Direct Mail Postcard to Me “Or Current Resident” Raises the Question: What is the ClearEdge5™? 1

“Your neighbor just purchased a ClearEdge5™ Fuel Cell Power System,” said the presorted postcard, addressed to me “OR CURRENT RESIDENT.” I wondered what this device was.

The website shows it is a refrigerator-sized device that converts natural gas to electrical energy.

I followed up with an email query to Glendale Water and Power, and Public Benefits Coordinator Atineh Haroutounian explained how the utility would deal with such a device installed on a Glendale property:

“GWP does not have any contacts or agreements with vendors or cooperative programs for the installation of Fuel Cell Systems. GWP’s policy is that our customers are allowed to put a fuel cell on their property, but customers have to go through an extensive permit process including signing an interconnection agreement with the utility. An interconnection agreement states that any excess power the customer generates they have to sell back to GWP. Also customers would have to have their electrical rate changed to a Time of Use rate, which means they would pay higher rates during the peak period of the day (8am – 9pm). GWP will balance their bills annually, at the end of the year, which means if the customer generates more power than they use, then GWP would give them a credit for the excess power generated at the current fuel adjustment rate.”

Now we know.