Learn
Connecting Small PV Systems to Wisconsin's Utility Grid [1]
What You Must Do For The Utility
Working With Utility Representatives
Common Interconnection Issues
Information Resources
Photo 1 A solar roof installation on a retail building
in Colorado.
What the Utility Must Do For You
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin requires that all Wisconsin's
public utilities[2]:
- Maintain long-term agreements for interconnection of small customer-owned distributed generation (DG) that operates in parallel with the distribution grid[3].
- Allow the net energy billing, and maintain rate sheets for customer-sited renewable energy- fueled DG with a nameplate capacity of 20 kW or less.
- Designate a single contact person that deals with DG systems.
- Can not require liability insurance levels greater than $300,000 for small DG systems.
- Can not required that DG owners include them as a co-insured on small DG.
- May require a certificate of insurance from the company providing the liability insurance.
Wisconsin's rural electric cooperatives are not bound by the regulations of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Rural Electric Cooperatives are strongly encouraged to follow the PSCW's rules for interconnecting small DG systems.
By February 1, 2004, new Interconnection Rules (PSC 119) will be in place (they will be available from the PSCW in March 2004). These rules will codify what is described here.
Next page»[1] Small PV systems are defined as having nameplate capacity of 20 kW peak or less.
[2] This includes Wisconsin Public Service, Alliant, We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, Xcel and all of Wisconsin's Municipal utilities.
[3] For your net energy billing rate, contact your utility.
Photo Credits
Photo 1. Photograph by Paul Tocellini
copyright © 2000-2003 WisconSUN
