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Hello everyone who reads this post, I'm hoping to start a good thread about this facet of a solar install as utilities pretty much have the upper hand in this aspect. My solar system was commissioned and started up on 12/20/13 with the net meter install being delayed nearly 3 months later on 3/18/14. And the reason claimed for it by PSEG? A shortage of net meters? I highly and severely doubt it. Had there been such a sky high demand for them to do solar installs to have caused such a "supposed" shortage? I really have to say no and I'll tell you exactly why I think so. While my old dial meter was running backwards feeding back excess power, they had that luxury for nearly 3 months with obviously nothing being officially documented or logged, not to mention all the while billing me their power supply charges, efficiency & renewable charges, and their "other" charges for which on my 12/27 and 2/25/14 bills coming to a tidy $137.03 and 94.61 respectively for them. Now I ask anyone out there, WHY would it have been in PSEG's best interest to run right over here and install a net meter while still being able to bill these charges AND being able to receive all my excess solar production back into the grid?? Why?? Because they can, and no one wants to take the time and effort to call them on it. Also as an aside, I waited nearly 7 months for them to send me my rebate, along the way having loads of excuses for that delay. My experience so far with PSEG and my solar install has not been positive in any respect. Typical utility bureaucratic nonsense that definitely smacks of the old LIPA days. I'm really looking forward to hearing from anyone out there about any similar issues you may have had. Thanks.
I have worked with people assisting them with choosing the right solar company and system, as well as consulted for a solar company on long island 2 years ago. A large majority of the time it is the installing contractors fault for not filing the paperwork on time, or filing for local inspections in a timely manner. Some contractors only care about getting the installation done so they get their money, and have no vested interest in how fast you get your net meter. Then they just lay the blame on PSEG, and customers eat it up because they love to bash the utility.
Just last month I was speaking to someone who had a solar system installed, but was shut off for 3 months because "PSEG could not handle the extra power that would be fed into the system in our area." When in reality, the installing company did not file any paperwork before the installation. Thankfully the system was setup as a PPA so the customer did not have to make any payments during the period, but they did miss out on great solar production in May-July.
Thanks for the reply Efficiency, and I agree that the installers are to blame a lions share in that fray of trying to get everything finished up, mine was definitely no exception. I had to physically go to PSEG in Melville because trying to get anything accomplished/established over the phone was like pulling teeth and I just couldn't take it anymore. I just don't like the fact that during my first three months of startup solar production, I'm having to pay those charges I no longer have to pay for now, who would like doing that? My bills aren't in the negative as some people have, so right now I'm hoping for a very sunny winter
Had Solar since 9/2012, I am a very strong advocate for Solar Energy
Our savings in two years we recouped for what we had to pay initially. Today have a 90% savings on what we paid before. Strongly recommend purchasing than leasing.
Something you are going to be facing. Summer months days are longer, solar panels produce more energy. Contrary during the winter months days are shorter. The solar panels produce less power during the winter months. Brighter months you are producing power, putting energy back to on the grid. During the darker months, using power from the grid (PSEG).
There are three items on electric bill. When panels are producing power, putting power back into the grid (brighter months). You are charged for only two items.
Delivery & System Charges
Other Charges
During the winter months when there is less sunlight (darker months). You are pulling power from the grid, you are charged more by PSEG for supplying the power.
Delivery & System Charges
Power Supply Charges
Other Charges
You will experience a huge difference between what you paid during the summer compared to what you pay in the winter months. Point - don't expect the see any major savings till next summer.
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Last edited by Modification Specialist; 11-14-2014 at 02:38 PM..
Won't be sending anything back to the grid today, BUT..... just another 14kW and I'll be 100kW from 10,000kW, inverter reading 9,886 just prior to posting this. We actually had a 55kW day at the end of April, more than double what we usually use here daily Going over some other numbers, its possible that a fridge I had recently replaced (not even seven years old) could have been needlessly using excess power. Hope the new one lasts longer than that at 1,300+. Apparently manufacturers wants anything but longevity, need to keep our economy going you know.
Hi RW, Not exactly sure what your asking, but if its my solar array official date of commission that would be 12/20. Net meter installed on 3/18.
Yes, that's the PTO (permission to operate) letter. I leased a system, took forever to get installed, signed this January, it was installed in late July, missed most of the solar harvesting period, PTO didn't get issued until early September. My financing company still hasn't billed me, I called them up, they said your local installer still hasn't "finalized," the system, so right now I have zero out of pocket and have been reaping rewards, which is great. It's a 10.2kW system with two strings on 5K PV Powered Inverters.
Wish that my system was up and running in that amount of time, I initially was going to lease but then decided to purchase. We also went through two different salespeople and an office manager. Seems that all the delays between each steps of the process are similar, but ultimately the installer has to stay on top of everything, which didn't even come close to happening in my case. Speaking of financing, my bridge loan company finally can get paid the first half of the 20K I had to borrow, courtesy of a very long awaited PSEG rebate. You must have a fairly high yearly consumption with a 10.2K system. I have 7.4K system, 26 LG 280 watt panels with a single Sunny Boy inverter.
Last edited by SolarCrazed; 11-17-2014 at 06:00 PM..
PSEG installed the Net Meter prior to NRG installing my 51 panel SV system (completed 3/27). As of today, NRG still has not submitted the paperwork to PSEG to get the Permission to Operate Certificate. PSEG has been very responsive, so far.
The NRG customer rep tells me they have not been able to get their management's approval for the paperwork to be released. What ever that means! I will be receiving a credit for each month's delay against the lease agreement charge. I've been told another two weeks.
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PSEG/ Installer missteps
