Interconnection Standards

Utah requires the state's only investor-owned utility, Rocky Mountain Power (RMP), and most electric cooperatives* to offer net metering to customers who generate electricity using solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, hydrogen, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal energy, waste gas, or waste heat capture and recovery. The bill that established net metering also established some basic rules for interconnection. In April 2010, the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted final rules for interconnection. The rules described below took effect April 30, 2010.

Utah’s interconnection rules are based on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) interconnection standards for small generators, adopted in May

Last Update

Interconnection Standards

Note: Texas has an ongoing docket, Docket No. 54233, that is considering reforms to interconnection processes.

The Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) of 1999 included a provision that "a customer is entitled to have access… to on-site distributed generation," leading the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to subsequently adopt interconnection standards. 

System Capacity Requirements

Interconnection rules apply to electrical generating facilities (consisting of one or more on-site distributed-generation units) located at a customer's point of delivery, with a maximum capacity of 10 megawatts (MW) of capacity interconnected at any point in time at the point of common

Last Update

Interconnection Standards

Note: In March 2024, Oregon adopted new interconnection rules that address, among other changes, incorporation of energy storage with small generators. The rules move to use export capacity rather than nameplate capacity to evaluate system effects. Starting on June 1, 2024, all interconnecting systems will be required to use smart inverters in compliance with IEEE 1547-2018.

Oregon has three separate interconnection standards: one for net-metered systems; one for small generator facilities (non-net metered systems); and one for large generator facilities (non-net metered systems). Oregon has also established separate net metering requirements and interconnection standards for the state's primary investor-owned utilities

Last Update

Interconnection Standards

Ohio most recently revised its interconnection rules in 2014.

Ohio's interconnection standards provide for three levels of review for the interconnection of DG systems up to 20 megawatts (MW) in capacity. 

All applicants are eligible but not required to request pre-application report that provides site-specific information. Interested applicants can choose to obtain this pre-application report at a cost (request procedure, timeline and cost are detailed in 4901:1-22-04(B)(2)).

Level 1 simplified review procedure allows eligible inverter-based distributed generators to have their interconnection request reviewed within 15 business days and a standard interconnection agreement within 5 business days of determination. Key

Last Update

Interconnection Standards

New York was the second state to adopt uniform interconnection standards for distributed generation (DG) systems. The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) originally adopted Standard Interconnection Requirements (SIR) for systems up to 300 kilowatts (kW) in capacity in December 1999. The Standard Interconnection Requirements (SIR) have subsequently been amended several times since, necessitated by changing net metering rules and other legislations. Most recently, the rules were updated on January 2017 which require the developers to demonstrate that they have obtained site control while applying for interconnection. During April to December in 2016 more than 2,000 projects between 50kW and

Last Update

Interconnection Standards

New Jersey's interconnection standards apply statewide to all electric distribution utilities, but not to the small number of municipal utilities and electric cooperatives in the state. The current standards include the following basic provisions:

  • Systems powered by Class I renewable energy resources are eligible. This includes solar, wind, fuel cells powered by renewable fuels, geothermal technologies, wave or tidal action, landfill gas, anaerobic digester gas, and sustainable biomass.
  • There are three different levels of review procedures for applications, depending on size and certification. Level 1 applies to inverter-based systems with a capacity rating of 10 kilowatts (kW) or less. Level
Last Update

Interconnection Standards

In December 2003, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted interconnection standards for customers of NV Energy (formerly Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power) with on-site generation up to 20 megawatts (MW) in capacity. These standards are largely consistent with IEEE 1547 standards, California's interconnection rule (California Rule 21) and the model interconnection agreement developed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Significantly, the PUC determined that NV Energy may assess customer-generators for past fuel and purchased-power expenses in tariffs. NV Energy has incorporated the standards into their tariffs as Rule 15.

The interconnection standards approved by

Last Update

Interconnection Standards

In April 2007, Maryland enacted legislation (S.B. 595) requiring the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to form a small generator interconnection working group to develop interconnection standards and procedures that are "consistent with nationally adopted interconnection standards and procedures," and to revise the state's interconnection standards and procedures on or before November 1, 2007. Final rules were adopted in March 2008 and became effective June 9, 2008.

The new rules apply to interconnections of all types of distributed generation systems of less than 10 MW to the electric distribution system for all types of utilities -- investor-owned utilities

Last Update

Interconnection Guidelines

Missouri enacted legislation in June 2007 requiring all electric utilities—investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and electric cooperatives—to offer net metering to customers that generate electricity using wind energy, solar-thermal energy, hydroelectric energy, photovoltaics (PV), fuel cells using hydrogen produced by one of the aforementioned resources, and other sources of energy certified as renewable by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted administrative rules for investor-owned utilities that included simplified interconnection standards, and electric cooperatives and municipal utilities adopted their own rules, including an all-in-one document that includes a simple interconnection request, simple procedures, and a

Last Update

Interconnection Guidelines

The Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of 2001 allows residential and commercial electricity customers with photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind-energy systems or fuel cells to connect to the grid. The aggregate capacity of distributed generation systems is limited to 0.2% of a utility's system peak demand from the previous year.

Interconnected customers must comply with all relevant national standards, including those established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the National Electrical Safety Code (NEC). Furthermore, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) may adopt additional safety, power-quality and interconnection requirements. There is no provision

Last Update
Subscribe to