By Ryan Kath, WBZ-TV
April 16, 2015 11:25 PM
BOSTON (CBS) – Roy Hall’s home in Lunenburg certainly gives the impression he is one of the state’s latest solar power converts. The electrical meters are installed in his basement and the large panels are sitting on his roof. Crews even cleared out several trees in his backyard to give the sun’s rays a clear path.
There is just one problem: The utility company won’t let him connect to the electrical grid.
From his living room, Hall expressed his exasperation with the unusual situation.
“We’re sitting under these big solar panels and they’re not doing anything!” he said. “It’s very frustrating because I have no idea how this is going to turn out.”
Hall is the victim of some unfortunate timing.
When it was time to flip the switch on his new solar system in March, the utility company, Unitil, informed Hall its area circuit had reached its capacity.
The combination of a 2.5 megawatt solar facility and more than 100 residential solar applicants in Lunenburg was generating too much electricity back onto the grid during low-usage times, the utility said.
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| Roy Hall (Photo from Ryan Kath/WBZ) |
And according to the state’s rules, guess who would need to pick up that tab? Here’s a hint: it isn’t the utility company. As the solar customer to push the circuit over its threshold, Hall would be financially responsible.
“It just seems outrageously expensive for something that the utility probably should’ve had in place anyway,” Hall expressed.
Solar company Revolusun was in charge of the installation at Hall’s home. General manager Chad Stern told the I-Team the news caught his company off guard. He said it is the first time a utility has said, “no” when it comes to a residential solar power connection.
The situation has already created a business backlog. Stern said there is a queue of customers sitting on a waiting list, but unable to take the next step to save on their electricity bills.
“Business is at a standstill,” he said. “I think the utility needs to better understand what the safety issues are and make sure it is not being overly cautious.”
Unitil spokeswoman Carol Valianti said the utility has already conducted the safety study, which determined the quarter-million dollars in needed improvements.
Typically, she said larger solar developers fund those types of upgrades for large-scale projects. She knows it would be “nearly impossible” for a single homeowner to bear the financial burden.
Valianti also said it is also an important reminder for customers and solar companies to get the green light from the utility company prior to beginning the installation process.
“It appears the solar company must have had a miscommunication on their end,” Valianti said. “They know they are not supposed to put panels on a roof before they receive the interconnection agreement signed by the utility.”
Revolusun admitted to the I-Team it jumped the gun at Hall’s home.
“This is a risk we felt comfortable in taking as we have never been informed of circuit closures for this or any area in the state,” Revolusun president Kip George said. “This abrupt shutdown without a warning is not fair to residents.”
The utility company acknowledges the situation in Lunenburg might sound like a mixed message to consumers, especially as the state and federal government promote big incentives for renewable energy.
“This is a very specific situation with this circuit, but I do see it becoming a bigger issue for all utilities. Not just in Massachusetts, but across the country,” Valianti said.
Tom Alonzo, the chair of the Lunenburg Board of Selectman, said he’s getting letters from residents who are frustrated with the growing solar waiting list.
“There needs to be the removal of this obstacle because there are plenty of people out there who can benefit,” Alonzo said.
But the big question is figuring who should pay for the costly utility upgrades. The current rules don’t require utility companies to pay for the infrastructure upgrades to avoid non-solar customers subsidizing the projects.
Valianti said Unitil also floated the idea to area solar companies to fund the substation costs.
Hall remains caught in the middle of the debate and might not see a resolution for months.
“Unfortunately, he is in a really tough situation. He’s in a holding pattern and we know how frustrating that must be,” Valianti said.
The Department of Public Utilities confirmed to the I-Team it is investigating the situation. The Attorney General’s office is also looking into the case.
And until the solar statement is resolved, Revolusun said it is not asking Hall to pay for the installation.
Meantime, the Lunenburg homeowner can’t help but take a cynical approach and wonder if the utility company is trying to slow the momentum of losing revenue to renewable energy customers.
“In my old neighborhood, this would be referred to as someplace between stalling and stonewalling,” Hall said.
Ryan Kath be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.
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