Chapter PSC 119

PSC 119.025 PSC 119.025 Adoption of standards by reference.

PSC 119.025(1) (1) Adoption of standards. The standards, IEEE Std 1547-2018: IEEE Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces, published April 6, 2018, and IEEE Std 1547.1-2020: IEEE Standard Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting Distributed Energy Resources with Electric Power Systems and Associated Interfaces, are hereby incorporated by reference into this chapter.

PSC 119.025(2) (2) Consent to incorporate by reference. Pursuant to s. 227.21, Stats., the attorney general has consented to incorporate by references these standards contained in Std 1547-2018 and IEEE Std 1547.1-2020. Copies of IEEE Std 1547-2018 and IEEE Std 1547.1-2020 are on file in the offices of commission and the legislative reference bureau.

PSC 119.025 History History: CR 22-077: cr. Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 5-1-24; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register April 2024 No. 820.

subch. II of ch. PSC 119 Subchapter II — General Requirements

PSC 119.03 PSC 119.03 Designated point of contact. Each public utility shall designate one point of contact for all customer inquiries related to DG facilities and from which interested parties can obtain installation guidelines and the appropriate standard commission application and interconnection agreement forms. Each public utility shall have current information concerning its DG point of contact on file with the commission.

PSC 119.03 History History: CR 03-003: cr. Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04.

PSC 119.04 PSC 119.04 Application process for interconnecting DG facilities. Public utilities and applicants shall complete the following steps regarding interconnection applications for all classes of DG facilities, in the order listed:

PSC 119.04(1) (1) The public utility shall respond to each request for DG interconnection by furnishing, within 5 working days, its guidelines and the public utility’s electric service rules, representative or sample one-line schematic diagrams, and the appropriate standard application form. Public utilities shall also make these materials accessible on their website.

PSC 119.04(2) (2) The applicant shall complete and submit the standard application form to its public utility. An application shall not be considered submitted until the applicant submits a form and pays applicable application review fees under s. PSC 119.08 (1).

PSC 119.04(2m) (2m) All submitted applications shall be reviewed for completeness in the order in which they fulfill the requirements of sub. (2), regardless of whether the project is from an outside applicant or the public utility.

PSC 119.04(3) (3) Within 10 working days of receiving a new or revised application and application fee, the public utility shall notify the applicant whether the application is complete.

PSC 119.04(3g) (3g) All complete applications shall be processed in the order in which they are deemed complete, regardless of whether the project is from an outside applicant or the public utility. Reasonable exceptions may be made to account for the location of the proposed DG facility or other technical considerations, provided there is no material adverse impact on processing of other complete applications when an exception is made. Exceptions may also be made if an applicant exceeds any timing requirements identified in s. PSC 119.06. If the public utility misses any timing requirements in s. PSC 119.06, the order in which the application is processed shall not be affected.

PSC 119.04(3r) (3r) Where multiple DG facilities are electrically interrelated, processing complete applications jointly may be appropriate to increase cost and time efficiencies. If the public utility and the applicant mutually agree, the application may be studied in a group with other applications.

PSC 119.04(4) (4) Public utilities and applicants shall complete the following steps for processing interconnection applications, in the order listed:

PSC 119.04(4)(a) (a) Within 10 working days of determining that the application is complete, the public utility shall complete its application review and notify the applicant of its findings. If the public utility determines, on the basis of the application review, that an engineering review is needed, the notification shall state a nonbinding estimate of that review. If the application review shows that an engineering review is not needed, the applicant may install the DG facility and need not complete the steps described in pars. (b) through (g).

PSC 119.04(4)(b) (b) The applicant shall provide written notification to proceed and full payment of the estimated cost of the engineering review within 15 working days of receiving the public utility’s notification under par. (a). At the request of the applicant, the utility may provide a 15 working day extension of the deadline to provide notification to proceed and full payment. If notification and payment have not been received by the utility within 30 working days after the deadline to accept, the interconnection application shall be deemed withdrawn.

PSC 119.04(4)(c) (c) Upon receiving from the applicant written notification to proceed and full payment of the estimated cost of the engineering review, the public utility shall complete an engineering review and notify the applicant of the results within the following times:

PSC 119.04(4)(c)1. 1. Category 1 DG application, 10 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(c)2. 2. Category 2 DG application, 15 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(c)3. 3. Category 3 DG application, 20 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(c)4. 4. Category 4 DG application, 40 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(d) (d) If the engineering review indicates that a distribution system study is necessary, the public utility shall include, in writing, a nonbinding cost estimate of the study in its engineering review. To proceed with a distribution system study, the applicant shall provide the utility with written notification of acceptance and full payment of the estimated study costs within 15 working days of receiving the engineering review. At the request of the applicant, the utility may provide a 15 working day extension of the deadline to provide notification to proceed and full payment. If notification and payment have not been received by the utility within 30 working days after the deadline to accept, the interconnection application shall be deemed withdrawn.

PSC 119.04(4)(e) (e) Upon receiving written notification to proceed and payment of the applicable fee, the public utility shall conduct the distribution system study. The public utility shall within the following time periods complete the distribution system study and provide study results to the applicant unless any additional studies are required by the regional transmission operator, in which case the time periods may be extended:

PSC 119.04(4)(e)1. 1. Category 1 DG application, 10 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(e)2. 2. Category 2 DG application, 15 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(e)3. 3. Category 3 DG application, 20 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(e)4. 4. Category 4 DG application, 60 working days.

PSC 119.04(4)(f) (f) The public utility shall perform a distribution system study of the local distribution system and notify the applicant of findings along with an estimate of any distribution system construction or modification costs to be borne by the applicant.

PSC 119.04(4)(g) (g) If the applicant agrees, in writing, to pay for any required distribution system construction and modifications, the public utility shall complete the distribution system upgrades and the applicant shall install the DG facility within a time frame that is mutually agreed upon. The applicant shall notify the public utility when project construction is complete.

PSC 119.04(4)(h) (h) The applicant shall give the public utility the opportunity to witness or verify the system testing, as required in s. PSC 119.30 or 119.31, the utility’s service rules, and applicable codes and standards. Upon receiving notification that an installation is complete and is in compliance with all applicable codes and standards, including any necessary state and local government inspections, and all requirements set forth in this chapter, the public utility has 10 working days, for a Category 1 or 2 facility, or 20 working days, for a Category 3 or 4 facility, to complete the following:

PSC 119.04(4)(h)1. 1. Witness commissioning tests.

PSC 119.04(4)(h)2. 2. Perform an unintentional islanding test or verify the protective equipment settings at its expense.

PSC 119.04(4)(h)3. 3. Waive its right, in writing, to witness or verify the commissioning tests.

PSC 119.04(4)(i) (i) The applicant shall provide the public utility with the results of any required tests within 5 working days of the completion of the test, for a Category 1 facility, or within 10 working days, for a Category 2 to 4 facility.

PSC 119.04(4)(j) (j) The public utility shall, unless rights have been waived per par. (h) 3., review the results of the on-site test. Upon receipt of the test results, the public utility shall notify the applicant within 5 working days, for a Category 1 facility, or within 10 working days, for a Category 2 to 4 facility, of its approval or disapproval of the interconnection.

PSC 119.04(4)(j)1. 1. If approved, the public utility shall provide a written statement of final acceptance and reconciliation of costs from the engineering review, distribution system study, and any required distribution system upgrades or modifications. Public utilities shall refund to the applicant any fees paid in excess of costs incurred by the utility. Applicants shall pay any additional costs incurred by the utility in excess of previous payments. Any applicant for a DG system that passes the commissioning test may sign a standard interconnection agreement and interconnect.

PSC 119.04(4)(j)2. 2. If the public utility does not approve the interconnection, the applicant may take corrective action and request the public utility to reexamine its interconnection request. The applicant shall provide the utility with written notification that corrective action has been taken and request reexamination within 15 working days of receiving notification of disapproval. At the request of the applicant, the utility may provide a 15 working day extension of the deadline to provide notification to proceed and full payment. If a request for reexamination has been received by the utility within 30 working days after the deadline to accept, the interconnection application shall be deemed withdrawn.

PSC 119.04(4)(k) (k) A standard interconnection agreement shall be signed by the applicant and public utility before parallel operation commences, within 5 working days of the interconnection being deemed approved by the public utility, for a Category 1 facility, or within 10 working days for a Category 2 to 4 facility.

PSC 119.04(5) (5) 

PSC 119.04(5)(a) (a) All public utilities shall maintain a single application queue that shall identify the status of all applications submitted to the utility and shall be used to address applicant inquiries about application status.

PSC 119.04(5)(b) (b) Public utilities who serve more than 100,000 customers shall make their application queue public. Public application queues shall be posted on the utility’s website and updated on at least a monthly basis. Certain applications may be removed or redacted when posting in the interest of national security.

PSC 119.04(5)(c) (c) At a minimum, the information maintained in an application queue, including public application queues, shall include for all applications active on or submitted to the utility after May 1, 2024:

PSC 119.04(5)(c)1. 1. Application or queue numbers that enable applicants to identify their submissions.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)2. 2. Technology type(s).

PSC 119.04(5)(c)3. 3. Proposed DG facility nameplate capacity and, where applicable, export capacity, in kW or MW.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)4. 4. Category assignment.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)5. 5. Location by city, state, and county.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)6. 6. Substation and circuit on which the proposed installation would be located.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)7. 7. Current application status (active, withdrawn, approved, in service).

PSC 119.04(5)(c)8. 8. Date application deemed complete, if applicable.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)9. 9. Current status of the application’s progress through the application process steps outlined in this section.

PSC 119.04(5)(c)10. 10. Date of signed interconnection agreement, if applicable.

PSC 119.04(6) (6) Upon approval of an application under sub. (4) (a), (c), or (g), the public utility shall provide the applicant with an interconnection approval memorandum that confirms the utility’s application approval and identifies any applicable conditions of approval. For Category 2 to 4 facilities, the memorandum and associated attachments shall provide:

PSC 119.04(6)(a) (a) The date of approval.

PSC 119.04(6)(b) (b) Completed application materials.

PSC 119.04(6)(c) (c) Engineering review requirements, if applicable.

PSC 119.04(6)(d) (d) Distribution system study requirements, if applicable.

PSC 119.04(6)(e) (e) Identification of the authorized tariff or program agreement applicable to the DG facility at the time the memorandum is issued.

PSC 119.04(6)(f) (f) Expiration date of the memorandum if utility requirements are not met, including identification of options for deadline extensions.

PSC 119.04(6)(g) (g) System specifications and specific requirements imposed by the utility as conditions of approval.

PSC 119.04(6)(h) (h) Estimated distribution system construction or modification costs and scope, if applicable.

PSC 119.04(6)(i) (i) Estimated completion date for the public utility to complete distribution system upgrades, if applicable.

PSC 119.04(6)(j) (j) A copy of the standard interconnection agreement that would be executed by both parties upon completion of all requirements, including any anticipated distribution system upgrades.

PSC 119.04(6)(k) (k) Acknowledgement that the public utility will interconnect the DG facility if all identified conditions are met.

PSC 119.04 History History: CR 03-003: cr. Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04; CR 22-077: am. (1), (2), cr. (2m), am. (3), cr. (3g), (3r), (4) (intro.), renum. (4) to (4) (a) and am., cr. (4) (b), renum. (5) to (4) (c) and am., renum. (5) (a) to (d) to be (4) (c) 1. to 4., renum. (6) to (4) (d) and am., renum. (7) (intro.) to (4) (e) (intro.) and am., renum. (7) (a) to (d) to be (4) (e) 1. to 4. and, as renumbered, am. 4., renum. (8) to (4) (f) and am., renum. (10) (a) to (4) (h) and, as renumbered, am. (intro.), 2., renum. (10) (b) to (4) (i) and am., renum. (11), (12) to (4) (j), (k), and am., cr. (5), (6) Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 5-1-24; correction in (4) (e) (4) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register April 2024 No. 820.

PSC 119.05 PSC 119.05 Insurance and indemnification.

PSC 119.05(1) (1) An applicant seeking to interconnect a Category 1 DG facility to the distribution system of a public utility shall maintain liability insurance equal to or greater than the amounts stipulated in Table PSC 119.05-1, per occurrence, or prove financial responsibility by another means mutually agreeable to the applicant and the public utility.

PSC 119.05(1m) (1m) An applicant seeking to interconnect a Category 2 to 4 DG facility to the distribution system of a public utility shall maintain liability insurance equal to or greater than the amounts stipulated in Table PSC 119.05-1, per occurrence, and shall name the public utility as an additional insured party in the liability insurance policy, or prove financial responsibility by another means mutually agreeable to the applicant and the public utility.

PSC 119.05(2) (2) Each party to the standard interconnection agreement shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend the other party, its officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any and all claims, suits, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses resulting from the installation, operation, modification, maintenance or removal of the DG facility. The liability of each party shall be limited to direct actual damages, and all other damages at law or in equity shall be waived.

PSC 119.05 History History: CR 03-003: cr. Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04; CR 22-077: am. (1), cr. (1m) Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 4-1-24.

PSC 119.06 PSC 119.06 Modifications to the DG facility. The applicant shall notify the public utility of plans for any material modification to the DG facility by providing at least 20 working days of advance notice for a Category 1 DG facility, 40 working days for Category 2 DG facility, and 60 working days for a Category 3 or 4 DG facility. The applicant shall provide this notification by submitting a revised standard application form and such supporting materials as may be reasonably requested by the public utility. The applicant may not commence any material modification to the DG facility until the public utility has approved the revised application, including any necessary engineering review or distribution system study. The public utility shall indicate its written approval or rejection of a revised application within the number of working days shown in the table below. Upon completion of the application process, a new standard interconnection agreement shall be signed by both parties prior to parallel operation. If the public utility fails to respond in the time specified in Table 119.06-1, the completed application is deemed approved.

PSC 119.06 History History: CR 03-003: cr. Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04; CR 22-077: am. Table 119.06-1 Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 5-1-24.

PSC 119.07 PSC 119.07 Easements and rights-of-way. If a public utility line extension is required to accommodate a DG interconnection, the applicant shall provide, or obtain from others, suitable easements or rights-of-way. The applicant is responsible for the cost of providing or obtaining these easements or rights of way.

PSC 119.07 History History: CR 03-003: cr. Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04.

PSC 119.08 PSC 119.08 Fees and distribution system costs.

PSC 119.08(1) (1) Upon receiving a standard application form, the public utility shall specify the amount of any engineering review or distribution system study fees. The applicant shall pay the fees specified in Table PSC 119.08, unless the public utility chooses to waive the fees in whole or in part. For any fees paid by the applicant per Table PSC 119.08, any unexpended funds shall be credited to subsequent interconnection steps and associated fee obligations.

PSC 119.08(2) (2) The public utility may recover from the applicant an amount up to the actual cost, for labor and parts, of any distribution system upgrades required. The utility may charge for retesting an installation that does not conform to the requirements set forth in this chapter. The fee for retesting shall be equal to the applicable commissioning fee, unless at the public utility’s discretion a lower fee amount is assessed.

PSC 119.08(3) (3) Costs for any necessary line extension shall be assessed pursuant to s. PSC 113.1005.

PSC 119.08(4) (4) For any application that is withdrawn by the applicant or deemed withdrawn by the public utility, the public utility shall provide the applicant with a reconciliation of costs from any engineering review, distribution system study, or required distribution system upgrades or modifications performed. Public utilities shall refund to the applicant any fees paid in excess of costs incurred by the utility. Applicants shall pay any additional costs incurred by the utility in excess of previous payments.

PSC 119.08(5) (5) Public utilities may assess a fee of up to $300 for preparation of a pre-application report, unless the public utility chooses to waive the fee in whole or in part.

PSC 119.08(6) (6) For each year in which a public utility assessed an engineering review fee or a distribution system study fee for a Category 1 or 2 facility, the public utility shall provide a report to the commission by March 31 of the following year which includes:

PSC 119.08(6)(a) (a) The number of Category 1 and 2 facilities in which an engineering review fee was assessed and the average engineering review fee that was charged to applicants.

PSC 119.08(6)(b) (b) The number of Category 1 and 2 facilities in which a distribution system study fee was assessed and the average distribution system study fee that was charged to applicants.

PSC 119.08 History History: CR 03-003: cr. Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04; CR 22-077: am. (1), Table 119.08-1, (2), cr. (4) to (6) Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 5-1-24.

PSC 119.09 PSC 119.09 Disconnection. A public utility may refuse to connect or may disconnect a DG facility from the distribution system only under any of the following conditions:

PSC 119.09(1) (1) Lack of approved standard application form or standard interconnection agreement.

PSC 119.09(2) (2) Termination of interconnection by mutual agreement.