utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]

[Lawrence Elliott]

Jeffrey.
Thought you might find it interesting that just a few hours ago I was
able to ask one of the officials from a local Muni utility and he said
point blank that no disconnect of any kind on a grid intertie system is
required in their service territory.
This either means that the utility is very irresponsible and has no
regard for the saftey of their service personel or this requirement by
any utility is simply a silly and essentially brain dead attempt at
making you life diffucult.
Personally I don't think this utility disregards safety.

I say challenge this crap with a vigor.

Larry Elliott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Wolfe, Global Resources" <global at sover.net>
To: "'RE- wrenches at topica.com'" <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 7:20 PM
Subject: utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]


> Just received a letter today from our local big utility wannabe.
Central
> Vermont "Public Service" is Vermont's largest utility, but tiny on a
> national scale. But they try to be lke the big guys, and aparently
take
> their cues from the folks at NIMO.
>
> I've installed quite a few systems in their territory, and for the
past two
> years, I've used the Milbank airconditioning type disconnect as the
> "utility accessible, locakable, load break rated, visible break
disconnect
> switch..." required in the Vermont (and many other) state net metering
> regulations.
>
> today, I received a letter from CVPS as follows:
>
> "Dear Mr. Wolfe:
>
> "It has come to my attention that your Company has installed Milbank
air
> conditioning disconnects in lieu of the required disconnect switch on
at
> least three Net Metered customers.
>
> "This device is a disconnect NOT a switch. It does not meet the
> requirements of VT PSB Rule 5.100 " A utility accessible, locakable,
load
> break rated, visible break disconnect switch with safe working
clearances
> is required for all installations.
>
> "We are hereby requesting that the locations in question be
retro-fitted
> with the correct type of switch as soon as possible.
>
> "If you have any questions, please contact me.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Allan D. St. Peter, P.E.
> Electrical Engineer
>
> Is this utility trying to block RE? or just being safety conscious?
The
> little Milbank disconnects have been recommended for this service by,
among
> others, John Wiles. (I spoke with him today, and received a few
pointers
> for combating this, which I will do.) I'm not sure how quibbling about
the
> definition of a "swtich" is really helping RE move forward. It's
> interesting to note of course, that no code or standard, to my
knowledge,
> has a clear definition of what a "visible break disconnect switch" is.
> According to everything I can read in NEC, the Milbank fits the
> description. (As John pointed out, one cannot safely trust the handle
of a
> safety switch to indicate the open or closed position. The mechanism
CAN
> break. One must see the contacts, which requires opening the safety
> switch.)
>
> So I've just written notes to the homeowners (who were copied by CVPS
on
> the above letter) reassuring them that their installation is safe and
code
> compliant.
>
> We'll fight this. It will be interesting to see if CVPS attempts to
> disconnect the customers' systems. They'd either have to pull the
meter,
> or, shudder, use the Milbank switch.
>
> I'll let you know how we make out. Any contributions to the defense
fund
> should be kept cold and presented at the MREF.
>
> Jeff
>
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