Insurance [RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar]

Hello Kurt,

What is the insurance for exactly?  There has been some talk of insurance
here in MO during the recent hearings on net metering legislation.  What I
understand is that's it's to cover the homeowner should the back feeding
equipment injure a utility lineman or damage others' electrical equipment.  

That doesn't make any sense to me.

If the back feeding equipment meets applicable standards then the
manufacturer is liable.  Are the utilities saying that they don't trust
equipment that they install every day, certified to the same standards by
same people who are certifying the interconnection equipment.

If that fails then it's the dealer/installer who should be liable for
selling equipment that doesn't work properly.  I do lot's of industrial
electrical contracting in factories.  I carry product liability insurance
and have for years.  It covers me should equipment I install fail causing
property damage or personal injury.  Should I ever need it, I'm covered and
get released of any lawsuits the my insurance company then goes after the
manufacturer to reclaim their losses.

It appears that requiring homeowners to have insurance is just another
roadblock the utilities are throwing up.

Travis Creswell
Ozark Energy Services




----------
>From: sunwise at cheqnet.net
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Subject: Insurance [RE-wrenches]
>Date: Mon, Mar 18, 2002, 5:15 PM
>

>Greetings all,
>
>It seems like a pretty quiet Wrenches period and wonder if I could ask a
>question that has received very little discussion in the past.
>
>Wisconsin is in the process of developing a State wide Iiterconnection
>document so that all utilities, their customers and renewable energy
>installers can agree upon one set standard.  In WI, the requirement of
>the home-owner to submit documented proof of liability insurance (300k
>min.) is still a requirement.  This can throw a major wrench in the
>works as some home owner's policies will not cover such such an
>arangement between the home owner and the utility.  In these cases, an
>expensive comercial policy may be the only fix.
>
>Can those of you out there who are installing grid-tie systems please
>tell us how it works in your State or region?
>
>1) Are your utilities requiring documented proof of liability coverage
>in grid-connected RE systems, and if so what amount?
>
>3. Has insurance requirements presented an obstacle towards the sale and
>installation of grid-tied RE systems.
>
>Thanks much for any and all responses.  You may contact me off-list if
>appropriate.
>
>Kurt Nelson
>SOLutions
>sunwise at cheqnet.net
>
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