Public demand for customer-owned distributed generation, especially grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems, has encouraged federal and state legislation calling for practical procedures for interconnection of non-utility-owned generators to the electric grid. Existing procedures have evolved over the last decade as states and the federal government sought to implement and improve upon early efforts. Early efforts were often unsatisfactory, because high costs, lengthy timelines, bureaucracy, and uncertainty proved to be formidable barriers. Fortunately, much has been learned during the last decade and best practices have begun to emerge. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP) apply only to facilities subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, but may serve as a model for state-level interconnection procedures. FERC SGIP was developed and published in 2005 through the efforts of utilities, regulators, industry representatives, consumer and environmental advocates, and other interested parties. According to paragraph 4 of FERC Order 2006, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) was a key contributor to the FERC SGIP. Regulators anticipated the need to update the small generator rules in FERCs Final Rule, which stated that beginning two years from the issuance of this order, (we will) consider and recommend consensus proposals for changes in the Commissions rules for small generator interconnections (FERC Docket RM02-12-000, 2005). There has not been a substantial review yet and the present study is intended to assist with such a review.
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