MECO Denies Maui Resident Small Solar Power Connection

A letter sent by Maui Electric Company on January 12, to a long-time Maui resident who applied to interconnect a 2.9 kilowatt solar system is infuriating environmentalists and locals. The MECO form letter signed by a Mr. Justin Goza (below), first of many to come, was extremely disappointing to the resident who was led to believe that a recent Public Utilities Commission ruling had lifted a longstanding 15 percent limit imposed by HECO, MECO, HELCO.

The letter asked the customer to pay for a $3,000...

supplemental review study, to see whether MECO would approve the project for net metering. MECO's letter claimed that the small connection to the grid could have negative impact on its local circuit.

Accordingly, the PUC ruling back on November 29, 2011 gave utility customers false hope and led them to believe that a study would no longer be required unless the connection was at 50 percent of the local circuit. When in fact, the ruling did not waive "a study" or "a fee" at the 15 percent limit, rather the ruling allowed HECO, MECO, HELCO to still require a "supplemental review" at 15 percent circuit penetration; and a "interconnection requirement study" at 50 percent.

But the ruling was being touted by solar suppliers and elected officials as a win for customers. Even Governor Neil Abercrombie piled on false hope when he spoke of the PUC's ruling while visiting Maui recently. The Governor promised residents who were anxious to get on with generating their own clean energy that the limit was raised to 50 percent before triggering a study.

The PUC ruling, drafted by non other than the utility power attorneys actually added another element to the process, rather than streamline it. If, after a $3,000 study is completed, MECO's hand-picked consultant could determine that the study "failed," triggering a more extensive and costly "interconnection requirement study." That is, if the resident persisted in wishing to install a solar system.

The full copy of the letter goes... (customer info retracted)

Maui Electric Company, Ltd.
PO Box 398 • Kahului, HI 96733-6898
January 12, 2012

[CUSTOMER NAME]

Re: NEM project [Customer Name]

Dear [Customer Name]:

Regarding the 2.94 kW PV installations proposed at [address] in Wailuku, Maui Electric Company (MECO) has completed the supplemental review and determined that a more detailed study is required.

There are several potential issues with the interconnection of the proposed project on the MECO system. The reliability and safety issues identified include ground fault, overvoltage concerns, transformer sizing, harmonic current levels, harmonic voltage distortion, and circuit PV penetration.

Further review will be necessary to determine the outcome and/or mitigation options. We have contacted a consulting firm to obtain costs for completing this study. The minor study of the system (including consulting and MECO internal costs) is estimated to be completed at $3,000. Keep in mind that this study could determine that a full study is required, and could cost approximately $30,000.

Please contact me at (808) 872-3293 to discuss the details of this determination. If you would like to continue with these projects, please notify MECO within 15 business days of your intent to proceed. For the FIT project this may be done by posting correspondence to your “My FIT Docs” folder at www.hecofitio.com.

Thank you,

Justin Goza

Maui Electric Company, Ltd.