interconnection guide for customer-owned generation taking responsibility As an individual, your efficient use of energy brings benefits such as lower bills, improved comfort levels in your home and a reduced personal impact on the environment. Acting together, our individual choices add up—for the benefit of our community, our environment and our energy future. That’s the power of working together. As your community energy company, we are committed to sharing our experience and energy expertise. You can always contact us for: • Answers to your energy questions. • Energy efficiency information and advice. • Help in evaluating energy-saving options. • Assistance in finding energy-efficient products. Interconnection Guide for Customer-Owned Generation This guide is designed to help customers connect their generation systems to the Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) distribution system. These systems can be solar photovoltaic, wind, fuel cells, Sterling engines or other technologies. Our goal is to interconnect customer generation in a timely manner that is safe for customers and employees. This guide provides a basic road map for the steps in the process along with other requirements. Customers and installers are responsible for following the rules of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and meeting MGE tariff requirements. For more information, call us at 252-5654 or visit our website at www.mge.com. General Interconnection Process Step 1 Starting the Interconnection Process Call us at 608-252-7117 or 608-252-5654 to inform us you wish to interconnect an electric generating system to the MGE distribution system. MGE will respond to your request within five working days and supply you with the Standard Application form necessary to complete your interconnection application. This form can also be found on our website at www.mge.com/home/rates/cust_gen.htm. Step 2 Completing the Interconnection Application Complete the form and mail it to: Laura McFadden Madison Gas and Electric Company Post Office Box 1231 Madison, WI 53701-1231 Continued on next page. General Interconnection Process Step 3 Application Review MGE will review your application and notify you whether the application is complete within 10 working days. In the event the application is incomplete, MGE will be happy to work with you to make the necessary corrections. Step 4 Determining if Engineering Review is Necessary Once your application is complete, MGE will need to determine whether an engineering review is necessary. If MGE decides an engineering review is necessary, MGE will notify you within 10 working days and state the cost of that review. If MGE decides an engineering review is not necessary, go to Step 10. Continued on next page. General Interconnection Process Step 5 Engineering Review is Needed Upon receiving written notification from the applicant to proceed and upon receipt of the applicable payment, MGE will complete the engineering review and notify you of the results. Step 6 Need for a Distribution System Study If an engineering review determines a distribution study is needed, MGE will include a written cost estimate in the review summary. Step 7 Completion of a Distribution System Study Upon receiving written notification from the applicant to proceed and upon receipt of the applicable payment, MGE will complete the distribution system study. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect your system will have on the distribution system once it is connected to our grid. MGE will provide you with the results of the study. Continued on next page. General Interconnection Process Step 8 Notification of Construction or Modification Costs MGE will notify you of the results of the distribution system study and the costs associated with any construction or modifications to our grid. You will need to provide MGE with written agreement to pay for work related to the interconnection modifications. Step 9 Installation of Customer Generation After you submit payment for the required modification to our distribution system, you will install your generating equipment within a timeframe mutually agreeable to you and MGE and notify us when the project is complete. After receiving payment for the necessary modifications, MGE will complete the work necessary to accommodate your system. Continued on next page. General Interconnection Process Step 10 System Testing When your system is complete, you are required to notify MGE so MGE may witness or verify system testing and provide us with test results. When MGE receives notification that the installation is complete, MGE will do one or more of the following: witness commissioning tests; perform an anti-islanding test or verify the protective equipment settings at our expense; or waive our right, in writing, to witness or verify the commissioning tests. Step 11 Testing Approval/Rejection MGE will notify you of our approval or rejection of the interconnection. If approved, MGE will provide a written statement of final acceptance and cost reconciliation. If not approved, you may take corrective action and request that MGE address your interconnection request again. Continued on next page. General Interconnection Process Step 12 Interconnection Agreement After the system is approved, both the applicant and MGE must sign the Standard Interconnection Agreement before parallel generation starts. The process described above summarizes the process described in more detail in PSC 119 (www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/psc/psc119.pdf ). listening. learning. MGE takes responsibility to provide information and education to serve our customers and stakeholders. We educate customers today to help inform their decision making. We educate tomorrow’s stakeholders so they can help plan our energy future. GS1402 06/26/2014 When you’re shopping for new appliances, always look for the ENERGY STAR® label. Homes with ENERGY STAR appliances can save more than $300 a year in operating costs, about 25% of average annual costs. Working together we can make a difference. Contact us for information about: • Heating/Air-conditioning • Windows/Doors • Insulating/Weatherizing • Appliances • Lighting • Water heating Get more home energy information at: • mge.com/home • Home Energy Line 608-252-7117 • 800-245-1125 Questions about billing? Call: • 608-252-7222 • 800-245-1125 your community energy company