Interconnection process

Interconnection covers the technical and procedural steps needed before a PV system or other distributed generator can run in parallel with the utility grid. Every grid-connected PV system needs an interconnection agreement. This agreement sets the terms, conditions and equipment requirements, and it is usually handled by the local distribution utility. The procedures come from state and utility policy rather than from IEEE 1547. They include the application and schedule, customer agreements, fees, metering, billing and permitting and inspection. A small net-metered system may only need a one-page contract. A larger exporting system usually pays for an initial screening and then a more detailed power flow study, which can show that grid upgrades are needed at the applicant's cost. The detailed studies look at short circuit, stability and power flow. They identify the interconnection facilities and upgrades needed to fix overloads and voltage problems. The full review and approval can take 6 to 12 months, so contact the utility early to learn the application requirements, costs and schedule. Once the inspection, documentation and any witness test are satisfactory, the utility issues a written Authorization to Interconnect. This is similar to permission to operate.

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• sentence 3: support check: partial - Procedures based on state/utility policy, with application, schedule, agreements, permitting and inspection, and IEEE 1547 not covering procedures, are stated; fees, metering and billing are called contractual aspects, not procedures.
• sentence 7: support check: partial - The written Authorization to Interconnect after satisfactory inspection, documentation and witness test is stated, but the passage doesn't equate it to permission to operate.
• sentence 7: review: partial - The passage supports the written Authorization to Interconnect after a satisfactory inspection, documentation and witness test, but it never compares this to permission to operate. -->