meter.

[HX_Guy]

I read about all these people waiting for weeks and weeks before they can turn their system on because of the net meter. My installer submitted all the paperwork and had my meter changed a month and a half before they even started installing the system. So as soon as the last wire was tighten down the inspector was there and it was live. 3 months from the time I wrote the deposit check until they clicked it on.

That would't be possible here (installing the net meter before the system is completed). The POCO needs clearance from the city that the system passed inspection, and inspection can't be done until the system is completed obviously. After they receive the clearance, the POCO reviews all the paperwork apparently and then if everything looks ok, then they schedule the meter swap which happen 7-10 business days after they verify the paperwork.

A house one street over who had their inspection passed on 01/15/15 just had the meter swapped on Monday this week (02/09/15), so right about 3.5 weeks from inspection to new meter. My inspection was passed on 02/10/15, so I guess realistically sometimes between March 2nd - March 6th they should be coming out to swap out the meter. Was really hoping it could be done before the end of the month so that March could be a full month with solar.

[Mb190e]

Sucky thing here is that it seems it's about 3 weeks out for the POCO to come swap out the meter...quite a long time, but it's been 7 months, what's another 3 weeks.

I read about all these people waiting for weeks and weeks before they can turn their system on because of the net meter. My installer submitted all the paperwork and had my meter changed a month and a half before they even started installing the system. So as soon as the last wire was tighten down the inspector was there and it was live. 3 months from the time I wrote the deposit check until they clicked it on.

[azdave]

...when my system was done my installers were very clear. Do not energize the system until approval from SCE comes.

Same here with SRP in Phoenix. There is a disconnect installed that prevented me from attempting to feed the grid until the final commisioning by the utility was complete. That disconnect has a very secure padlock on it and it was kept locked until the day they installed the meter and did the final approval. I have a feeling they might not take kindly to a homeowner feeding the grid without their knowledge.

If APS notices I'm sure they could cause trouble if they felt like it.

[SunEagle]

I wonder if anyone does that for a pole mounted transformer? My array can't be seen from the
street 800' away. But of course it shuts down instantly with a power interruption.

I hope your net meter gets there inside of 3 weeks. Mine took 6 weeks of bothering the meter
man, the local maintenance dept, and the headquarters. Turned out they hadn't even ordered
a meter 2 months after I paid and the permit was approved; wonder how long it would have
been if I hadn't rattled any chains? Altogether it went operational 1 AUG instead of 1 JUNE, I
estimated the loss just sitting out the prime months cost me $700 of KWH. Guess they weren't
really organized for net metering here in the WILD WEST. But maybe I shouldn't complain too
much, there are plenty of advantages to this practically unregulated land of ice & snow. Bruce

Well you do have a lot of cheap Nuclear power generation up there in that neck of the woods.

[bcroe]

I think there is a safety issue. Not only are there the tags on my equipment indicating that there is a solar power system but when the APS inspector came out, she also put an identifying tag on a nearby transformer indicating co generation. That's important for utility workers to be aware of I should think. Here's what our nearby transformer looks like with the co-gen plaque added:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5828[/ATTACH]

I wonder if anyone does that for a pole mounted transformer? My array can't be seen from the
pole at the street 800' away. But of course it shuts down instantly with a power interruption.

I hope your net meter gets there inside of 3 weeks. Mine took 6 weeks of bothering the meter
man, the local maintenance dept, and the headquarters. Turned out they hadn't even ordered
a meter 2 months after I paid and the permit was approved; wonder how long it would have
been if I hadn't rattled any chains? Altogether it went operational 1 AUG instead of 1 JUNE, I
estimated the loss just sitting out the prime months cost me $700 of KWH. Guess they weren't
really organized for net metering here in the WILD WEST. But maybe I shouldn't complain too
much, there are plenty of advantages to this practically unregulated land of ice & snow. Bruce

[russ]

With all the hassles and B/S this guy as put up with to get this far... it seems like he wants more drama.

You really want your local power provider knocking on your door, or denying your net metering agreement, so your wife can do "free laundry" at 10:00am ??

Go ahead, push your luck... and start another 200 page thread on how your net metering application got thrown in the garbage.

You got it!

[HX_Guy]

Sucky thing here is that it seems it's about 3 weeks out for the POCO to come swap out the meter...quite a long time, but it's been 7 months, what's another 3 weeks.

[dtfischer]

Shutdown when utility power is off

Isn't it true that ALL grid tied systems have to disconnect if it senses that the utility is NOT providing power? I know my SMA inverter senses loss and disconnects the AC side of the inverter. I think the power companies want to ensure it's up to that and other codes before putting their electricians at risk.

I just played it safe and waited for my local POCO to give the final green light. For me (SDGE) it was about a week and a few days. They stated a few times that I had to wait before energizing and didn't want any way they could cry foul by my lack of patience.

However... my inverter has the ability to put power into a 15 amp plug so i was able to hook up my blower and weed eater to use my first bits of converted photons .

[HX_Guy]

Thanks Ian. That is very important safety wise, as an APS worker working on that box could think that power going to the box is all off, not being aware that there is also power coming in from the house side. I'll shut of the system off and wait for APS to give the go ahead. Thanks again.

[Ian S]

That's an interesting point. The POCO should actually be happy with this...Im putting energy back into the grid and getting no credit for it. Heck, not only am I giving them free power, I'm still paying for energy from the grid too...so it's like the POCO is double dipping here. Why would they not like this?

I think there is a safety issue. Not only are there the tags on my equipment indicating that there is a solar power system but when the APS inspector came out, she also put an identifying tag on a nearby transformer indicating co generation. That's important for utility workers to be aware of I should think. Here's what our nearby transformer looks like with the co-gen plaque added:

20150212_151239.jpg

[Alisobob]

I'm saying just be careful because if should anything happen on their distribution line they may come pointing to you.

With all the hassles and B/S this guy as put up with to get this far... it seems like he wants more drama.

You really want your local power provider knocking on your door, or denying your net metering agreement, so your wife can do "free laundry" at 10:00am ??

Go ahead, push your luck... and start another 200 page thread on how your net metering application got thrown in the garbage.

[SunEagle]

I don't claim to know how it works but when my system was done my installers were very clear. Do not energize the system until approval from SCE comes.
When I asked why I was told has to do with power going out over the lines without their knowledge. Could cause injury or death. I wasn't going to argue about it, I just waited.

You did right. The grid is POCO's responsibility so if their rules are right or wrong you still have to follow them.

[russ]

I don't claim to know how it works but when my system was done my installers were very clear. Do not energize the system until approval from SCE comes.
When I asked why I was told has to do with power going out over the lines without their knowledge. Could cause injury or death. I wasn't going to argue about it, I just waited.

Playing it the smart way - a few days or even weeks are meaningless.