Frequently Asked Questions

The capabilities of Roanoke Energy Resources, Inc. (RERI) address the full range of potential O&M needs to maximize safety, minimize loss of generation and improve reliability, all in accordance with manufacturers’ requirements and best practices. We provide medium voltage troubleshooting and repairs. We provide operations, monitoring, and dispatch services. And we provide preventive maintenance services as follows:

Monthly Inspections

• Inverters
• Perimeter and Erosions
• Combiner Boxes
• Transformers (oil leakage and corrosion)
• Reporting and Recommendations
• Instrument Calibrations
• Storm Preparedness and Restoration

Annual Detailed Inspections

• Modules, Racks, Cabling, Combiner and Re-Combiner Boxes
• Inverter Maintenance
• Array Tracking Systems
• Transformer Maintenance
• Switchgear and Main Breaker
• Thermal Imaging (limited to components that are accessible safely under OSHA/NFPA70E and approved for IR analysis by supplier)
• Inventory
• Maintenance Reporting

RERI has about one dozen qualified electrical line personnel with significant experience in the areas of distribution, construction, operations and maintenance. Our technicians are cross-trained to support utility-scale photovoltaic operations and maintenance.

One major advantage we offer is our ability to provide services on demand. For example, it is a fairly common occurrence for unplanned disconnections from the electric grid to occur due to transmission disturbances or other issues. RERI is ideally positioned and capable of safely restoring connections between solar facilities and the electric grid in instances like these.

RERI provides timely service within a 100-mile radius of our headquarters in Ahoskie, N.C. We encourage the identification of our client’s critical restoration needs prior to our engagement in order to plan our resources and pricing accordingly.

Roanoke Cooperative and Roanoke Energy Resources, Inc. adhere to the highest safety standards in the industry. We consistently measure the following performance areas: Days Away Restricted Time (DART), Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR), and Experience Modifier Rating. Our three-year averages are as follows:

We voluntarily participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Rural Electric Safety Accreditation Program (RESAP) and the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Carolina STAR Program.

The following table shows our rates. There is a two-hour billing minimum; reimbursable transportation costs are not included in this pricing. Rates will change each January 1 and are subject to an annual escalation rate of 2.5 percent raised to the next whole dollar.

Fixed quarterly and annual inspection fees can be derived using the Field Technician's hourly rates as a basis. Fixed Operations Center fees can be derived using the Data Analyst's hourly rates as a basis. Fixed module washing fees can be derived using the General Labor hourly rates as a basis. All consumables or replacement parts required to maintain and repair the solar facility are considered reimbursable costs. A markup of 10 percent will be applied to all such costs and included in the reimbursable costs. The cost upon which the 10 percent markup is based is exclusive of any taxes or fees.

Roanoke Cooperative has invested in training our team of technicians to work in this area and is in it for the long haul as the industry moves aggressively in this direction. North Carolina is the nation’s No. 2 solar state with more than 3,000 megawatts of installed solar electric capacity. We are prepared to service our own systems and those of our clients. We have been in business for 80 years providing dependable electric service to our member-owners; this service is a logical extension of our core business.

We provide 24 hours a-day, 365 days a year, service. While Roanoke Cooperative’s primary focus during and after severe weather events is a restoration of service to our facilities, we are sensitive to the critical needs of our clients and will make provisions to secure their services as soon as possible. We encourage the identification of our client’s critical restoration needs prior to our engagement. As Hurricane Florence approached North Carolina, we dispatched technicians to stow a photovoltaics tracking array and, after the storm left our service territory, technicians re-energized the array and restored it to automatic mode.

As a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, we have access to research and training to stay abreast of trends and technology advances. These relationships also provide access to field support and technical support to troubleshoot equipment issues.

Our technicians perform maintenance as required by a client-provided schedule.

Most Roanoke Energy Resources, Inc. technicians have been trained in the “Solar PV Training Curriculum” developed by The Center for Energy Education. This program encompasses classroom and field training. Additional skills of our Highly Skilled Electrical Linemen include the following:

• Basic electrical skills, interests, abilities, and focusing on line construction
• Distribution system construction and maintenance on both secondary and primary voltages on energized lines under the direction of the crew leader
• Skills necessary to use line technician equipment (i.e., bucket trucks, digger derrick trucks, excavators, trenchers, power-operated equipment, and more)
• Skills and knowledge to perform all types of distribution line construction, operations, and maintenance without supervision

We began our solar services in May 2015 by providing services to Duke Energy Renewables, which is a business line of Duke Energy that owns and operates about 500 megawatts of photovoltaic solar power projects at more than 50 solar plants across the country.

Yes, we have completed a significant amount of solar or medium voltage work for Duke Energy Renewables and BayWa

Yes. Our technicians are trained to work up to 35kv and do so on a regular basis.

Our technicians are very familiar with Array tracking systems and experienced in troubleshooting Array Technologies (ATI) systems.

We use proper equipment for analysis that provides information to determine whether replacement or rebooting is necessary. Computer analysis verifies the restoration of service.

We have the capability of ordering replacement materials, under warranty or not, through previously acquired vendor relationships.

We have access to all heavy equipment that may be needed.