SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1 – RECEIVE CONFIRMATION OF ELECTRIC SERVICE FROM BWP
The installer or contractor must contact BWP Electrical Engineering to schedule an onsite visit to determine the Solar Performance Meter location and receive a Confirmation of Electric Service PRIOR to obtaining a building and electrical permit for the solar photovoltaic system from the City of Burbank Community Development Department (CDD), Building Division. For Residential Services, call BWP at 818-238-3647 and for Commercial Services, call BWP at 818-238-3565. (Handouts will include a sample single line diagram, labeling examples, etc.)
All meter installations must conform to the National Electric Code, local building codes, Burbank Water and Power Rules and Regulations, and Electric Utility Service Equipment Committee requirements. In addition, all service equipment must be UL approved.
For all installations the customer/contractor must supply the appropriate meter socket and panel. Sockets without rings are not acceptable. The meter socket shall be wired between the output of the inverter and the service entrance revenue meter. The location of the performance meter and AC disconnect shall be within 10 (ten) feet and line-of-site from the revenue meter location.
STEP 2 – BURBANK FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN CHECK
You must have two sets of solar plans reviewed and stamped by the Burbank Fire Department. The plan check desk is located inside the Police/Fire building at 311 E. Orange Grove. Most installations can be checked at the counter while you wait. Hours are 7:30 to 9:00 AM and 1 to 4 PM, Tuesday through Thursday. Phone number is 818-238-3473. You can view and download the Fire Department Photovoltaic Installation Guidelines at: http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/index.aspx?page=999
STEP 3 – BURBANK BUILDING DIVISION PLAN CHECK AND PERMIT APPLICATION
You must take the two sets of plans stamped by the Fire Department to the CDD Building Division permit counter along with the Confirmation of Electric Service. The counter is located on the first floor of the Community Services Building at the corner of Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue in downtown Burbank. The address is 150 N. Third Street. Permit counter hours are 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. For more information on how to obtain a permit, please visit Burbank’s Community Development Department’s website http://www.burbankusa.com/building/ or call 818-238-5220.
STEP 4 –COMPLETE AND MAIL THE INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING AGREEMENT TO THE BWP SOLAR SUPPORT MANAGER
Download and complete two (2) signed original copies of the Interconnection and Net Metering Agreement (Click to download). Mail the completed document to:
Burbank Water and Power
Attention: Solar Support Manager
164 W. Magnolia Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91502
STEP 5 –SOLAR SYSTEM INSTALLATION
After the prior steps have been completed the solar installer may begin work. It is important to keep the solar PV system disconnected until Step 8 is complete as solar power output will not register properly until the Solar Net Meter is installed. Brief periods of interconnection for testing are acceptable, but longer periods of operation may result in the customer being billed incorrectly.
STEP 6 –FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BUILDING PERMIT INSPECTION
After completion of the solar PV installation, the installer will call for inspection, first by the Burbank Fire Department and then by the Building Division. The inspection card should remain on the construction site until being signed off by both City Departments.
STEP 7 –SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC EQUIPMENT LABELING REQUIREMENTS
FOLLOWING BWP’s SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC LABELING REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY IS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN A NET METER IN STEP 8. For labeling questions please call BWP’s Test Shop at 818-238-3585.
All National Electric Code, BWP, and Fire Department required labeling will be made of sunlight and weather-resistant material. Labeling on disconnects, inverters and service panels will be made of an engraved, plastic material and be permanently attached to its respective device. All labeling shall be red background with white lettering. Unless otherwise specified, the labeling should be 3/8” high, all capital letters, Ariel or similar font, non-bold. All labeling shall be attached directly to those pieces of equipment. Labeling for circuit breakers shall be placed directly next to the circuit breaker. See the Burbank Fire Department Photovoltaic Installation Guidelines (Step 2) for labeling requirements on conduits, raceways, enclosures, cable assemblies, and junction boxes.
The following labels are required where indicated:
- AC disconnects shall be labeled: “AC PHOTOVOLTAIC DISCONNECT”.
- DC disconnects shall be labeled: “DC PHOTOVOLTAIC DISCONNECT”.
- Where DC disconnects are not located near the electrical service, a label stating:
“DC DISCONNECT IS LOCATED _________” and/or post a diagram showing and describing the location of the DC disconnect near the service entrance as required by BWP or City inspectors. - On the service entrance, a label stating:
“PV SYSTEM WARNING – ELECTRIC SHOCK. THIS EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED FROM MORE THAN ONE SOURCE. TERMINALS MAY BE ENERGIZED IN OPEN POSITION”. - At the service entrance and the inverter, if not located at the same location, a label that provides the location and description of the service disconnecting means and the photovoltaic system disconnecting means.
- The circuit breaker(s) in the service entrance panel that connects to the solar photovoltaic system shall be labeled “Photovoltaic System” (1/4” high lettering acceptable for small circuit breakers).
All AC and DC disconnects shall be lockable in the open position. Disconnects must be installed no more than ten (10) feet from the utility’s revenue meter, or at the discretion of the utility.
STEP 8 –SOLAR EQUIPMENT SAFTEY TEST AND NET METER INSTALLATION
After the prior steps are complete the Burbank Building and Safety office will notify BWP Engineering when the permit is completed. Provided all paperwork is submitted, the Solar Support Manager will release the meter service orders to BWP meter technicians. These orders instruct the BWP Test Shop technicians to do the following:
- Install the BWP provided performance meter in the socket provided by the installer.
- Close all disconnects and wait for the inverter to indicate there is solar generation.
- Perform an “islanding test” to assure that the system safely shuts down without utility power. This procedure will require a brief power interruption at the site.
- Replace the existing revenue meter with a BWP provided solar net meter.
These procedures will require a brief power interruption at the site.
Any substandard electrical or labeling work found during BWP’s Test Shop inspection will need to be corrected prior to net meter installation. Solar PV systems greater than 30 kW CEC AC in size, will be required to compensate all BWP metering equipment costs. Electric Utility Service Equipment Requirements Committee (EUSERC) metering cabinet requirements and meter cost estimates can be obtained by calling the BWP Test Shop at 818-238-3585. Solar PV systems over 500 kW require a custom Interconnection Agreement and will require a means of communicating solar PV generation status to BWP’s Energy Control Center.
STEP 9 –INTERCONNECTION WITH BWP GRID
Successful completion of the previous steps will result in the solar PV system being approved to operate and be “interconnected” with the BWP grid. One copy of the completely executed Solar Net Metering and Interconnection Agreement will be provided to the customer by mail along with an AB920 election form.
QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions about the BWP Interconnection Agreement or other parts of these instructions please read the supporting solar PV documents on the BWP website. These include the Guidelines and FAQs.
The preferred method of contacting the Solar Support program manager is by email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 818-238-3653. Questions regarding the steps of this document with embedded phone numbers should be addressed to the various departments and divisions of the City of Burbank at the phone numbers indicated.