workers on roof top looking at solar panels

Existing systems

Change of ownership

If you are buying a property with a generation system connected to our grid, contact your area representative and provide the required documentation:

Modifications

Anyone with a customer-owned generation agreement who plans to modify their existing system must fulfill the following requirements to ensure safety, reliability and compliance with utility regulations.

  1. Notification and approval
  2. Application review
    We will notify you within 10 working days if your application is complete or if corrections are needed.
    Track interconnection applications by work request number (updated monthly)
  3. Engineering review and distribution study determination
    • If an engineering review is needed, we will notify you within 10 working days with details of any associated charges.
    • In many cases, distribution study will be required. You will be notified of study and cost after engineering review is completed.
    • If engineering review is not needed, we will notify you of application approval. Proceed with installation.
  4. Installation
    • Modifications must comply with current utility standards, local electrical codes and state regulations.
    • Installation must be complete within an agreed-upon time frame. Notify us when construction is complete.
  5. Distribution system or service upgrades, if applicable
    • You will be notified of any distribution system upgrades required to accommodate proposed generating facility.
    • You are required to submit written agreement and payment prior to us completing upgrades.
  6. System testing
    • Submit applicable commissioning fees and provide photos of the installation to allow us to verify system testing.
    • We will perform witness commissioning tests, perform unintentional islanding tests or verify protective equipment settings at our expense, or waive testing in writing.
  7. Testing approval or rejection
    • We will notify you of approval or rejection.
    • If approved, you will receive a written statement of final acceptance and cost reconciliation.
    • If not approved, you may take corrective action, and request new system testing.
  8. Interconnection agreement
    • Sign the appropriate Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement and Surplus Energy Agreement to begin operation of your generating equipment.

Decommissioning

Anyone with a customer-owned generation agreement who plans to decommission their generation system must follow these steps to ensure a safe and compliant process.

  1. Notification and approval
    • Notify us when decommissioning the system.
      customergen@we-energies.com
    • Depending on system size and interconnection agreement, our approval may be required before disconnecting from the grid.
  2. Disconnection
    • System must be safely disconnected following our guidelines.
    • Generation meter/equipment may need to be removed or replaced. Billing adjustments will be made accordingly.
  3. Permitting and compliance
    • Check with local authorities to determine if any permits are required for system removal.
    • Decommissioning process must comply with local, state and federal regulations.
  4. Equipment removal and disposal
    • All generation interconnection equipment must be removed. This includes, but may not be limited to, service entrance conductors, generation meter, generation disconnect and/or isolation switch.
    • Customers are responsible for properly recycling or disposing of components in accordance with environmental regulations.
    • Examples of removal:
      • Parallel metering with multi-position metering: Remove service entrance conductors from solar meter to PV disconnect.
      • Parallel metering with separate metering equipment: Remove service entrance conductors from revenue metering equipment to parallel solar metering equipment, and remove the solar metering equipment and wiring to PV disconnect.
      • Series metering without backup capabilities: Remove series metering equipment and PV disconnect.
      • Series metering with backup capabilities: Remove series metering equipment, isolation switch/battery backup inverter, PV disconnect and all associated wiring.
  5. Final inspection and documentation
    For further guidance on decommissioning a system, contact our team.

Additional resources