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

[Joel Davidson]

John,
You are right. PV professionals must strongly oppose every utility, union
and government barrier to PV.
Joel Davidson
(There is a lawyer for every 153 man, woman and child in the U.S.)

jberdner at sma-america.com wrote:

> 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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