I regularly watch Bill Maher on HBO and his rants about not being able to get his solar project on line are becoming tedious.
I have searched for a reason he cannot get his project approved and I come up empty - he is not giving us a good reason, or any reason, for his project's failure to come on line.
- Has he violated some provision of his property deed that prohibits outbuildings on his property (he is installing the solar equipment in a shed on his property)?
- Is the local planning department holding up his project because his solar project violates a local zoning ordinance?
- Does his project violate a building code?
- Did his contractor install solar equipment not compatible with his homes existing wiring and the cost to rewire his home exorbitant?
- Is Southern California Edison refusing to allow access to its electrical distribution grid?
Mr. Maher - why can you not get your solar project approved and up and running? Please explain the reason?
About 5 years ago I installed 7.92kW (33 panels) on my San Jose, CA rooftop. It took me, from design to plug into PG&E's distribution grid, about 8 weeks.
I do have an advantage Mr. Maher doesn't have. I was a licensed California General Building Contractor since 1978 and I was able to subcontract the purchase and installation of the solar system saving about $15,000. But, any competent solar contractor could have accomplished what I did in the same time frame - just for more money.
So, Mr. Maher - what is the reason is has taken over 1,100 days for you to get you solar system approved for connection the grid?