Solar power continues to suffer from the obstacle of high upfront costs. Although the electricity it generates is free, that is still not enough to make up for the hefty cost of purchasing and installing the equipment for many consumers.


One Southern California utility has invented a product that will chip away at those expenses. This summer, San Diego Gas & Electric made a proprietary device available to its customers. The Renewable Meter Adapter (RMA) simplifies the process of connecting renewable-generating equipment, such as solar panels, to the home and to the grid.


The device acts as an intermediary of sorts between the solar-power system and the customer’s existing service panels, saving homeowners a costly upgrade. Many existing service panels do not have the capacity to accommodate solar installations and must be replaced. The RMA helps the customer avoid this work, and, at about $1,500, it is considerably less expensive than a service panel replacement.


The device contains a 60-ampere (A) circuit breaker and a fused disconnect box that can accommodate up to an 11.5-­kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system. It fits on electric meter panels rated up to 200A and provides 48A of overcurrent protection.


As an added incentive, the utility has made installation very simple. It can be done in as little as an hour. Installers do not need to enter the service panel or otherwise affect the customer’s property, with things such as stucco repair, landscaping or painting common to service upgrades. SDG&E will also install, operate and maintain the RMA throughout the life of the device.


The utility reports that it already installed more than 200 RMAs in the first month after the product’s July release.