Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Interconnection Standards

Program Overview


Category:
Regulatory Policy
Program Type:
Interconnection
Implementing Sector:
State
State:
Minnesota
Eligible Storage Technologies:
Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, Combined Heat & Power, Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels, Landfill Gas, Wind (Small), Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies, Microturbines
Website:
https://mn.gov/puc/energy/distributed-energy/interconnection/
Applicable Utilities:
All utilities
System Capacity Limit:
10 MW
Standard Agreement:
Yes
Insurance Requirements:
Vary by system size and/or type; levels established by PUC
External Disconnect Switch:
Required
Net Metering Required:
No
Applicable Sectors:
Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Installers/Contractors, Tribal Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Last Updated:
09/10/2019

Summary

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) adopted updated interconnection standards in June 2019. The standards are modeled after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Small Generator Interconnection Process and apply to systems up to 10 MW in capacity. 

The MPUC standards, like the FERC standards, use a three-tiered approach to simplify the interconnection process:

  • Inverter Process: Systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW) 
  • Fast Track Process: Systems larger than 20 kW that meet the eligibility criteria in the table below 
  • Study Process: Systems that fail to qualify for the Fast Track Process


Line Voltage Fast Track Eligible Regardless of Location Fast Track Eligibility on a Mainline and less than 2.5 Electrical Circuit Miles from Substation
Less than 5 kV Less than or equal to 500 kW Less than or equal to 500 kW 
Greater than or equal to 5 kV and less than 15 kV Less than or equal to 1 MW  Less than or equal to 2 MW 
Greater than or equal to 15 kV and less than 30 kV Less than or equal to 3 MW  Less than or equal to 4 MW 
Greater than or equal to 30 kV, up to 69 kV Less than or equal to 4 MW  Less than or equal to 5 MW 

For more information, contact your utility and review the interconnection information below:



Authorities

NameEnacted DateEffective DateExpired Date
Minn. Stat. § 216B.16112001
Minnesota Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Process and Agreement04/19/201906/17/2019
Minn. R. 7835.475010/12/2015