WHAT’S YOUR RENEWABLE ENERGY INTERCONNECTION STORY?

Welcome to the Texas Small-scale Distributed Renewable Generation Interconnection Log. If you own a renewable energy electric generation system (solar photovoltaic, small-scale wind, etc.) that is installed on the customer’s side of the meter, or have attempted or explored installing such a system but have run into stumbling blocks to successful interconnection, we are interested in your story.

We invite you to share details about the nature of your system and your interconnection arrangement, as well as your related experiences. Such information will be of great assistance as TREIA seeks, through legislative and regulatory means, to improve the way the state addresses this important area of self-generation.

Please take a few minutes to complete this short questionnaire which seeks basic data, and provides an opportunity for you to share your experiences. Details of how this information will be handled are included on the form.

A Bit of Background

With the widely varied nature of the electric utility industry in Texas today (deregulated investor owned retail electric providers and wholesale generation companies; electric cooperatives; municipal utilities, and still regulated transmission and distribution companies and investor owned integrated utilities outside of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas), a standard arrangement for renewable energy interconnects does not exist.

A “net-metering” rule was adopted by the Public Utility Commission of Texas in the mid-1980s, but it has applied only to the still regulated investor-owned utilities in the areas outside of ERCOT since the electric utility deregulation law of 1999. A “net-metering” law (HB 3693) was passed in the 2007 legislative session and is now being implemented by rule at the PUC. The law provides a structure for customer-side interconnection and the possibility of compensation for electricity “outflows” through voluntary agreement between the system owner and a Retail Electric Provider. No actual “net metering” is required. It was intended to address these issues in the deregulated “competitive” retail electricity market. It now appears that it may have unintended negative consequences for system owners outside of ERCOT.

The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association continues to pursue legislative and regulatory measures that will encourage the development of small-scale renewable energy system ownership. Your contribution documenting your experiences will be a valuable resource as we confront any barriers and unnecessary complexities owners or prospective owner of small-scale renewable energy electric generation systems face in Texas.

Proceed to the Questionnaire form