utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]

Wed May 8 17:08:29 PDT 2002

Wrenches,
I have a customer with an inspected and approved grid-intertie system in the
Hudson Valley of New York that has been locked out at the disconnect switch
since Trace/Xantrax originally lost its UL listing on the SW4024. The PV is
running the house and charging the batteries but no excess power can be sold
back to the utility. There are at least two other inter-tie systems in the
Hudson Valley waiting in the same locked out position.  One of these systems
belongs to Pete Seeger. Trace has been required to perform some special
testing and present it to the Public Service Committee.  They have until May
15 to provide all of the testing data.  Then, this is what I am told by the
Trace people, the five big utiliies get to study the results and report back
to the Public Service Commission. Trace says it will be resolved by the end
of the month but they have been saying that since the UL listing was
originally pulled.  It appears to be a wait and see how long the utilities
can keep these previously approved systems from going back on line.

Larry Brown
Sun Mountain
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Wolfe, Global Resources" <global at sover.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 6:21 PM
Subject: RE: utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]

> Bill,
>
> Unfortunately, while we have good solid technical professionals on our
> side, the state PSB does not. Thus, anything stated by the utilities is
> "fact". Anything stated by us is "not fact". The utilites use this to
> maintain what they want as status quo. It works quite well for them in VT.
>
> On this particular issue, I have "secured" the support of the Department
of
> Public Service. They have stated, that at least until the utility issues
> some forceful argument, they agree with our position. (Now how quickly
they
> might fall over if the utility pushes is anyones guess.)
>
> We are fully informed when we fight these battles here. We tend to be way
> more informed on the issues than any other party. We avoid the issues
where
> we are not well informed. The problem is not being informed, the problem
is
> not being the "recognized authority". The recognized authority quite often
> is less informed, but is recognized. That gives all their arguments
> significantly more weight. Because we are in the renewable energy
industry,
> and "just want to make money", our arguments are seriously discounted. Not
> that it true about the money, I let it be widely known in hearings, etc.,
> that I used to make way more money doing other engineering, but the bias
is
> strongly against us.
>
> That's part of what this fight is about. To show that we're NOT always
> wrong, that we are looking out for the consumers, and that we have
> technical knowledge that is greater than the utility company in some
areas.
>
> Jeff
>
> On Wednesday, May 08, 2002 1:17 PM, Bill Brooks
> [SMTP:billbrooks7 at earthlink.net] wrote:
> > David,
> >
> > No one has suggested not to fight back with utilities. The issue is to
> > choose the battles and be fully informed with your argument before going
> on
> > the offensive. These utilities have a lot of technical firepower, but a
> > solid technical argument can be successful. If you pick the wrong fight,
> it
> > just confirms their suspicions. If you wear them down with good
technical
> > arguments, you may be surprised at the results. Credibility is
everything
> > with utility engineers. That is your greatest weapon as a wrench.
> >
> > Bill.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: David Blittersdorf [mailto:davidb at nrgsystems.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 6:58 AM
> > To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> > Subject: RE: utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]
> >
> >
> > I have a net metered wind/PV home here in Vermont. My disconnect is a 3R
> box
> > with a
> > 100 amp, 240 circuit breaker under the cover next to my meter. I have a
> > plastic tie wrap
> > plainly looped thru the lock hole on my disconnect. This is my visual
> > indicator to see if
> > the utility ever pulled the switch. In 3 years it has never been used
and
> my
> > utility never
> > wanted to look at my installation.
> >
> > BTW: Jeff Wolfe is being yanked around here in VT by CVPS and we will
> fight
> > them. By
> > not fighting back, they win. The utilities try to wear you down but we
> are
> > pretty active
> > here in our little state and luckly the utilities are tiny compared to
> the
> > ones many of you
> > go up against.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > David Blittersdorf
> >
> > On 8 May 2002 at 6:12, jberdner at sma-america.com wrote:
> >
> > > William:
> > >
> > > Instead of a lock how about a short bolt, lock washer, and nut through
> > > the locking tab.
> > > Now it requires a tool to open but not a key.
> > > If there guys want to see it then they can remove the bolt.
> > > Keeps the little kiddies out but still gives them access.
> > > That is if they ever come out to see the blades before the house and
> the
> > > switchbox crumble into dust.
> > >
> > > 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.
> > > 20830 Red Dog Road
> > > Grass Valley, CA  95945
> > > 530.273.4895 (voice)
> > > 530.274.7271 (fax)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at slonet.org]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 12:05 AM
> > > To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> > > Subject: Re: utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]
> > >
> > >
> > > Venerable Colleagues:
> > >
> > > I have always had mixed emotions about disconnect switches:
> > >
> > > Just today a bunch of us attended a meeting with PG&E.  I asked the
> > > question:  "Why don't any of the line crews I've queried have any data
> > > about where these switches are located?"  The answer was, "We are
> > > redrawing the maps and they will be on there within the year."
> > >
> > > My thoughts:  If this is so important for safety, why the delay, and,
> > > conversely, all new things take time, and if we did not install the
> > > switches now, they couldn't ever be on a secondary map in the future.
> > >
> > > I also had to replace a couple of disconnect switches because they
> > > lacked external handles.  I was told that line crews need to be able
to
> > > inspect the handles from their vehicles.  I responded: What if the
> meter
> > > is in the back yard? and, Are they going to padlock them from their
> > > trucks?  No reply was given to these somewhat facetious questions.
> > >
> > > Another complaint about safety switches:  Children can open them and
> > > access live parts.  Lock them shut and you can't inspect the blades.
>  Oy
> > > vay!
> > >
> > > All in all, if implemented reasonably, the switches do kind of make
> > > sense. Backfeeds have killed line workers.  Technology does fail, even
> > > with redundant safety systems.  This is one of my arguments against
> > > nuclear power and I guess it applies here.
> > >
> > > Regarding Jeff's situation, I'd consider the time it takes to fight
> them
> > > versus the time it takes to replace a switch.  Jeff could insist on a
> > > list of approved switches and if they ever try to disallow previously
> > > allowed switches, fight them based on the written evidence.
> > >
> > > Sorry I did not have a clearer answer to this thorny question.
> > >
> > > William
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > At 07:19 PM 5/7/02 EDT, you wrote:
> > > >In a message dated 05/07/2002 9:43:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > > >jberdner at sma-america.com writes:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> Makes perfect sense to me.
> > > >> They want it to be more expensive to install so less people will do
> > > >> it.
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >We all know that it is not about actually using the switch for
safety.
> > > >You
> > > >all are right, don't expect any servicemen to be out looking for
> > > disconnects
> > > >on that dark and rainy night when the system is down--they will be
> very
> > > busy
> > > >doing other things.
> > > >
> > > >The switch is about control. I had a customer locked out once. During
> > > >the
> > > >meter install the service man determined erroneously that the system
> > > had not
> > > >been permitted. At that point he took the inititive to lock the PV
> out.
> > > A
> > > >call the next day to his supervisor got it fixed. I can say this is
> the
> > > only
> > > >time I saw a utility person use the switch. It's about control.
> > > >
> > > >Don
> > > >
> > > >--
> > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
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> > >
> > > __________________________________________________________________
> > > William Miller
> > > Miller Power and Communications
> > > PO Box 50, Santa Margarita, CA 93453
> > > Voice :805-438-5600 Fax: 805-438-4607 VMail:
> > > 805-546-4875
> > > email: wrmiller at slonet.org
> > > http://millerpowerandcomm.com
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> > >
> >
> > David Blittersdorf
> > NRG Systems, Inc.
> > 110 Commerce Street
> > Hinesburg, VT 05461 USA
> > Tel: 802-482-2255
> > Fax: 802-482-2272
> > email: davidb at nrgsystems.com
> > Web:http://www.nrgsystems.com
> >
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