utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]

Wed May 8 22:23:10 PDT 2002

That's exactly the NY utility game.

Can't we get Pete to write a wildly popular song about it?

Jeff

On Wednesday, May 08, 2002 8:08 PM, Larry Brown, Sunmountain [SMTP:sunmountain at netstep.net] wrote:
> 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
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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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