REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Scott M. Haberle, Fire Chief
Subject:
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Adopt Ordinance No. 4231 adding Section 17.48.050 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter to amend Subsection A of Section 690.13 of the California Electrical Code
Approved for introduction May 17, 2021 - Vote: 7-0
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Statement of Issue:
Ordinance No. 4231 approved for introduction on May 17, 2021, requires adoption.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Ordinance No. 4231, "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Adding Section 17.48.050 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter to Amend Subsection A of Section 690.13 of the California Electrical Code."
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the ordinance and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The adoption of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter 17.48.050 Section 690.13A requires the means to disconnect a photovoltaic and electrical energy storage system to be installed at a readily accessible location on the exterior of the building. This section also requires a visible, open, lockable AC disconnect to be located within three feet of the meter, photovoltaic disconnect, or as required by the Building or Fire Code Official.
Energy Storage systems, such as Tesla Powerwalls, are often installed in combination with photovoltaic systems. The California Fire Code and Electrical Code allow for energy storage systems' disconnect to be located directly on the storage system. In the event of a fire, this can be problematic as these battery systems are typically installed inside a building, which requires Huntington Beach Fire Department personnel to enter into a building to shut down any battery storage system that are back-feeding the electrical system.
The single disconnect will give Fire personnel the ability to de-energize the pr...
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