Customer-owned generation

Adding a wind turbine, solar photovoltaic system, microturbine or fuel cell to your home or business and to the We Energies distribution system is called interconnection. This process emphasizes safe installation.

If you install generation, you and your installer are responsible for following the interconnection rules of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) and for meeting all We Energies tariff requirements.

If you connect to our distribution system with a generation facility with a capacity of 15 megawatts (MW) or less, you must comply with Wisconsin Administrative Code Rules, Chapter PSC 119 (PSC 119) (PDF k).

Your responsibilities

You and your installer are responsible for coordination of design, installation, operation and maintenance of any generation system you install, and for conforming with the requirements of our tariffs and rules, and applicable governmental laws and regulations (local, state and federal). These requirements are designed to protect distribution system facilities; avoid electrical interference problems; ensure the safety of customers, electric provider employees and the general public; and maintain overall system reliability.

You are required by law to maintain liability insurance (equal to or greater than the amounts indicated in PSC 119) or to prove financial responsibility by another means agreeable to us. You are required to notify us if a material modification is made to your generation facility at any time during or after the installation process. A material modification is any modification that changes the maximum electrical output of your facility or changes the interconnection equipment, including:

  • Changing from certified to non-certified devices.
  • Replacing a component with a component of different functionality or UL listing.

You also are responsible for the proper installation, operation and maintenance of the specified protective devices. Finally, you shall obtain, at your expense, any and all authorizations, permits and licenses required for the construction and operation of your generating facilities.

Our responsibilities

We are responsible for promptly carrying out the steps listed below and for meeting all required steps and timelines to process your interconnection application. We have designated a primary contact to assist you with any questions or information you need to complete your interconnection.

Steps

The steps below are required by state law to interconnect to our distribution system. Links to actual state law and associated guidelines are included at the end of this page.

Step 1

Notification

Your role: Call 800-714-7777 ext. 7700 to inform us that you want to interconnect an electric generating system to our distribution system. Our role: We respond to your request within 5 working days and provide all materials necessary to complete your interconnection application. All documents, forms and applications also are included in the Documents section on this page.

Step 2

Interconnection application

Your role: Complete appropriate distributed generation form and submit it via one of following:

Email: co-non-design-central@we-energies.com

Mail: We Energies Central Group, PO Box 2046, Milwaukee, WI 53201

Fax: 262-574-6401 or 800-632-1460

Step 3

Application review

Our role: Within 10 working days of receiving a new or revised application, we notify you whether the application is complete. If the application is incomplete, you resubmit it with the needed corrections. We also will send you the appropriate standard interconnection agreement and surplus energy agreement, if applicable. Both must be signed by you and by us prior to commencing parallel generation.

Step 4

Engineering review determination

Our role: When your application is complete, we determine whether an engineering review is needed. If an engineering review is necessary, we notify you within 10 working days and state the cost we will charge you for that review.

Note: If you are not notified about a review in 10 days, go to step 10.

Step 5

Engineering review

Our role: After you notify us in writing to proceed and submit applicable payment, we will complete the engineering review and notify you of the results.

Step 6

Distribution system study determination

Our role: If the engineering review determines that a distribution system study is necessary, we will include a written cost estimate in the review summary.

Step 7

Completion of distribution system study

Our role: After you send us written notification to proceed and pay the applicable fee, we conduct the distribution system study. This study assesses the impact your generating system will have once connected to our grid. We provide you with the study results.

Step 8

Notification of construction or modification costs

Our role: We notify you of distribution system study results and costs associated with any construction or modifications to our grid.

Your role: You provide a written agreement to pay for work related to the interconnection modifications.

Step 9

Installation of customer generation

Your role: You submit payment for required upgrade of our distribution system. You install your generating equipment within a timeframe that is mutually agreed upon. You notify us when project construction is complete.

Our role: After we receive payment, we perform all work needed to upgrade our distribution system to accommodate your generating equipment.

Step 10

System testing

Your role: You are required to notify us of the completed installation and give us opportunity to witness or verify system testing. You also are required to provide us with any test results.

Our role: After we receive notification that an installation is complete, we do one (or more) of the following:

  • Witness commissioning tests.
  • Perform an anti-islanding test or verify protective equipment settings at our expense.
Or
  • Waive our right, in writing, to witness or verify commissioning tests.

Step 11

Testing approval/rejection

Our role: We notify you of our approval or rejection of the interconnection.

If approved, we provide a written statement of final acceptance and cost reconciliation. If we do not approve the interconnection, you may take corrective action and ask that we re-examine your interconnection request.

Step 12

Interconnection agreement

Your role: After you receive an interconnection approval notice, the appropriate standard interconnection agreement must be signed by you and us before parallel operation commences. Complete and submit the appropriate document to the energy service consultant.

If you intend to sell energy to us, you also must execute a surplus energy agreement. This agreement varies by size and type of generation, so contact the energy service consultant to obtain the appropriate agreement form. When the standard interconnection agreement and surplus energy agreement forms are completed and signed by you and us, and all other requirements are met, you may begin operation of your generating equipment.

Documents


Wind, solar and biogas energy options for Wisconsin customers

 

Presentation

Customer-owned generation installation seminar (PDF 2.4mb)