Participants,
Interconnecting your solar electric system requires some advanced planning you should begin
the process as soon as your rebate application is approved by contacting your electric utility.
Your electric utility should provide you with the following:
1.

Requirements for interconnection and an interconnection application, if necessary;
2.

Uniform statewide contract (see example attachment);
3.

Average retail rate;
If your solar system generates more electricity than you consume in any one billing period
(generally monthly), you will be paid the average retail rate the for the excess, which is
generally slightly less than the retail rate. Public and cooperative utilities calculate and file
this information with the Department of Commerce annually under Minnesota Rule Chapter
7835. Municipal utilities do not file the information with the Department but should have the
average retail rate available upon request.
4.

Utility Representative Information;
The contact information for the person you will work directly with to interconnect your solar
system.
5.

Timely Service;
No guidance is currently provided in state statute or rule for interconnection approval
timelines. However, the Minnesota Department of Commerce report to the Public Utilities
Commission "Phase II Report of Technical Standards Workgroup Regarding Distributed
Generation Docket No. E999/CI-01-1023" recommends a thirty day timeframe.
Your electric utility may require some or all of the following:
1.

Interconnection fee;
No guidance is currently provided in state statute or rule for fee amounts. The Minnesota
Department of Commerce report to the Public Utilities Commission "Phase II Report of
Technical Standards Workgroup Regarding Distributed Generation Docket No. E999/CI-01- 1023" recommends no interconnection fee for solar electric systems less than 40 kW.
Contact your electric utility to discuss their interconnection fee structure, if any.
2.

A second electric meter OR a single replacement bidirectional digital electric meter; and/or
True net metering uses one meter that moves forward and backward, depending on
generation/consumption levels and does not involve an metering fee. Contact your electric
utility to discuss the metering options and additional metering fee structure, if any.
3.

Line diagram of your solar system (see example attachment).
Ultimately, your electric utility needs to approve your solar system and the net metering contract.
Each company may have slightly different procedures but should be able to provide you with the
information and timelines for a successful solar electric project.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office.
Mike Taylor
Solar Rebate Program Manager Meter
Manual, accessible, visible,
lockable disconnect switch
Load
(your home)
Inverter
Solar Panels
Example: One-Line Diagram
Source Area EPS
(your electric utility) Minnesota Rules Chapter 7835
Uniform Statewide Contract Form for Net Metering (Generic)
All net metered solar electric systems in Minnesota use standard contract
language as prescribed by state rules. Contact your local electric utility
for a copy using their formatting/letterhead.
7835.9910 UNIFORM STATEWIDE CONTRACT; FORM.
The form for the uniform statewide contract for use between
a utility and cogeneration and small power production facilities
having less than 40 kilowatts of capacity is as follows:
UNIFORM STATEWIDE CONTRACT FOR COGENERATION AND SMALL
POWER PRODUCTION FACILITIES
THIS CONTRACT is entered into ___________________, ____,
by _______________________________________ (hereafter called
"Utility") and __________________________________________________
____________________ (hereafter called "QF").
RECITALS
The QF has installed electric generating facilities,
consisting of ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________ (Description of facilities),
rated at less than 40 kilowatts of electricity, on property
located at ______________________________________________________
___________________________.
The QF is prepared to generate electricity in parallel with
the Utility.
The QF's electric generating facilities meet the
requirements of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
(hereafter called "Commission") rules on Cogeneration and Small
Power Production and any technical standards for interconnection
the Utility has established that are authorized by those rules.
The Utility is obligated under federal and Minnesota law to
interconnect with the QF and to purchase electricity offered for
sale by the QF.
A contract between the QF and the Utility is required by
the Commission's rules.
AGREEMENTS
The QF and the Utility agree:
1. The Utility will sell electricity to the QF under the
rate schedule in force for the class of customer to which the QF
belongs.
2. The Utility will buy electricity from the QF under the current rate schedule filed with the Commission. The QF has
elected the rate schedule category hereinafter indicated (select
one):
____ a. Net energy billing rate under part
7835.3300
.
____ b. Simultaneous purchase and sale billing rate under
part
7835.3400
.
____ c. Time-of-day purchase rates under part
7835.3500
.
A copy of the presently filed rate schedule is attached to
this contract.
3. The rates for sales and purchases of electricity may
change over the time this contract is in force, due to actions
of the Utility or of the Commission, and the QF and the Utility
agree that sales and purchases will be made under the rates in
effect each month during the time this contract is in force.
4. The Utility will compute the charges and payments for
purchases and sales for each billing period. Any net credit to
the QF will be made under one of the following options as chosen
by the QF:
____ 1. Credit to the QF's account with the Utility.
____ 2. Paid by check to the QF within 15 days of the
billing date.
5. The QF must operate its electric generating facilities
within any rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the
Utility not prohibited by the Commission's rules on Cogeneration
and Small Power Production which provide reasonable technical
connection and operating specifications for the QF. This
agreement does not waive the QF's right to bring a dispute
before the Commission as authorized by Minnesota Rules, parts

7835.4800
,
7835.5800
, and
7835.4500
, and any other provision of
the Commission's rules on Cogeneration and Small Power
Production authorizing Commission resolution of a dispute.
6. The Utility's rules, regulations, and policies must
conform to the Commission's rules on Cogeneration and Small
Power Production.
7. The QF will operate its electric generating facilities
so that they conform to the national, state, and local electric
and safety codes, and will be responsible for the costs of
conformance.
8. The QF is responsible for the actual, reasonable costs
of interconnection which are estimated to be $_____________. The QF will pay the Utility in this way:
___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________.
9. The QF will give the Utility reasonable access to its
property and electric generating facilities if the configuration
of those facilities does not permit disconnection or testing
from the Utility's side of the interconnection. If the Utility
enters the QF's property, the Utility will remain responsible
for its personnel.
10. The Utility may stop providing electricity to the QF
during a system emergency. The Utility will not discriminate
against the QF when it stops providing electricity or when it
resumes providing electricity.
11. The Utility may stop purchasing electricity from the
QF when necessary for the Utility to construct, install,
maintain, repair, replace, remove, investigate, or inspect any
equipment or facilities within its electric system. The Utility
will notify the QF before it stops purchasing electricity in
this way:
___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________.
12. The QF will keep in force liability insurance against
personal or property damage due to the installation,
interconnection, and operation of its electric generating
facilities. The amount of insurance coverage will be
$______________ (The utility may not require an amount greater
than $300,000).
13. This contract becomes effective as soon as it is
signed by the QF and the Utility. This contract will remain in
force until either the QF or the Utility gives written notice to
the other that the contract is canceled. This contract will be
canceled 30 days after notice is given.
14. This contract contains all the agreements made between
the QF and the Utility except that this contract shall at all
times be subject to all rules and orders issued by the Public
Utilities Commission or other government agency having
jurisdiction over the subject matter of this contract. The QF
and the Utility are not responsible for any agreements other
than those stated in this contract.
THE QF AND THE UTILITY HAVE READ THIS CONTRACT AND AGREE TO
BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS. AS EVIDENCE OF THEIR AGREEMENT, THEY
HAV