utility obfuscation and obstruction [RE-wrenches]

graham at solarexpert.com graham at solarexpert.com
Tue May 21 16:13:42 PDT 2002


Bill and Wrenches,

Bill wrote:

>I am well aware of the problems at LADWP. They hosted a class that I 
>>taught this week. The union is using the issue to leverage their new 
>>contract so this is simply a pawn in a much larger political 
>game-->isn't that fun.

This is fun if you like swordplay.  I hope this sword hanging over my 
head, ready to cut off at any time is eliminated.  The solar issue is 
most likely just a pinprick in the overall contract negotiations between 
the LADWP and the IBEW.  This will work its self out, hopefully sooner 
than later.

As I mentioned in a previous posting, the PV industry in Los Angeles has 
been stifled for the immediate time being.  I do not feel comfortable 
installing systems without notifying my customers that their new PV 
installation will be locked out indefinitely.  I have informed customers 
of the present situation and jobs are inevitably put on hold.  This 
defeats the purpose of the rebates and incentives.

The LADWP incentives are in place to increase production economics of 
scale. Production increases lead to lowering the overall cost of PV 
resulting in a larger and more legitimate market.  Economic benefits of 
solar power are not fully realized and comprehended by the average 
person.  Solar when compared to all of the costs of fossil fuel power is 
viable, especially when externalities of costs are considered.  Our 
government spends more money per barrel defending and protecting 
overseas oil supplies than we pay as consumers.  When the health effects 
to our population and planet as a whole are figured into the equation 
solar power is truly practical.

What our industry needs now is Standards.  Standards need to apply to 
individual products, systems and overall installation quality.  Safety 
and longevity must be paramount.  Some may argue that inverters are the 
Achilles heels of our industry at this time and if they don’t measure up 
the entire solar program fails.  I think one weakness in our emerging 
industry is a lack of organization.  When organized labor such as the 
IBEW becomes involved we need to respond in a unified fashion.  We need 
to establish what the union’s goals are as well as our own.  This is the 
only way to make deals without giving up our goals.  The unions want to 
“ensure public safety”, and so do we.  If we have a unified voice, 
issues such as the one presently plaguing Los Angeles can be dealt with 
more effectively and prevented from spreading like a systemic cancer 
nationally.

It troubles me that my solar installations are on hold and the entity 
bargaining with the IBEW with respect to future of solar installations 
is a utility company, LADWP.  The solar industry needs a powerful body 
behind it.  The press has recently been reporting that a wide majority 
of Americans are in favor of a sizable increase of solar power being 
utilized.  We need signatures from millions of American voters on a 
well-written document that confirms their commitment to a growing solar 
industry, and a willingness to vote in favor of issues that affect our 
industry.  When the solar industry has this type of power our leverage 
in negotiations and legislation will be strong and we can hold the 
sword.

My 2 cents.

Graham

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