panels up, inspection complete (im)patiently waiting

[bash]

Completed install on Tuesday. City has inspected and now, I wait for power company (pge) to give us okay. Installer says that have been averaging about 2 weeks but are able to take up to 4. Questions:

1. Why can't I power on? We are expecting another heat wave here and would love to use my air conditioning when it gets over 90. We just kind of sweated it out through the last couple we had but it is just so tempting since they are sitting up there.

2. Should I have some independent inspection done on the roof? Our home is new construction and my biggest concern was damage. I am not very construction savvy and neither is my husband.

[solar pete]

Completed install on Tuesday. City has inspected and now, I wait for power company (pge) to give us okay. Installer says that have been averaging about 2 weeks but are able to take up to 4. Questions:

1. Why can't I power on? We are expecting another heat wave here and would love to use my air conditioning when it gets over 90. We just kind of sweated it out through the last couple we had but it is just so tempting since they are sitting up there.

2. Should I have some independent inspection done on the roof? Our home is new construction and my biggest concern was damage. I am not very construction savvy and neither is my husband.

Howdy Bash,
1. Regulations vary but that's why, some have been known to turn them on from time to time for testing purposes

2. Well if the house is brand new I would assume that all should be OK but it if it makes you feel better maybe arrange someone to have a look

cheers

[ericf1]

I did turn my system on for a full day without the authorization from SDG&E. A few days later, I received a robo-call from them warning me I must turn it off (it was already off for several days). Fortunately, we had nice cool weather while I was waiting.

Depending on the size of your PV array and your AC system, they might not even know. PG&E will only know your system is on if the smart meter indicates you are feeding power back into the grid, so as long as you are drawing more power than the array is producing...

If you are worried about your roof, the cost of an inspection may be worth the peace of mind. The problem is that the mount points/penetrations will be difficult to inspect, since they are under the array. The time to inspect was before the panels were installed. With a new roof, if you hired a reputable installer you shouldn't have much to worry about.

[bash]

Thanks to both of you for the response. I may turn them on to see the difference between power generated and used when air is on. I feel that would be an appropriate test. I just wanted to make sure there would be no unknown consequences. Yes, I used a very reputable installer that has been around for a few years. Since I didn't know inspection should have been done before panels have been placed, I guess I will just trust the work. However, since we don't have any rain in the area, I won't know how well things are done for years to come.

[sdold]

As ericf1 alluded to, if you turn it on along with the Air Conditioner, maybe set the thermostat so low that the AC stays on full time (no cycling), and only turn on the solar array while the AC is on, that way you shouldn't back-feed power to the grid. If you have a Smartmeter, it may tell you the Kw used ("delivered") or sent to the grid ("Received"). There were a few hot days in mid-July, before I received approval, when we were wearing sweaters in the house while the AC was running full-on and the array was turned on

In mid-july, my system was approved about three or four working days after they received my on-line application (with PG&E). A couple of months ago my friend's was approved in about 7 days.

[awhite]

How does PG&E notify you about your permission to operate? via email ? or a letter ?

My system passed inspection this Tuesday and I submitted everything to NEM PG&E on the same day.

[lkstaack]

How does PG&E notify you about your permission to operate? via email ? or a letter ?

My system passed inspection this Tuesday and I submitted everything to NEM PG&E on the same day.

I received approval from SDG&E yesterday, exactly eight days after I submitted the application.

[bash]

How does PG&E notify you about your permission to operate? via email ? or a letter ?

I only have a partial answer for you. I received an email from pge when my application was received by them. I would guess that there would be more than one method of notification one of which would probably be email. I will let you know when that time comes

[J.P.M.]

Awhite: Did you call them and enquire ? Just wonderin'.

[sdold]

How does PG&E notify you about your permission to operate?

WIth me, an email. As the installer, I had submitted the application myself online, and received an email confirmation or two. Three days later I got the email that declared that I was cleared to turn on the system. Several days after that I received a packet in the mail with info on NEM metering, and a congratulatory letter telling me how happy PG&E was that I was now a participant in the exciting world of renewable energy.

[J.P.M.]

WIth me, an email. As the installer, I had submitted the application myself online, and received an email confirmation or two. Three days later I got the email that declared that I was cleared to turn on the system. Several days after that I received a packet in the mail with info on NEM metering, and a congratulatory letter telling me how happy PG&E was that I was now a participant in the exciting world of renewable energy.

Sounds like the POCO was as happy as you. What a nice POCO you have.