Connecting Large Energy Systems

Net Metering: Available to all members and all residential and commercial rate classes. 

• Your system can produce up to 200% of your site's annual electricity use. 
• Extra energy rolls forward month-to-month at your applicable rate. Any balance left at the end of the April-March year is paid at the wholesale energy rate. 
• Your system connects behind your meter, so it offsets your own use. 

Use Energy On-Site: A non-export system that never sends power to the grid. 

Sell Your Energy: Talk with United Power about other facility power purchase options. 

Tip:  A system sized to your annual usage and connected behind your meter usually fits your existing electric service. That often keeps interconnection costs down.

Every project must be safe, reliable, and cost-appropriate. The safety of the public and our line crews always comes first. 

• Certified equipment. Tested and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. 
• Code compliance. Including the National Electrical Code plus United Power's technical standards. 
• Visible lockable disconnect switch. Located between the main service panel and the production meter so our crews can safely isolate your system. 
• Additional needs for larger systems. More protection, monitoring, or power-quality equipment may be necessary depending on system size. United Power will identify these needs during review. 

Installers handle most of these details. Full specifications are available in the Technical Requirements and Interconnection Standards. 

Level 2 -- Fast Track (>25 kW, up to 5 MW)

1. Request a pre-application report. Get an early look at grid condition at your site. This step is optional.
2. Submit your application and fee. United Power will confirm the cooperative received your application within three business days. 
3. Completeness review. United Power will let you know if anything is missing within 10 business days. You will have 10 business days to send missing documentation. 
4. Technical screening. United Power will send screening results within 15 business days. 
5. Sign your Interconnection Agreement. If your project passes the technical screening, the Interconnection Agreement will be sent within 5 business days. If the screening is failed, United Power will meet with you to review options. 
6. Install and test. Provide the cooperative at least five business days notice before commissioning tests. 
7. Permission to operate. You will receive your approval letter within three business days after testing. Then you can activate your system. 

Level 3 -- Study (>5 MW, up to 10 MW)

After your application is complete, United Power will hold a scoping meeting and agree on the engineering studies your project needs. The cooperative will provide a study agreement with a good-faith cost estimate. Remaining steps are similar to level 2 interconnections.