<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Same here in Southwest Florida. However, our "testing" usually lasts exactly the amount of time between installation completion and meter replacement. We have never heard a complaint by the utility that the system was energized before the bidirectional meter was installed, despite the policy against it. On that note, most meter swaps occur quickly. <br><br>Jason Szumlanski</div><div><br>On Aug 12, 2011, at 10:30 AM, "Glenn Burt" <<a href="mailto:glenn.burt@glbcc.com">glenn.burt@glbcc.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Here in NY (upstate), the utility (NatGrid, NYSEG) will not agree to an interconnection until they have replaced the existing unidirectional kWh meter with a bidirectional one. This is the signal that the PV system can be energized and connected to the grid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">-Glenn<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> <a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Kirk Herander<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 12, 2011 9:46 AM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] mechanical vs. electronic kwh meter<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I am now in a debate with the metering dept. of a local utility. They don’t want a PV system to be energized and tested until a bidirectional electronic meter is installed. They insist that an old plain Jane mechanical meter can be damaged and is a safety concern if power is pushed through it (its running backwards) to the grid. I have never heard of, witnessed, or been told this by any utility or AHJ inspector until now. Have any of you ever?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know the reason for their paranoia. I assume that many utility districts don’t to this day install bidirectional electronic meters. And rely on the original mechanical meter to count backwards reliably and safely. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Kirk Herander<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">VT Solar, LLC<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">dba Vermont Solar Engineering<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">NABCEP<sup>TM </sup>Certified installer Charter Member<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">NYSERDA-eligible Installer<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">VT RE Incentive Program Partner<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>List sponsored by Home Power magazine</span><br><span></span><br><span>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"><a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a></a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Options & settings:</span><br><span><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>List-Archive: <a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org"><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a></a></span><br><span></span><br><span>List rules & etiquette:</span><br><span><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Check out participant bios:</span><br><span><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a></span><br><span></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>