Last DSIRE Review: 11/14/2012
Program Overview:
| State: |
Minnesota |
| Incentive Type: |
Interconnection |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines, Other Distributed Generation Technologies |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government |
| 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 |
| Web Site: |
http://mn.gov/commerce/energy/topics/clean-energy/distributed-gen...
|
Authority 1:
Date Enacted:
|
Minn. Stat. ยง 216B.1611
2001
|
Authority 2:
Date Enacted:
Date Effective:
|
Minnesota PUC Order, Docket No. E-999/CI-01-1023
09/28/2004
09/28/2004
|
Authority 3:
Date Enacted:
Date Effective:
|
Minn. R. 7835.4800 et seq.
2000
2000
|
Summary:
Minnesota's net-metering law, enacted in 1983, applies to all investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives. Qualifying facilities of less than 40 kilowatts (kW) are eligible for net metering; there is no statewide capacity limit for net metering. However, uniform interconnection regulations were not implemented when net metering was established.
In response to state legislation enacted in 2001, in September 2004 the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted an order establishing generic standards for utility tariffs for interconnection and the operation of distributed-generation facilities up to 10 megawatts (MW) in capacity. The PUC standards contain technical requirements related to engineering studies, mandatory minimum insurance requirements for different sized systems, equipment certification definitions, a dispute resolution process, and standard application fees. The PUC has approved compliance tariffs filed by the state's investor-owned utilities. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives were required to adopt a tariff that addresses the issues included in the PUC's order.
All utilities must report annually on the number of interconnected systems. The PUC has developed streamlined uniform interconnection applications and a process that addresses safety, economics and reliability issues.
In 2011, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources started a review process of all distributed generation procedures, conducting stakeholder meetings and workshops and accepting comments. Details can be found on the program web site listed above. |
