[RE-wrenches] Ibew is working to exclude C-46 contractor’s from installing Batteries.

[Joe Nelson]

    They sprung a relatively quiet “public comment” meeting on us, held at the CSLB offices in Sacramento last month.

 

     I spoke (unprepared) in front of the Committee on behalf of C-46 classification as did nearly a dozen other people. There were members of the IBEW there speaking on behalf of the utilities (Utility pdf’s available here http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/BoardPackets/CommitteeMeetingPacket20180223.pdf and here http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/BoardPackets/2-23-18_licensing_committee_mtg_handouts.pdf ) Pay close attention to the Utility’s support of the C-10’s position, as a thinly veiled nepotistic connection to their unions (and specifically the IBEW, since they have connections to members sitting on the Committee of the CSLB).

 

Wendy (program director for all testing at the CSLB) was kind enough to illustrate several key facts during her portion of Q&A 

 

1.	There are more questions on the C-46 Examination specific to ESS (Energy Storage Systems) then there are on the C-10 Exam !!   (think about that) . .
2.	There are MORE questions specific to ESS on the C-46 Exam Then there are questions relating to Photovoltaics on the C-10 Exam (You don’t hear us trying to take away Pv from C-10’s!!)
3.	They are quietly trying to corner us again, like they did a few years ago in relation to PCC (Point of Common Coupling) where they demanded a C-10 was necessary to make a final connection to a residential mains . . 

 

I am not the LEAST bit unfriendly to our fellow sparkies!! But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE  . . . STAND UP, SAY SOMETHING!! Write to the CSLB! CONTEST THESE ASSERTIONS that we are not qualified to handle storage, we have been handling storage since day one, as renewable energy in California was started with rural/off-grid electrification  . . . 

 

Thank you, for letting me rant a little.

 

 

 

 

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of eric at harvesthesun.com
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2018 10:40 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Ibew is working to exclude C-46 contractor’s from installing Batteries.

 

As a C46 since 2011 I'll contend that though the license may have its origins in thermal, according to the CSLB the designation is for both thermal and PV, and that is reflected in the licensure exam (to be licensed as a C46 one must be familiar with PV). What one does in their profession, whether ST or PV or both, after passing the exam and becoming licensed, is up to the contractor. I for one have done little ST over the past 7 years, and as a result of my PV work, have more battery experience than my C10 peers - speaking only for the C10s with whom I work and those I know. If the CSLB decides that batteries are the domain of C10 contractors and not solar electrical contractors, which would be erroneous IMHO - being not reflective of the reality of many C46 contractors today, some whom have been in BBU as long as BBU has been in solar, then I imagine the C46 holders that do BBU work will seek to add the C10 license, as would I. Until then, I will join CalSSA in advocating for the status quo.

 

Thanks for sharing, Jason. Peter, you can reach me through Byers Solar, we're a CalSSA member and C46 contractor (under my license).

 

Eric Stikes

SunHarvest Solar

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