Hey fellow Solar DIYers! So I've been stuck in a frustrating back-and-forth with my utility company, NIPSCO, trying to get approval for my residential solar system. I've submitted my application and made several corrections based on their feedback, but it's taking ages. Here's a quick timeline of what's happened since I submitted the application:
- June 2nd: Sent in the initial application.
- June 5th: They got back to me quickly to correct the AC power output from 16kW to 5kW, which I fixed immediately.
- June 25th: They rejected it again, saying it should actually be 12kW because of the inverter rating. Resubmitted that same day.
- July 9th: Found out I may need to upgrade my transformer to 15kVA or downgrade my inverter. I said I could do either and even mentioned a letter of attestation confirming my plan with my batteries.
- August 1st: Asked for an update, and learned that the person handling my application had left the company.
- August 8th: Asked again, but there's still no update.
It's been over two months, and I'm starting to wonder if I should push harder or if this is normal. Any advice from those who've been through this process? Also, can I challenge the transformer upgrade requirement since my actual energy output will be quite low? Thanks for the help!
3 Answers
I've been in a similar situation, and it took me until this week to finally get the 'okay' for construction after starting back in April. It's tough, but hang in there! Sometimes it just takes longer, and the process can feel really slow.
I totally get your frustration. I faced a similar situation and it dragged on for 8 months! The key for me was bringing in someone with insider knowledge of the utility. I had my system ready to go, and having an ex-employee on my side helped me get the green light in just two weeks. If you can connect with someone who knows the ins and outs of NIPSCO, it might speed things up for you!
It seems like utilities are just following strict protocols. Sometimes they might not check all the details in one go; if they find a mistake, they'll just focus on that. My installer had a lot of issues with submissions too, which made the process longer than necessary. Patience is key, but it sounds like you're doing everything right! Just make sure each submission is as perfect as possible to avoid future delays.
Agh. Sounds like I gotta find someone who knows someone.