How does the solar capacity waitlist work? 

LPEA members who are interested in installing solar but who live in an area that currently has restrictions on the interconnection of exporting systems can sign up to be notified if the ability to interconnect an exporting solar PV system becomes available. 

There are two primary reasons that LPEA could be able to allow more interconnections:  

  1. LPEA is actively studying the grid safety and reliability challenges created when local generation is close to meeting or exceeding the local demand for electricity. If the conclusions of the study indicate we can confidently have less restrictive limits, LPEA will adjust its restrictions at that time. 

  1. If the local daytime electricity demand increases or the amount of local generation decreases, that additional capacity to interconnect will be made available.This analysis is conducted biannually in June and November, after the shoulder seasons, when electricity demand is the lowest. 

Priority for newly available capacity is given on a first-come, first-served basis based on position on the waitlist. Please see the FAQs below for program details. If you have questions not addressed in the FAQs below, please send an email to renewables@lpea.coop and we will be glad to answer it. 

How do I sign up? 

All you need to do to sign up is to complete the form below. You will receive an email confirming your submission which includes a unique submission identification number that you can use to see your place on the waitlist linked below. 

On this form you will be asked for some identifying information, the LPEA feeder that serves your property, and a few pieces of technical information specific to your proposed solar system. There are instructions on the form for where you can find the needed information. 

FAQ

No.

The waitlist effective date will be the earlier of

A) when the waitlist request is submitted OR

B) when the interconnection request was submitted so long as the member applies for the waitlist. 

  • If LPEA concludes through its studies that we can confidently have less restrictive limits, LPEA will adjust its restrictions and notify members upon making that determination.  

  • If the local daytime electricity demand increases or the amount of local generation decreases, that additional capacity to interconnect exporting systems will be made available biannually in June and November. We need to wait until after spring and fall to ensure that we have properly identified the minimum local daytime demand for electricity over the past six months.

 

Members will have one month to submit an interconnection application from the date they are notified of available capacity or their priority on the waitlist will be forfeited. If a member has already installed a non-exporting system, then LPEA will work with you and your installer to reconfigure it to export and reissue an Interconnection Agreement and Permission to Operate that authorize export. 

A member can choose to forgo the right to apply and remain on the waitlist if they notify LPEA within the one-month window. 

However, at no time can a person higher on the waitlist prevent someone lower on the waitlist from exercising their right. Ex. If a member on the waitlist, when offered all requested capacity, does not wish to submit an interconnection application at this time, any available capacity on that feeder will still be offered to other members on the waitlist.

 

No. Waitlist position is tied to an LPEA account. It cannot be transferred to a new account owner or a different account. 

When you submit your waitlist request you will be issued a unique submission identification number. We will be posting spreadsheets that list all waitlist applicants in order of priority by affected feeders (areas). You can reference these spreadsheets to learn where you are on the waitlist and how much capacity is in front of your request. 

 

  • The challenge LPEA is facing is that local generation of power by solar systems is close to meeting or exceeding local demand for electricity which creates challenges for maintaining a safe and reliable grid.  

  • Capacity may become available if, through further study, LPEA determines it can have less restrictive limits on the amount of local power generation relative to local demand for electricity. 

  • Capacity will also become available if the amount of local generation decreases either because systems are removed or degrade over time, or if the demand for electricity during daytime hours increases. This could be caused by increased adoption of electric heating and cooling, electric water heaters, electric vehicles, or energy storage systems. Additionally, the way we are projecting the impact of solar systems that are approved, but not yet built, may result in more capacity being available when we analyze the actual local daytime demand for electricity with those systems in operation. 

 

Yes! Members can install a non-exporting system, typically paired with batteries, and be on the waitlist.

It is strongly recommended that if you install an export-limited system, you also join the solar capacity waitlist. All members on the waitlist are treated the same, regardless of whether they have installed an export-limited system. If a member has already installed an export-limited system and is offered the ability to export, then LPEA will work with you and your installer to reconfigure it to export and reissue an Interconnection Agreement and Permission to Operate that authorize export. A new interconnection application will NOT be required unless the member chooses to modify their system in conjunction with the ability to export.   Please be aware that there is no guarantee about the ability to export or the timeline for which that determination will be made and the member assumes the risk that an export-limited system might always need to operate in a non-exporting manner.

Current Solar Capacity Waitlist

This is the current solar capacity waitlist for the feeders with interconnection restrictions. It is updated at the end of every month. Please reach out to renewables@lpea.coop with any questions.