Anti-Islanding Re-certification and CYA [RE-wrenches]

[jberdner at sma-america.com]

Wrenches:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
This is another insidious way for utilities to oppose PV.
"We have to check your anti-islanding once a year" 
It only costs $600 for us to come out.

If you have a UL sticker on the side of your equipment then you have an
up to date proof of anti-islanding.  

If you have any questions, or if I can be of any further assistance,
please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

John Berdner

SMA America, Inc.
12438 Loma Rica Drive, Unit C
Grass Valley, CA  95945
530.273.4595 (voice)
530.274.7271 (fax) 


-----Original Message-----
From: Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar [mailto:ozsolar at ipa.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 9:54 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Anti-Islanding Re-certification and CYA [RE-wrenches]

My local utility engineer called me today and asked me a very
interesting
question that he thought of after a recent "event".   I believe the
"event"
was car accident  which knocked a pole down but he wouldn't say much
more. 
He informed that anytime something like that happens the utility
immediately
checks out EVERY relay on their system and documents that they are
working
properly.  This testing is in addition to whatever other periodic
testing
they do.  These are the relays that open when there problems on the
line. 
Problems such as high or low voltage, frequency out of spec and, of
course,
over current.   This way they can prove, when the inevitable lawsuit
arrives, that it wasn't their fault that someone was hurt as their
equipment
was working

He tells me that anytime there is an injury related to a live utility
line
they know that they are going to be sued and even when they prove that
they
did nothing wrong it still costs them.  What he is nervous about is that
people with grid tied renewable energy systems will get named in the
same
lawsuit.  Sort of like every subcontractor getting named in the lawsuit
when
something happens on a commercial job.   Also, if that owner does not
have
up to date test info proving the inverter won't Island then the owner
stands
to loose the lawsuit.  Remember that the utility goes out and documents
every relay in their system when something happens.  This guy is pretty
sharp and he is in no way trying to hassle me or my customers,  he's
actually trying to help.

His question.. Is there any independent testing being done on a
recurring
basis of inverters?  Who does it?  And just what would the standards be.
He
says that just because a device is factory certified to meet IEEE and UL
etc
when it leaves that factory does that mean that it will stand a lawsuit
years after it's installed.  He's pretty dang sure without documented
periodic testing that the owner would be in big trouble should it ever
come
to that.  No, he's not worried about the equipment failing, he just
knows
that if someone is seriously injured or worse then everyone will be
getting
named in the lawsuit.  Yes, he also admitted that it will be his deep
pockets that they will go after first but none the less this is America
where you can sue a fast food chain because you are obese.

Sounds crazy but I've known this guy for years and I can see what he's
talking about.  Comments?  Advice? 

Travis Creswell
Ozark Energy Services

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