Introductions

[Brian Spilsbury]

Hello the Forum.

Located just outside of Guelph in Canada's first Carbon Neutral village (Eden Mills)
I've been almost a year getting a 10k MicroFIT system installed from initial application to where we are now.
Everything is ready to go with the system. Hydro ONE...(how I love to hate them) has not shown up for the last 9 connection dates. They only do Tuesdays out here and without warning, just don't show, leaving everyone standing around, thumb twiddling.
At any rate, I am excited about getting everything up and running...not so much for the income but for the party conversation.

[Ralph Day]

Welcome Brian
You might find some of the party conversation a little uncomfortable. Lots of un-informed people think that microFIT's are the cause of their utility bills rising. Still, if your parties are a gathering of like minded people then that shouldn't be a problem.:cheesy:

Ralph

[Brian Spilsbury]

thanks for the welcome!

I can hold my own with the nay sayers LOL
I know PEC is a hot bed of solar activity. My best friend lives in Picton and her 5k roof top system is on the drawing board now.

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Brian,

Welcome to Green Power Talk!
We've been pretty lucky working with Hydro-One over here: They've normally processed our applications within 6 weeks, and have always showed up on the day we set the appointment for. I can tell you that if they didn't show I'd be ripping them a new one (to word it politely), as we have to set up a appointment with the electrician, the ESA to inspect before going back online, and usually the home owner as well (their fridge etc. will be off for the better part of a day while we swap meter bases).

I have a contact at Hydro-One, and will send you his info by PM. Let him know what's happening over there; he seems pretty high up and well connected. Possibly he can straighten some of the employees within the company out a bit.

-RoB-

[Brian Spilsbury]

Yes, all of that has to happen here as well.
The disconnect/connect has all been arranged to happen over the same 4-5 hrs so a new panel, dual meter base and the connection of the system to happen during those 4 hrs.
Everyone makes it out at the correct time except for H1. Unfortunately, a complaint guarenteed being put at the bottom of the list for connection, which is where we've been for a month.
It's been escalated to the Energy minister.
The good news is there has been almost no sunshine to speak of lol.

[Brian Spilsbury]

ESA gave their stamp of approval today.
Back to H1 to install the meter!!

And it's still a bit cloudy so I don't feel too badly about missing the sunny days.

[Rob Beckers]

Good luck! Let us know how it ends (and post pictures! without pictures it basically didn't happen as far as we're concerned on this forum. :D).

No point in obsessing about lost PV days. You get them back on the other end of the contract anyway.

-RoB-

[Brian Spilsbury]

So...

I was pleased to receive not only the invitation to sign my microfit contract but also the "congratulations you are connected" email last friday.

With excitement, I looked at the meter base and no matter how hard I squinted, there is no meter in the hole...WTF?

I call the LDC and they assure me that I was connected. "Excuse me Miss...I can assure you there is no meter there".
I can assure YOU, Sir, there is"
Impasse.

[Dave Turpin]

...Maybe they hid it?

[Ralph Day]

The new Stealth meter! A step up from a smart meter.

Ralph

[Dale Sheler]

I'd just go on ebay and find a meter and plug it in.

[Rob Beckers]

There's one I haven't heard before... Thank you for the smile! :peace:

-RoB-

[Brian Spilsbury]

eBAY!
What a novel idea LOL

[Dale Sheler]

Go to this link and scroll down, they got lost of em.:D
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=kwh+meters&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[Dayton Johnson]

Brian, could be a mixup in a account number. My meter was installed i mid August but payment deposit was going to another individuals bank account!!! It took 3 ph. calls to H1 and finally talking to an individual who took the time to investigate. Finally got it straightened out but it was human error,,but not mine.
Many years ago a similar situation with a bank and a truck payment. Someone in Pembroke was making my truck payment for me! Sweet,, until i fessed up to my loan manager who tracked it down to a wrong number entered on the account #.We're all human and mistakes are made even in this high-tech age.

[Brian Spilsbury]

the latest...
My contract has been removed from my MicroFIT page because I wasn't connected by my LDC.
When I tried to get everything set to right (and get a meter installed) someone said...well, they can't have a contract if they aren't connect...so it now shows as contract refused.
I am getting tired of this....mostly because there is no one to stand infront of and complain to!

[Dale Sheler]

Speaking from experience in dealing with government officials, even when you have a person to complain to it does no good because that person answers to another person who answers to another person ad nauseum.
If you have a committe or board to complain to the obfuscation and futility only gets exponentially worse.
In this case where you are dealing with several different layers of public and private entities it boggles the mind that anyone ever got hooked up.

[Rob Beckers]

Brian, I suppose you've already been calling the OPA and talking to someone over there? In the past they have been reasonably helpful, and fairly timely, in straightening out matters.

-RoB-

[Brian Spilsbury]

I have spent hours a week on the telephone, being shunted from person to person, who all say the right things but seem to be powerless to do anything to get this resolved.
If I could get my money back I would and then spend much less on a different system and go off grid.
The frustration levels are running high at the moment.

[Rob Beckers]

That's just nuts...
Did you try to give the Hydro-One contact that I sent you a call? He's pretty high up on the food chain and seemed reasonable in my dealings with him. Has your installer made any effort to get this straightened out? Or did they run for the woods the moment they got paid. :eek:

-RoB-

[Brian Spilsbury]

If I didn't know better, I'd guess that I am being ignored on purpose now. People tend to get petty when their performance is being called into question and so far, the whole group of them in my area are not living up to expectations.
The installers out this way are beating their heads against the wall in frustration. My local MPP has had many complaints and I have been contacted by the Energy Minister to get the details of what's been happening with me. There may be others the government is talking too for all I know.

My installer has not been paid the final 40% and have not asked for it. They won't accept payment from me until the system has been deemd to be "working" for a minimum of a week after being connected.
I must admit, I'm impressed with the company so far.

[Brian Spilsbury]

it looks like the problem was located. We will see if things come together!
The ESA inspection for my place was in 2 parts. One for a new 200 amp panel and the other for the 60 amp solar installation. The 200 amp inspection was received but the 60 amp one wasn't.

[Ralph Day]

Hi Brian
My sympathies. I too had a 2 part installation...new service and microfit, so 2 meters. ESA inspected for the service install, then for the completed microFIT, but nothing got lost or misplaced, all went according to plan.

I look back 1 year and marvel at how little I had to worry about! I was up and running before the OPA did it's little ''roof mount/ground mount'' dance, and then the Hydro One ''constraints'' dance. Persevere Brian, persevere.

[Brian Spilsbury]

I was hoping to be up and running before HST came into being but the contract acceptance was stopped, as you know. I filed in April but missed the window by a few days when they closed applications for their study on rates.
I have to say, Green and Clean in Guelph has been excellent. I am one of the 2 worst affected they've had to deal with. Everything new (installs) has been going thru, tikkety-boo but I've been dealing with fall out from the past, it seems.

[Rob Beckers]

Brian, regarding HST, you realize you can get that back right? Simply register for a business number (free) and file HST returns (annual if solar is all you have). The CRA sees you as a business when you produce electricity for sale to Ontario. That comes with all the advantages, such as HST reimbursement, that a business enjoys.

-RoB-

[Brian Spilsbury]

thanks Rob. I am a real estate agent and as such, am already registered. I mentioned that just to emphasize the time line involved.

[Brian Spilsbury]

I had a telephone msg left on Friday.
From Hydro One no less. I am being connected this Monday.

[Ralph Day]

Brian,
Just be sure they leave a meter in the base :D

Glad to hear you'll be hooked up. First payment should be in June (not kidding).

[Brian Spilsbury]

One of the things about my solar installation that is kind of fun, is the way people slow down on the road and lean out the window of their car to ask me about the trackers.
Just like I do when I'm driving around in the country!
There is a lot of sharing of information and experiences with this. It's not a very big club, as of yet but I can see it growing fast out here.