WHERE’S MY SOLAR POWER?

I had solar panels installed on my roof in October 2013.

All the wiring has been done, I have had (to my knowledge) two post-installation inspections, which supposedly have certified the system as satisfactory. However, there’s still some mysterious person from some other entity who is supposed to come and give a final blessing–Pasadena Water & Power? The City Council? The mayor? The President? God? I’m not really sure.

There’s an On-Off lever on the inverter control box that is begging to be engaged. Sometimes I just gaze wistfully at it, but don’t dare touch it.

 

I’ve been warned that if I do, something dire might happen to me, like, I don’t know, get electrocuted or something. Meanwhile, I just dream about the day my solar power gets connected. I hope it’s sometime this year.

Update: They must have heard me kvetching. I just got something in the mail from Southern California Edison (SCE) headed, Permission to Operate (PTO). However, the letter still has severe warnings that if the SCE determines that my “generating facility is not in compliance with the terms of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) Interconnection you signed as part of your application to interconnect, the PTO may be revoked.” Uh, okay. Whatever you say.

Further update: I checked with the installers yesterday: I can turn it on now. Here goes:



 

Okay…that’s it?

Oh, wait a minute, I think something’s wrong. Why does the inverter display say “AC Voltage failure?”

Hmm, well that sure was anti-climatic, wasn’t it? Haha, get it? Climatic? Climate change, global warming?

Looks like yours truly is going to be putting a call to the installers. Back to square one. I’ve waited this long–what’s another couple weeks?