Have you felt, there are rules, they are inconsistently applied or enforced?
Have you felt that your hands are tied, you are requested to follow rules, you obey, and yet no one adheres to the rules?
Have you felt, there are rules, they are inconsistently applied or enforced?
Have you felt that your hands are tied, you are requested to follow rules, you obey, and yet no one adheres to the rules?
Have you felt that there are no consistent rules, a computer program becomes the appellant court, and requesting the machine (computer) will not result in responses?
I have been practicing for years now and lecturing in easing the pain of design, and construction. There are many issues at hand the Southern California Edison holds near the center of the core, and any discussion or debates are technically non-existence. SCE personnel, recite their obligations to the Electrical Service Requirement guide and their obedience to the Public Utility Commission. Therefore, they leave no room for dialogue or discussion that one may have with the local building officials.
With the advent and exponential growth of the electronics, all businesses, from dentist to a high tech retail store to a basic coffee shop, the electrical needs have quadrupled from 1950’s. Yet the shopping centers are the same as original shall with original switchgear.
First Concern: This will be my 30th years of engineering practice after ten years of academic life. Within this 40 year span, pragmatism has been foundation of the thinking process. If a device or a law has no pragmatic component, it must not exist. In other words, if one component nearly stops the natural migration of stores or offices from one place to another (called “tenant improvement”), then we must halt and review such laws.
The Public Utility Commission and profits of the utility companies possibly was the reasoning for existence of these laws. A shopping center or office complex with individual meters are continuously evolving. Either they are expanding due to growth or reducing due to economic or efficiency. The original shell engineer attempts to create a very flexible engineering design for future tenants with many street addresses and future meter sockets. Each square feet of space is translated into a rentable space, therefore the electrical rooms are designed with highest efficiency. It is then nearly impossible to allocate additional room for additional meters, switchgears, years after original build-out. Generally speaking, each storefront bay (a uniquely designed to be isolated ~1500-2000 sqft) receives 200 amps of 208 v, 3 phase power.
There are many examples and scenarios. What happens if a store occupies two or three stores? In nearly 30 years, adherence to the original shell engineers design was the answer. Unfortunately, from time to time, there are planners that will not permit and require one single meter for one tenant. They recite tariff laws and One meter- one tenant.
This where if a law is not pragmatic, it must not exist. In 29.7 years of practice, I have confronted this issue and fortunately, there were many pragmatic planners and plan checkers that realize the history and facts. What happens, if you are confronted with individuals that simply will not listen? This baffling question must be responded and to be addressed to all landlords across the SCE Land.
Growth of Solar Panel Phenomenon:
As everyone is aware, mandatory preparation to install solar panels, even if not installed. The interaction with Southern California Edison is through a computer program. The software clearly identifies the limits of your installation to the “nameplates” of the equipment. Ironically, the inverter nameplate limits the size of the system. Currently, system is only looking at the size of the total watts generated panels on the DC side versus the inverter controls the 10,000 watts on the AC side. This issue at hand is the Southern California Edison’s means of communication is limited, no scientific discussion can take place. The 800 number is packed with individuals that cannot or will not communicate on technical levels, and their web side questions and answers are simply boiler plate responses with no dialogue. Utility companies require to setup a “Plan Check” counter with real people.
This is where I need the assistance of the readers. Simply put: “Education, Education, and Education.”
In case of Edison, my theme is altered to: “Dialogue, Dialogue, and Dialogue”
All of the above can be resolved in educating the players in the industry. Create a viable plan check section at Southern California Edison. Currently, you can only go through the office of the planners for an area. Communication with the Supervisors are not fruitful, since the supervisory is a rotating position among the planners, and seldom, they overturn, their future bosses’ position. SCE needs one central command to review and may be provide universal resolutions- IN PERSON, Not Robots.
Saum Nour
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