New solar power guidelines issued

A state board has issued long-awaited licensing guidelines covering workers who install solar panels — a move that will result in a greater involvement of licensed electricians in the installation process.

The guidelines, issued by the Board of Electricians and Plumbers last week, had been in the works since October following a request by a local electricians union for the board to clarify the way licensing rules apply to the installation of photovoltaic systems.

A series of public hearings on the matter drew extensive testimony, including input from Hawaii’s solar company executives, who said the guidelines will result in longer waits and higher costs for homeowners and businesses that want to install PV systems.

The guidelines, which are on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ website, spell out what parts of a PV installation should be done by a licensed journeyman or supervising electrician, and what parts can be done by other tradesmen.

The guidelines focus on what constitutes the "bonding and grounding" of a PV system, which the board says should be done by a licensed electrician. Bonding and grounding are safety measures that offer protection from electrical shock by creating a pathway for current to flow back to the earth.

Officials from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association said the guidelines will effectively increase the amount of work needed to be done by journeymen electricians with "C-13" licenses, and reduce what can be done by a solar energy systems contractor who carries a C-60 license.

"It will make installations more expensive because its costs more to hire a C-13 than a C-60. And it will certainly slow things down and make the licensed electricians less available for the whole construction industry, not just the solar industry," said Leslie Cole-Brooks, HSEA executive director.

While the HSEA agrees that PV systems must be properly grounded, the technology and installation process have evolved to the point where much of the grounding and bonding occurs when the panels are clipped together, requiring no handling of electrical wiring, Cole-Brooks said.

Electrical contractors and building inspectors from the city Department of Planning and Permitting testified during public hearings that they were concerned the rapid growth of PV installations in recent years was creating potential safety issues because some companies were using unqualified workers.

However, the industry’s strong safety rec­ord speaks for itself, Cole-Brooks said.

Through the end of 2013, there were 234 megawatts of solar-generating capacity installed on rooftops across the service areas of the HECO companies, which works out to roughly 1 million photovoltaic panels.

"A significant number of panels have been installed, and nobody could bring forward any singular incident of property damage or personal injury because of an installation," Cole-Brooks said. "Yet the board’s role and duty is to ensure that the public is protected, that electricians and plumbers are doing their job and the scope of their work is appropriate and proper."

A Building Industry Association of Hawaii executive also expressed concerns about a potential increase in PV installation costs.

"From the building industry’s perspective, our mission (is) to keep construction costs down for homeowners," said Gladys Marrone, BIA government relations director, adding that the safety concerns appear to be unjustified.

The guidelines represent the board’s "informal interpretation" of an information request made by an affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1186. The board will begin discussions at its next meeting, on June 17, to formally revise the rules, according to Charlene Tama­naha, the board’s executive officer.

Enforcement of the state’s professional and vocation licensing laws is handled by DCCA’s Regulated Industries Complaints Office. It is the City Department of Planning and Permitting’s responsibility to ensure that the PV installation work meets building and electrical codes.

Only licensed contractors can obtain a PV building permit. The DPP requires separate building and electrical inspections before a PV permit is closed to ensure the health and safety of the public.