The Challenge
When localized generation on an electrical distribution system, such as power from roof-top solar systems, exceeds local electricity demand this poses challenges to maintaining a safe and reliable grid. There are several areas of LPEA’s grid where localized generation is close to meeting or exceeding the local demand for electricity.
The good news is that in these areas LPEA members are providing the baseload power that is needed for themselves and their neighbors during the daytime. The unfortunate news is that this means there needs to be limitations on the interconnection of new solar systems in these areas.
What areas have limits on interconnections?
To see if you are in an affected area, consult the interactive map below. A description of the status associated with each color is provided below the map. You can type your address into the search bar and note the status the pop-up displays for your area.
*We will be updating the map on a regular basis. However, please note that there is a time-lag between when a solar interconnection application is submitted and when we review it. It is possible that there could be multiple interconnection applications submitted for the same area at approximately the same time, which could result in a situation where the status shown on the map at the time an interconnection application is submitted will not correlate with the actual status when the engineering review is completed. In these instances, solar interconnection applications will be evaluated based on our most up-to-date data regardless of what is or was displayed on the map when the interconnection application was submitted.
What do the different colors mean?
Approaching Supplemental Review
If you are in an area designated as “Approaching the Need for Supplemental Review” nothing has changed about the interconnection application and review process, or the ability to interconnect a grid-tied solar system and become net-metered. These areas are ‘business as usual’ for the moment. However, the amount of local generation is getting close to the threshold at which LPEA may need to perform a Supplemental Review on solar interconnection applications. See the next section for more information about the Supplemental Review process.
Supplemental Review
If you are in an area designated as “Supplemental Review”, this means LPEA may need to perform a more thorough analysis on your interconnection application to determine whether it can be approved.
When an interconnection application is submitted in an area designated as Supplemental Review, LPEA will first determine whether a Supplemental Review is required. If a Supplemental Review is NOT required, LPEA will process the application using the typical process and you will not receive any special communication from us. If a Supplemental Review IS required, you will be notified by LPEA and given the opportunity to schedule a Customer Options meeting to learn more about the Supplemental Review process.
The Supplemental Review process takes additional time and staff resources. There is a $300 fee for Supplemental Review which the applicant must pay prior to LPEA conducting the review.
Undergoing a Supplemental Review does not guarantee that your interconnection application will be approved and refunds are not provided if the application is denied.
If LPEA determines a Supplemental Review is necessary, but do not wish to pay for the Supplemental Review you can consider waiting to see if limitations change and sign up for the Solar Capacity Waitlist. Take note of the feeder listed in the pop-up window of the map when you click on your address. Then go to Solar Capacity Waitlist to learn more about how the waitlist works and to sign-up.
By choosing to wait there is a risk that your area will become reclassified as No Interconnection because other members will submit interconnection applications that are approved reach the limit for interconnections allowed in this area.
No Interconnection
If you are in an area designated as “No Interconnection”, this means that LPEA is not currently allowing for additional interconnections in your area unless the application goes through a System Impact Study. This type of study is likely cost prohibitive for most solar PV applications.
LPEA is in the process of conducting a system-wide hosting capacity analysis that is intended to provide information about how much additional distributed generation, if any, can be interconnected across the distribution grid without compromising the safety and reliability of the grid. This analysis should prevent the need to do a System Impact Study for residential and most commercial PV solar systems.
If you are in a No Interconnection area and are interested in installing solar at your property, we strongly recommend that you sign up for the Solar Capacity Waitlist. If the hosting capacity analysis shows that LPEA can allow for the interconnection of more distributed generation, that capacity will first be allocated based on the Solar Capacity Waitlist.
To sign up for the Solar Capacity Waitlist, first take note of the feeder listed in the pop-up window of the map when you click on your address. Then go to Solar Capacity Waitlist to learn more about how the waitlist works and sign up.
Solar isn’t a good option in my area, but I still want Renewable Energy
For people who are really interested in powering their home with renewable energy but are unfortunately in an area that cannot currently accommodate any more solar generation, we encourage you to look into LPEA’s Community Solar program.