Larger self-generation program information

Are you installing a larger self-generation system (more than 30 kilowatts)? Or, do you want to apply energy credits produced by a single generator to several electric accounts? Use the information on this page to find out how to interconnect the following types of systems to the PG&E energy grid:

• Solar
• Wind
• Fuel cells
• Storage (e.g., batteries)
• Multiple technology-generating systems

Understand the different programs

Review the following program resources to get key information about eligibility, documents needed for applications, interconnection requirements, costs and other considerations.

Inquiries regarding existing and new interconnection projects

Equal to or less than 30kW:
SNEM: email NEMFollowups@pge.com
SNEM-PS: email SNEMPairedStorage@pge.com
SNEMA and SNEMPS-A: email NEMAProcessing@pge.com

Greater than 30kW:
Contact your assigned EGI Account Representative or Interconnection Manager.
For concerns when applying for new interconnection projects, email Rule21Gen@pge.com.

If you are dissatisfied with the efforts of PG&E to meet the timelines of the Fast Track Review and/or Detailed Study for a valid Interconnection Requests (Rule 21, Section F1.1.d.), contact the PG&E-appointed Rule 21 Ombudsman at 916-203-6459 or Rule21Ombudsman@pge.com.

To initiate an official dispute under Section K.2. of Rule 21, submit your request to Rule21Disputes@pge.com and “cc” or send a copy to Rule21.Disputes@cpuc.ca.gov. To participate in the Expedited Dispute Resolution Process under Section K.3., please refer to Expedited Interconnection Dispute Resolution (ca.gov). If you have any questions, email Rule21Disputes@pge.com.

Non-export interconnection is available to all types of generator technologies and sizes where one of the following is true:

1. A reverse-power protection device will be installed.
2. An under-power protection device will be installed.
3. The generating facility interconnection equipment has been certified as non-islanding, and the incidental export of power will be limited by the design of the interconnection.
4. The gross nameplate rating of the generating facility will not exceed 50 percent of the minimum electrical load of the host customer's facility over the previous 12 months.
5. The generating facility completely offsets the facility load by being both (a) optimally sized to meet its peak demand with load following functionality on the generator controls, and (b) ensuring conditional (inadvertent) export of electric power from the generation facility to the distribution provider's distribution or transmission system, occurring no more frequently than twice in any 24-hour period. Also, the exports are greater than two seconds, but no more than 60 seconds. If this option is selected, option 1 or 2, above, will also be required.

RES-BCT cap tracker

The table below shows the number of applicants and megawatts for each stage of PG&E's RES-BCT program, as of the date shown. Projects progress from the "Application Submitted" stage to the "Total Interconnected Projects (PTO)" stage. The same project can only be in one stage at a time (e.g., the same project cannot be in both the "Application Submitted" stage and the "Initial Review" stage).

 Note: Both the table below and the RES-BCT Tracking Archive under the USEFUL LINKS section on this page are updated monthly.

Important clarifications:

1. Any project that meets the requirements for RES-BCT before PG&E's RES-BCT Program Cap of 105.25 Megawatts (MW) is reached will be eligible for RES-BCT, regardless of when the project was submitted. For example, if a newer project passes all internal reviews and submits evidence of receiving final building permit approval before an earlier project, the newer project will be eligible for RES-BCT (as long as the RES-BCT Cap has not yet been reached) and will be counted towards the RES-BCT Cap. Therefore, Applicants may apply for RES-BCT at any time prior to when the RES-BCT Cap is reached but with the understanding that projects already in the process of interconnection may suddenly be counted towards the Cap at any time (e.g., a project in the "Implementation" stage below submits the final building permit to PG&E).
2. Once the RES-BCT Cap is reached, the RES-BCT program will be closed and all pending projects that have not yet met the requirements for RES-BCT will not be eligible for RES-BCT. Instead, these pending projects will be required to interconnect under another applicable Rule 21 agreement (e.g., uncompensated export).
3. At this time, there is no additional information available on the program continuation after the RES-BCT Cap is reached.

¹ The number of projects received that have not yet been deemed complete/valid. Once the projects are deemed complete, they will be moved to the applicable Engineering Study along with the MW amount associated with the project.

² The number of projects that have passed the Engineering Review and have had an interconnection agreement (IA) tendered by PG&E. The IA must be signed by the customer before PG&E can proceed with any system upgrade design and estimating (if applicable).

³ The number of projects that have passed the Engineering Review and have signed and returned the PG&E-tendered interconnection agreement (IA). Projects in this stage that had mitigation identified during the Engineering study will be responsible for any applicable fees associated with system upgrade design and estimating. This is the stage where generator construction, Standby Agreements, and Departing Load processing occur.

⁴ The number of projects that have passed all internal reviews and have supplied PG&E with an approved building permit from an Authority Having Jurisdiction (e.g., Building Department). Projects at this stage are scheduled for a final inspection unless there are mitigations that have not yet been completed (e.g., transformer replacement). Important Note: Projects at this stage that then fail the PG&E field inspection are not counted towards the RES-BCT cap. These projects will be included in the "Implementation" column until all internal reviews are passed and, if applicable, the revised final building permit is provided. It is the responsibility of Applicants to ensure their installations meet all requirements described in Electric Rule 21, the Greenbook, and the Distribution Interconnection Handbook (DIH) prior to the PG&E field inspection, to avoid this scenario.

⁵ The numbers in this row are a summation of the projects having the status of "Application Submitted," "Initial Review," "Supplemental Review," "Detailed Study," "Tendered Interconnection Agreement" and "Implementation." These projects are not currently counted towards the Cap and would therefore not be eligible for RES-BCT if the RES-BCT cap were reached as of the effective date.

⁶ The numbers in this row are a summation of projects having the status of "Provided Approved Building Permit from Authority Having Jurisdiction" and "Total Interconnected Projects (PTO)." As described above, only projects in this row are counted towards PG&E's RES-BCT Cap of 105.25 MW.

Qualifications

Criteria for RES-BCT includes:

• A customer must be a city, county, special district, school district, university, California Native Tribe, political subdivision or other local public agency.
• The maximum generator size is 5MW, and multiple arrangements are allowed.
• The benefiting account may be at remote locations within the same city or county.
• Generating and benefiting accounts in the "arrangement" must be on a time-of-use rate schedule.

Existing RES-BCT customers that would like to make changes to their current RES-BCT Arrangement must complete Form 79-1197 (PDF) and submit it to their Local Government's assigned PG&E Customer Care Representative for processing.

Related documents

• Download the RES-BCT Tracking Archive (PDF)
• Download the RES-BCT tariff (PDF)
• Download the RES-BCT presentation 2017 (PPT)