Consumer Owned Generation
Your electric cooperative seeks to provide its members and patrons with the best electric service possible, and at the lowest cost consistent with sound economy and good management. In some cases, cooperative members and patrons may become interested in installing their own electric power generation equipment. In these cases, your cooperative stands ready to work with you to ensure that your generation equipment is installed in a proper and safe manner, and in accordance with all applicable codes, standards, regulations, laws and insurance requirements. In most of these cases, you will also need to coordinate the installation and approval of your electric power generator with the local code inspection authority. Your cooperative engineers and customer service representatives can also help identify the appropriate contact for this purpose.
Customers may wish to install their new generator and interconnect it with the cooperative electric distribution system. In these cases, you need to complete the attached "Application for Operation of Customer-Owned Generation" form and submit the form to us.
Once we receive your application, we will review your proposed generator installation. If we approve your application, we will let you know if there are special steps you need to take during the generator installation process. We may request additional information regarding your planned installation. We will also ask you to sign a contract in which you agree to operate your generator safely, maintain the unit properly, and maintain insurance as needed. A copy of this "Interconnection Agreement" is attached. Also attached you will find Verendrye's "Parallel Generation Rate Schedule" which states the current buy back rate.
You can give us a call at anytime during this review process to find out the status of your application. If your application is not approved for any reason, we will explain the reason and be available to discuss your plans.
As part of our application review process, we will examine the ability of the cooperative electric distribution system to accept your new power generation unit. On certain parts of our system, we may need to replace existing equipment or add some new equipment in order to accommodate customer generation. Your cooperative will then incur costs beyond what is normally required to operate and maintain the system to benefit all members. To be fair to all members, you will need to pay for any system upgrades that will be needed. If this is the case for your planned generator installation, we will advise you of the additional cost, and seek your agreement before approving your application. You may also be asked to sign a system upgrade contract that obligates you to reimburse us for the additional expense incurred on your behalf.
If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 1-800-472-2141.
Additional Related Information Documents
Interconnection Agreement File Size: 24.02 kb Interconnection Agreement for Renewable energy and Alternative Technology Distributed Generation resources.
