What is solar interconnection?

What is interconnection? Interconnection is the approval process by which utilities study a solar project to identify any potential impacts it will have on the grid.

Are interconnection standards consistent across states and utilities?

Although interconnection standards are not consistent across states and utilities, many states adopt engineering and safety requirements based on IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 standards. Additionally, state interconnection standards are increasingly modeled after FERC's Small Generator Interconnection Procedures.

What happens after an interconnection agreement is issued?

After the interconnection agreement is issued and the project is installed, there are some cases where the utility will send a representative to the site to perform a physical review (sometimes called witness testing) to ensure it was installed according to plan and is operating correctly.

What are FERC interconnection standards?

Standards vary by state. Additionally, in May 2005, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enacted interconnection standards for projects up to 20 MW for projects subject to FERC's jurisdiction. These are called the Small Generator Interconnection Procedures. Most states do not regulate cooperatives and municipal electric companies.

Can I add a generating facility to an existing interconnection request?

The final rule also allows interconnection customers to add a generating facility to an existing interconnection request, as long the total amount of generation capacity in the original interconnection request is unchanged, without automatically losing their queue position because of changes to the original request.

Do interconnection customers have to provide evidence of site control?

Under the final rule, interconnection customers must provide evidence of 90% site control at the time of submission of the interconnection request, and 100% site control at the time of execution of the facilities study agreement.