The V.I. Water and Power Authority seems to be against solar energy, residents claimed at an Island Green Building Association meeting last week.
“This isn’t working,” said Bill Osborne. “This has to change. The perception is that you are intentionally stealing people’s money.”
By not making net metering readily available and actually charging customers for the solar power they produce, WAPA appears to be in violation of Act 7075, the territory’s Renewable and Alternative Energy Act, residents claimed at a Thursday night, November 29, IGBA meeting.
About 25 people came out for the IGBA meeting at The Marketplace last week which also drew Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ director of permits Phillip Smith and three WAPA employees.
IGBA hosted the meeting in response to numerous residents’ complaints about the lengthy process of getting photovoltaic systems approved by WAPA and the necessary net meters installed, members explained.
Governor John deJongh signed Act 7075 in 2009 with the goal of having the territory realize 60 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2025. Portions of the Act call for government agencies to encourage renewable energies and make their use readily available.
Residents at last week’s meeting, however, complained about the length of time it takes to get a photovoltaic system approved by WAPA, and — while waiting months for the process — being charged for the power they are putting back into the grid.
“People go out and spend a lot of money to put these systems in with the understanding that they will save money in the future,” said Raf Muilenburg. “But they end up getting charged for the power they are making. That seems to violate the Act.”
“Beyond the violation of the Act, you are heavily discouraging solar energy,” Muilenburg said.
Photovoltaic systems must be approved by both DPNR and WAPA, which each require lengthy paperwork applications. Often an electrician will fill out the necessary paperwork and install the system while awaiting final approval from WAPA, which can take many months.
In the meantime, WAPA officials often replace the resident’s current meter with a digital meter that actually charges the resident for the power they are producing. And the resident is never informed of the new meter until they get an inflated WAPA bill.
When WAPA installed a new meter at IGBA member and local architect Bill Willigerod’s house, he assumed his paperwork had finally been approved by the utility, he explained.
Instead, he was being charged for the power being produced by his new photovoltaic system, Willigerod explained.
“We submitted all the paperwork in May and then didn’t hear anything,” said Willigerod. “I was on analog at the time. We had an inspection in June and then I didn’t hear anything for four months.”
“In October, my wife told me that WAPA had been at the house and put a new meter in,” he said. “But it wasn’t the net meter we were waiting for. I didn’t know I was being charged for the power I was producing until we had an IGBA meeting at my house and an electrician looked at the new meter and told me.”
Willigerod tried to comply with all rules and regulations and was frustrated to find out that indeed he was being charged for the power he was producing and that there were additional forms be needed to submit, the architect explained.
“I had filled out everything that you said I needed to fill out back in May,” said Willigerod. “I had already kicked the ball and then you moved the goal posts. It’s frustrating.”
When the same thing happened at the Gifft Hill School, officials received an $8,000 WAPA bill, explained GHS board member Miles Stair.
“We had 30 panels installed and filled out all of the paperwork and we just got an $8,000 bill,” said Stair. “WAPA put in the wrong meter and was charging us for the power we were producing. It even appeared to be the right meter, how are we supposed to know.”
The perception is that WAPA is punishing people for their photovoltaic systems, explained Dan Boyd.
“I was told by WAPA that they are penalizing people because they weren’t allowed to turn on the system,” said Boyd. “There is nothing that says you aren’t allowed to put your system on. This is totally wrong.”
“It seems like they are trying to punish you for not having your paperwork approved, which you submitted three months ago,” said Richard Burks.
The new installations are being conducted by a WAPA division which was not represented at last week’s meeting, WAPA’s St. Croix design and construction manager Melton Smith explained.
Many customers on St. Croix have also complained about the lengthy net metering approval process, Smith added.
“We understand the frustrations,” said Smith. “We have tried to speed it up on St. Croix and we can try to do that here.”
On DPNR’s end, the department has only one inspector for both St. Thomas and St. John, explained Smith.
“I have only one qualified inspector for all of St. Thomas and St. John,” said Smith. “Approach your legislators to increase the funding. The situation can be addressed that way.”
Despite appearances to contrary, WAPA does support solar energy, explained the utility’s system planning manager Allyson Gregory.
“WAPA is on board with renewable energy and net metering,” said Gregory. “We want to work with you to streamline the process.”
“For more information about Act 7505, go to www.igbavi.org/netmetering, which will provide copies of information distributed at the meeting.”
