PEMBERTON BOROUGH FAILS TO COMPLY
WITH THEIR
ELECTRIC CODE
Everyone should do their part to reduce
their carbon foot print on planet Earth. The
level of Carbon Dioxide is higher today than
it has been in over 650,000 years. This is
attributed to the rapidly increasing use of
carbon based fuels. My contribution is a
Solar system installed and approved by the
Pemberton Borough on July 17, 2012. Since
that time there has been a constant battle
with the Borough over their Electric Code
which states that they will purchase EXCESS
electricity from a Solar system but prohibit
reversing meters or NET meters.
After the inspector approved the system the
Borough sent a lengthy contract expecting a
signature. Having never been advised of this
contract and given time to review it prior
to installation, and finding fault with the
terms and conditions, the agreement was
immediately rejected. At the October Council
meeting a revised and greatly simplified
contract was offered. It was signed and
returned to the Borough on November 4th. On
December 17 the Borough electrician
installed the second meter and connected the
Solar system to the grid. Energy was finally
being produced.
The system performance has been monitored
constantly since it was commissioned. The
data showed the Borough was taking all of
the solar energy produced. They purchased it
at 50¢ on the dollar. Consumption from the
Borough remained unchanged. When the
situation was brought to the attention of
the Council they laid blame on the Installer
saying it was their responsibility to use
the energy before sending it to the grid.
Because the Borough was not interested in
assisting their resident, the installer,
GeoPeak Energy, took over and initiated a
study over several months. There are two
ways that the electric meters can be wired
into the system. They can be in series or in
parallel. The study found that when
connected in parallel, all the energy
produced is drained from the system before
it can be used by the resident. When wired
in series the output meter measured all the
energy produced but the input meter
registered 1.5-1.75 times more than the
energy being consumed. The electric bill was
much higher during the month it was
configured in this way and there was no
savings when connected in parallel.
The initial Borough installation had the two
meters in parallel. When the
GeoPeak Energy
Electrician contacted the Borough
Electrician he was instructed to wire the
output meter in series. That resulted in the
Borough measuring all the energy produced
and increased the reading on the consumption
meter. When measuring current it was clear
that power was flowing back into the grid
but the consumption meter is not designed to
handle reverse flow and the readings from it
were unreliable. The system has been shut
down.
The Borough electric code clearly states
that they will purchase the
EXCESS energy
produced and that a second utility grade
meter will be installed for that purpose.
The code does not define
EXCESS nor does it
specify how the meter will be connected. The
results of the above study demonstrated that
it is not possible for the Borough to meet
the requirements of the Code as presently
written.
The normal utility grade meter is not
designed to function properly with reverse
energy flow. Yet the Borough keeps it in the
system. The Borough implies that the
consumer is to use the electricity generated
and that the EXCESS, going to the grid, will
be purchased and not returned in kind, as is
the normal practice with Solar
installations. There is no practical way to
accomplish the Borough’s objective. With
either wiring configuration they measure all
the energy produced and the resident gets to
use none of it. EXCESS does not equal
ALL.
The Borough Electric Department is not
meeting the requirements of the Code. The
Borough Code must define
EXCESS. The Code
must identify a proven method to measure
Excess by installing an additional Billing
meter or they must relax their restriction
on Net Meters and connect the Solar system
the same way everyone else does. It is clear
that the Borough is fighting desperately to
prevent the intrusion of Solar systems which
will cut into the profit from the Electric
Department. Their fear is that more
residents will install solar to protect
themselves from excessive rates.
It is also clear that the Borough is
dependent on the profit from the Electric
Department to offset their operating costs.
Funds are being moved from the Electric
Department Reserve and placed in the General
Fund. Because the electric department does
not fall under the Board of Public Utilities
there are no restrictions on its operation.
Therefore they can and do tax the residents
through their electric bills. This is not
fair to residents or to Non Profit
institutions who are shielded by law from
property taxes and who are paying the same
excessive rates as the borough residents. Is
it any wonder that the Borough is fighting
desperately to restrict the impact of Solar
in the community?
The recent elections changed the makeup of
the Council starting in 2014. How will the
presence of Bonnie Haines impact these
issues?
Bruce T. Buzalski, Pemberton Borough |