The Public Service Commission (PSC) announced in a recent press release that revisions made to the rules governing the interconnection of customer-owned distributed generation facilities are now in effect in Wisconsin. These changes modernize outdated administrative code and provide clarity and transparency to customers interested in owning distributed generation facilities and connecting to the electric grid.
Originally published in 2004, Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter PSC 119 created uniform statewide standards to promote the development of distributed generation facilities; address engineering, reliability, and safety concerns; and establish methods for determining interconnection charges.
In Wisconsin, electric utility customers can produce energy by installing distributed generation facilities, such as rooftop solar, on their property. In addition to providing on-site electricity to customers at their home or workplace, a distributed generation facility can also generate more electricity than the customer uses. When this occurs, customers with distributed generation facilities interconnected to the distribution grid can sell the excess electricity to their utility. Before a customer can connect distributed generation to the grid, they must submit an application to their utility and comply with the interconnection rules in PSC 119.
The updated rules will take into account the growth of distributed generation installations throughout the state, new technologies, and updated technical and certification standards. Utility customers can now expect enhanced grid stability and increased transparency in the interconnection application process because of these rule modifications.
The revised rule took effect on May 1. More information is available here.
