Edison's "toaster test"

Why is Edison wanting to "test" inverters and "inspect" solar systems as if we are in the 1950's and the electron is to be feared?

The test is like someone coming to your home and turning on your toaster and waiting for it to pop! When was the last time a brand new toaster didn't pop? Do you think a solar installer is qualified to know if a toaster (inverter) is working properly?

This is a money grab by Edison and forces clients to wait for a month for the inspector to show up before they get credit for their solar system.

Thank you LA City Council!

LADWP has been given the go ahead to start the solar program on Sept 1, 2011.

We think this was the right decision. The council made several points that Solar Forward and the Los Angeles solar community will follow up on. We have mutual goals.

It is shocking to me that large solar lease companies were asking for larger amounts of free money. "Install less solar in Los Angeles and put more money in my pocket," was their business plan.

I hope these companies have a nice flight home. Don't mess with the Los Angeles based solar community. Did they learn their lesson or will they be back?

We have a Sunpower lease product that works with the reduced rebate. We have a great customer base.

Give us a call and get solar on your roof. The money will run out and the program will shut down again. But at least we are going to start installing and prevent more coal from being burned. We will find more funding and do our best to bring the price down.

RESTART THE LADWP SOLAR PROGRAM NOW!

REMOVE THE 245

RESTART THE SOLAR PROGRAM NOW!

· Los Angeles-based solar companies and LADWP customers overwhelmingly want the solar incentive program (SIP) restarted on September 1, 2011.

· The revised LADWP solar program is a fair and workable plan that will allow Los Angeles-based solar businesses to continue selling and installing solar systems for Los Angeles homeowners and businesses.

· The lower proposed rebate levels extend the limited program funding allowing more solar systems to be installed. This enables a sustained solar business to flourish in Los Angeles.

· We have a lease product that works with the proposed program, now. This gives all consumers equal access to a solar powered home.

· The mega Solar leasing companies with huge overhead and overblown advertising budgets want to take a larger chunk of LADWP’s rebate money and spend it on fewer solar systems. This helps their profit margin, not the people of Los Angeles.

· Our employees want us to run a business that keeps them working. Los Angelinos are eager to invest in solar systems. Restarting the program now will maintain the health of local businesses, keep consumers happy and help LADWP meet its solar program goals.

· Any further program delays will cause more local jobs and income to be lost while we burn more coal.

Solar, Bankers, Coal and a lease deal in LADWP land

Solar Forward supports starting the LADWP solar program as it is proposed in two weeks - we all want a sustainable solar business in Los Angeles.

LA residents are eager to go solar but are handcuffed by the rebate programs roller coaster ride.

Some greedy solar leasing companies want to take LADWP’s rebate money and move it to their bank account as fast as possible, as easily as possible. They are able get double dip on the tax breaks compared to the average consumer and the federal government ends up picking up the tab. Why do they want LADWP to pay for a cheaper solar system owned by an out of state banker?

The bottom line is the solar business will continue to be successful here in Los Angeles based on the solar program that LADWP has presented to the the people of Los Angeles.

We even recommended making the rebates 10% lower to stretch the funding even further and help avoid another shutdown.

Of course, everyone would like more money in the solar program but we know that the funding is limited at this time.

The real story is we can sell a leased solar system (with the new lower rebate levels) and still make it work! Sunpower has a great product! So the old school solar lease companies need to stop crying.

Please do not delay in restarting this solar program. It may not be perfect, but we feel that LADWP has made an honest attempt to improve and streamline the program and we can and will make it work.

Any hesitation today will delay the program by at least a month causing more local jobs and income to be lost - and the burning of more coal.

Solar Forward supports working with the proposed LADWP solar program - we have customers that are ready to go solar!

We need to start installing more solar systems in Los Angeles as soon as possible. The greedy bankers can work on a better financial product while we put people to work installing solar systems and stop burning coal.

LADWP attacked by greedy solar lease companies

http://chatsworth.patch.com/articles/cardenas-says-dwps-solar-incentive-is-too-low

Edison goes back in time, not back to the future!

In all honesty this is turning into a case of the gang that can’t shoot straight.

Out of the blue and without consulting the solar industry, Edison is asking for a NEW single line diagram that is different from the diagram used by Building and Safety. This doubles the work for solar contractors.

And they want a solar contractor to meet them at the solar installation for a very silly inspection that is the same as checking to see if your car starts by itself with the key out.

And they want to keep the solar system off line for a month till they get around to inspecting 70% of the solar installs.... the other 30% are ok??? All solar systems have already passed building and safety inspection. These inspectors have more experience that any of Edison's inspectors inspecting solar systems.

And after inspection and everything checks out - Edison wants to keep the solar system off till the "paperwork is processed and permission to operate is given in two or three days." So they want us to keep it off till a high priest at Edison blesses the paperwork?

This is an effort to make more money and waste energy. This will cost Edison, clients and the industry over $1000 per job.

Today on a job site I met an Edison employee who was nice, but ineffective.

The entire inspection took ten minutes and only confirmed that a state of the art inverter is working normally. If you set your microwave for one minute, does it stay on.

In the list below there are items that have never been requested by Edison in the ten years I have been installing solar systems.

We need to clear up this radical change in policy that only adds work and accomplishes nothing more.

I also learned that there is a back log of over 2000 applications in the interconnection department. This is not an easy fix.

Please feel free to contact me - no one in the solar industry or any Edison client should accept this new effort to slow down and confuse the safety of a solar installation.