Summary of Interconnection Procedures

  • Customer with potential Qualifying Facility (QF) contacts SECPA and obtains Application for Interconnection (See Form).
  • The QF submits the Application to SECPA. If QF's nameplate capacity is greater than 10 kW, the Qualifying Facility Design Data Requirements (See Form) are also required.
  • SECPA evaluates the Application for completeness and notifies the Customer within ten business days of receipt that the Application is or is not complete and, if not, advises what material is missing.
  • Within 15 business days, SECPA conducts preliminary engineering studies, if warranted, to determine the effect the QF might have on existing SECPA customers and equipment.
  • Provided all the criteria in the Interconnection Standards for Co-generators and Small Power Producers (See Form) are met, unless SECPA determines and demonstrates that the Small Generating Facility cannot be interconnected safely and reliably, SECPA approves and executes the Application and returns it to the Customer.
  • SECPA designs and constructs the interconnection and modifies the existing SECPA network as necessary to accept the QF.
  • The QF provides notice of Insurance Coverage Requirements (See Form). The QF should investigate liability insurance coverage early in the planning stage.
  • After installation, the Customer returns the Certificate of Completion (See Form) to SECPA. Prior to parallel operation, SECPA will inspect the QF for compliance with standards within ten business days of the receipt of the Certificate of Completion. SECPA will inspect the QF for compliance with standards, and may schedule appropriate metering replacement, if necessary.
  • SECPA notifies the Customer in writing or by fax or e-mail that interconnection of the QF is authorized. If the witness test is not satisfactory, SECPA has the right to disconnect the QF. The Customer has no right to operate in parallel until a witness test has been performed.

For more information, contact SECPA at 719-384-2551 or by email renewables@secpa.com

Net Metering

SECPA's Net Metering Tariff allows operators of small generation systems (10 kilowatts or less for residential or 25 kilowatts for non-residential) to feed their power into the electric grid and spin their meters backwards. This policy may eliminate the need for members to integrate costly batteries into their system; it sets member generated kWh usage at retail rate value and helps to ensure a safe installation for both the customer and utility workers.

Net Metering Details:

  1. One electric meter allowed to "spin backwards" per location.
  2. Customer's generation must be intended to offset part, or all of their electrical energy needs at that location.
  3. Net excess generation carried over from one month to the next (banked).
  4. If credit exists at the end of a 12-month period, a check or bill credit is issued (See Net Metering Tariff).
  5. For residential renewable systems of not more than 10 kilowatts
  6. For non residential renewable systems of not more than 25 kilowatts.

Net Metering Tariff

Better Buildings Colorado

The Clean Energy for Low-Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) aimed to lower energy bills for low-income communities through a voluntary partnership between DOE and state/local governments. The goal was to better understand and address low-income energy challenges and demonstrate a wide range of locally designed energy efficiency and distributed renewable energy solutions. Low-income households spend about 8% of their income on energy costs, three times more than non-low-income households. Partners committed $335 million to help 155,000 low-income households access energy efficiency and renewable energy benefits, collecting resources and lessons learned into the CELICA Toolkit.