I've gone solar.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fred S @ Aug 17 2007, 04:16 PM) [snapback]498030[/snapback]</div>

There is the new wire, the conduit, the new box and breakers. Plus permits. Plus the time the electrician is going to take to go there today and apply for these permits. And he is contacting the inspector and setting up the inspection for Monday to make sure it gets done. I'm sure that's all in my $975.

The $900 labor is probably just the time it will take him on Monday to get the job done.

And while I'd love to have him do 200 instead, since I am splitting the cost with Borrego Solar I am sure they'd object if I requested this guy go way beyond what is necessary.

If at some later time I get an EV or need to upgrade again, I'll just have to pay for all of that myself. At least I'll know where I am now and have an idea of what it will cost me to get where I want to go.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Aug 27 2007, 09:09 PM) [snapback]502983[/snapback]</div>

The electrician came a week ago (Monday) and upgraded to 125 amp. (Borrego Solar agreed to pay labor after I threatened to shut the project down and let them sue me for the remaining payments. At that point I had only paid $1,000 of the $24,000). The inspector approved a rough and asked for some modifications. Electrician finished that and when Inspector came on Wed. the final was approved. It then was posted on Thursday morning so SDG&E could see. (Or something like this.)

I then had to set up another inspection for the PV. Well, Borrego Solar should have done that. The electrician said he called them Wed to let them know it was approved. I didn't hear from them on Thursday or Friday.

So *I* called for an inspection. Had to have them look it up because I didn't have the permit number. I have an inspection scheduled for tomorrow, Tues. Aug. 28. I'll call after 7:15 am to see where I am in the queue. If it's approved, I only need an OK from SDG&E and I can turn it on.

I called Borrego but my foreman, John wasn't there. Left a message (but went ahead and scheduled the inspection myself anyway.) Had a message when I got home from work. John out of office all day but there's an inspection for tomorrow. (Duh. *I* made the appointment.)

Once it's online I expect Borrego won't waste any time sending me the final bill. And it better reflect the $900.00 credit for the electrical labor. I have both an e-mail and a letter to that effect. Once that's taken care of good riddance to them. The electrician said he had more jobs from Borrego Solar so I expect it's their standard operating procedure to install systems and wait for inspectors to fail them and then refer the homeowners to the electrician to upgrade. He doesn't work for them but is just a referral. He's actually a good guy, did a really good job. I'll probably be hiring him to add an outlet for my tankless when I have it installed.

I'll let you know when my meter is finally running backwards.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Aug 28 2007, 01:11 PM) [snapback]503302[/snapback]</div>

In Washington State maybe, but not in California. Some do but SDG&E doesn't. So it is no incentive for people to put in as much solar as they can. Why pay for it when you're giving it to the utility for free? Once your bill is zeroed out, any extra they get for free without paying.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Aug 28 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]503344[/snapback]</div>

Well, that was moderately incoherent.

 

Yesterday and today were optional work days. I.E. I can go to school early but don't have to report until Wed. I put in a full day Monday: 7:15 - 3:00. And I made some calls. I spent some time arranging for a final inspection on my Solar since it appeared no one from Borrego Solar was doing squat. So much for the "you won't have to do anything" spiel the salesman fed me.

Well, it turns out the number I had wasn't the permit number but a work order number. Luckily I finally got a live person who looked it up and got me an appointment for today, Tuesday. I was to call between 7:15 and 7:45 to find out where I was in the queue.

Well, I'm up and just pulling on my clothes when the doorbell rings. Who could that be? No way the inspector. Well, it was SDG&E. Two guys wanted to switch out my meter plug. These were the guys that didn't show up a week ago on Monday. The electrician did everything, moved the service wire to the new conduit, shut it off, moved the plug to the new meter box, etc. Well, these guys were surprised when I told them about all of this. They said the electrician did a fine job and they had no problems with it. They replaced my plug with a new one with a nice clear plastic cover, reset it and put the tags on it to lock it up and left. So I go inside to call about my inspection time. I knew Dale was out for two days. Turns out Linda is too. And the number I got wasn't for Linda or for Denise or for Janise. And my inspector is really Alex. Geez. She says he's still setting up his route and takes my number and says she'll have him call me. Yeah, I know how that goes. At 7:45 I call Alex at his number and get voice mail. Then there's another knock at the door. SDG&E again. Huh? This time they want to switch out my gas meter. I tell the guy no one told me. He says they're not calling in advance, just showing up. I tell him he's real lucky to get me as I would normally be at work. He switches out the gas meter; all of 20 minutes. Now I have new everything. Peachy. Only he tells me eventually they'll come back and switch them both to some sort of wireless reader thing. When? OH, by 2010 or 2011. I tell him they better call me in advance the next time. Still no call from Alex. I call again and leave another message. And wait. Finally I call the original number I used to get a person and ask if Alex is still there. He is. He's not picking up his phone. So they take my number again. I wait. Does he ever call? No.

So around 10 am there's a knock at my door. It's Alex. I lock up the dog and he comes in. No, I don't have the yellow card the paperwork from the failed inspection Dale gave me. Borrego Solar has that. And I haven't had a chance to call them because I never knew what time the inspection was because no one called me back. I beg him not to leave. So I call Borrego Solar and they say Jake is at my front door. I go look. No Jake. I tell the inspector. He says he'll have to leave soon. I beg him to let me call them back again. While I'm dialing Jake finally shows up. Seems he had to stop to pee.

Well, Dale didn't really do a full rough inspection. He never went up in the attic. I don't say anything. Alex looks at the new 125 amp service, I have my inspection card that it passes, he passes me and I'm set. Alex will call SDG&E and they will notify me in about a week either by letter or phone that I can turn it on.

Poor Gore Vidal. I so feel for him. However if he was totally off the grid it would be a moot point. Sounds like he's like me and generating but still drawing power at times.

Lucky for me I had the 125 amp upgrade permit and the SDG&E service order in MY records to provide for Alex.

So I left for work, picked up some supplies and got there around 11:20. Worked until 3:30. But didn't get much work done as there still is no master schedule and I kept being interrupted.

Oh and if I haven't mentioned it before....Borrego Solar sucks. Don't hire them.

 

The further adventures of trying to go green (and why you should never hire Borrego Solar...never, never, never.)

My upgraded electrical passed inspection. I was told I would receive a letter or phone call from SDG&E in about a week, giving me permission to turn it on.

It's been two weeks and my PV is still sitting on the roof like a dead dodo.

I called SDG&E on Friday and left a message. (They quit at 3 pm. Must be nice.)

I came home from work today and no message on the answering machine, no letter in the mailbox. So I called again. Left another message. Tried another number. Eventually I got the net-metering guy's cell phone. Success.

Seems they've been out twice (without anyone telling ME) and been unable to inspect the system. Fence. Locked Gate. Dog. DUH. I told Borrego Solar all of that. They KNEW.

The issue isn't so much the meter, although they want access to that too, but the shut-off. They have to have 24/7 access to the shut off in case there is a blackout. It has to be shut off so the linemen don't get electrocuted working on the line because my PV system is sending power back through the line. Okay. I understand that.

So why did Borrego Solar install the shutoff in my fenced, locked, dog habituated yard? No way anyone's going in that yard if I'm not home.

You guessed it. Morons.

So...the SDG&E guy is making a special trip after hours (3:30 pm) to my house tomorrow to meet me and anyone from Borrego Solar who shows up to try to solve this problem. I want it on. Borrego Solar wants it on or they don't get paid (like $10,000). And really, SDG&E wants it on too. Between you and me; when I mentioned Borrego Solar to the SDG&E guy there was a sigh and a groan. He's dealt with them before and it's all the same problems. He says they know the rules but just don't care. He says it's good I didn't give them the last payment as that is incentive for them to fix it on their dime. Which they are going to do because I'm not paying for anything else. Not one penny. He's a good guy and I think he's mostly interested in making Borrego Solar squirm. I'm interested in turning the knife and sprinking liberally with salt. But I was very polite when I called them and suggested to them they better get someone's a$$ in my yard at 3:30 tomorrow. And I told the SDG&E guy I'd be quiet and just observe him ream them a new one.

I have no idea what the solution is. I cannot tie my dog up all day. Not only is it illegal, but it's his yard and he has a right to run free. That's why I have a fence. And I am not giving up my dog. The SDG&E guys says he's a dog lover and that is simply not an option. Now there is the possibility of moving the shut-off outside the fence where they have access. But it is supposed to be within 5 ft of the meter. And the meter isn't going anywhere. They want it outside too but sorry, it isn't going anywhere. So the shutoff stays within 5 ft but it's in a locked yard with a dog or the shutoff goes outside the fence for access but is a lot farther away than 5 ft. Where is a problem. The only place I can see to put it doesn't have easy attic access to run the electrical. Although it *can* be done, it wouldn't be easy. I did run romex for a box to hang a light in that area.

Depends on how much they want that $10,000 I guess.

And.....they better put in some overtime because I won't be taking off any days from work. And my next vacation day is Veteran's day; Nov. 12. It's a Monday. Good thing. Borrego Solar doesn't work on Fridays.

And of course, if they do this....does it all have to be inspected again? And will if fail because the shutoff is farther than 5 ft away from the meter?

Now this is all stuff they new up front. But they were more concerned with money and a sale than "oh lady, you'll have to spend $2,000 to upgrade your existing electrical. And it won't pass inspection anyway because we can't put the shutoff where they have access and you have a dog."

Schmucks.

 

It just keeps getting worse.

The SDG&E came out today. He was early so we walked the yard. All but one of his suggestions sucked. The only option I can stomach is to build a second gate between the garage and the fence near the back alley. Then Borrego Solar can pay to move the meter and the shut off to that location and back feed it to the secondary box in my house. And SDG&E will relocate my power from the alley (for free) and provide a lock for the back gate that they have a key for.

Of course this will depend on if Borrego Solar pays for it ALL. (And this after paying to have the electrical upgraded already.)

Measure twice, cut once. Get it right the first time. Anyone else?

So...looks like my meter and the PV shut off will both have to be relocated. And they will both leave big honkin' HOLES in my house. Again. Plus there is now a brand, new hole in my roof so I'll need new shingles. My roof was just done in 2001 with 50 year rated architectural shingles.

The fun just never stops.

But I did enjoy Ken from SDG&E politely, quietly and gently taking Borrego Solar to task and reaming them a new one. And Josh, the project manager was finally forced to come to the job site and see what he has mucked up from the very beginning. Chris, the original salesman was there and he did offer me a very sincere and hearfelt apology, basically taking complete responsibility for this project being the installation from hell. Of course, that doesn't pay for my electrical service to get moved, fences built or me having to take I don't know how many days off from work for them to get this stuff done. OH. And joy of joys....more permits.