[RE-wrenches] Utility Dis-connect

[Jeff Yago]

The primary justification for removing the disconnect requirement for
residential is that the utility already has an isolation point with their
serving meter (called a self-contained meter). This is unique to smaller
services of 200-amps or less. 
Bill.
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What am I missing here. You have a big storm and trees down everywhere. Linemen crews come from other states due to the work load. Now, they are heading to repair a downed line down the road from my solar home. OK, does anyone on this list actually think all these separate linemen's trucks carry around a big book that not only lists all of the inverter systems in the state, but would actually indicate which systems are in the geographic area of the downed line. And if they did have all this cross-referenced inverter data and it was actually up-to-date, do you think they are going to drive around trying to find my house and then dis-connect my system before they started working on the downed line? 

I am not a linemen but I have been taken up in a linemen's bucket and was told to grab hold of the power line. Let me say that is an eye-opener, but when I did there was no feeling, no buzz, no heat, no nothing, since the bucket is totally insulated. Not sure how they do this in the rain, but I have to assume they attach ground clamps on all "non-energized" downed lines before they grab hold.

Sorry, but I just do not know what purpose these switches serve. Drive around after a major storm hit and you will hear generators running in driveways, garages, yards, all over the place. Some may have a UL approved transfer switch, some may just have extension cords trailing out the window, but others will use reverse plugs in dryer outlets and you hope this idiot remembered to kill the main breaker, but the point is they all have the potential to back-feed the grid and there is no lock-able switch on these homes. What about all those gorilla solar systems out there, and we know there are lots of them, that are back-feeding without any permits, inspections, or exterior dis-connects?

If I thought for one second that these switches would actually be needed and used by linemen working in the area then I would be the first to promote them. However, its time to say this Emperor has no clothes so lets get rid of this.

Jeff Yago

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