Welcome to our Distributed Energy Resource (DER)/Net Metering Application and Agreement process. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or community organization, our streamlined application process ensures that you can seamlessly connect your resource to our grid.
We aim to provide you with a clear and straightforward guide to navigate the process of connecting your energy resource to our grid. However, if you have any questions about our Net Metering, or any other DER program, please don’t hesitate to call and ask for the Energy Resources Team at 970-875-1160.
Review our interconnection process below as you are planning your system to understand who does what, and at which point in the application process.
Ready to apply? Click the button below
DER Interconnection/Net Metering Application| Who this process applies to: | Who this process does not apply to: |
|---|---|
| 1. Members seeking a Net Metering Agreement with YVEA 2. Members utilizing a Meter Socket Adapter in their interconnection | 1. Members that plan to install a plug in solar device. See instead our resource on plug in solar here. |
Once you decide to invest in solar, there are several steps to getting your new system installed.
- Understand your energy consumption and electric demand requirements. Different buildings use energy differently and consume differently depending on the season. Consider whether you have appliances that use energy seasonally; things like heat tape, baseboard heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps, snowmelt systems. Before a solar system is in place, energy efficiency measures should be considered in order to make the most out of an upgrade. We recommend looking at he usage graph on your YVEA bill. This graphic provides a good visual to help you understand both your energy consumption (kWh) and Transmission Demand (kW). Solar production can help offset your energy consumption, while batteries properly programmed to “peak shave” can help to offset your Transmission Demand Charge. As always, we welcome a phone call or email to help you interpret your energy habits and learn how a new interconnection might be most beneficial to you.
- Review the applicable YVEA Policies. See applicable policies on this page.
- Hire an installer. See our qualified solar installers list, and questions to ask a solar installer resources. YVEA requires solar installers to comply with our educational requirements outlined in section 1(B) in our Net Metering Policy.
- Apply. Work with your solar installer to apply using the DER Interconnection/Net Metering Application. The application will take approximately 30 minutes, and you can save your progress along the way and return to it if necessary. Submitting this form will require paying the $250 Application Fee, which is in the DER Interconnection Form. We also recommend beginning your application with the Authority Having Justice (AHJ) at this point.
- Receive YVEA approval. We may ask for some revisions to the design after you’ve submitted your application. Please don’t build anything until you receive YVEA approval for construction.
- Construction and Inverter Settings. Install the system, and work with your installer to configure your inverter with the grid protection settings listed here. These settings turn inverters into agents of grid health and help to ensure power quality for the grid.
- Authority Having Jurisdiction. You’ve completed your installation, and have configured your inverter with grid protection settings. Now you’ll want to complete an electrical safety inspection with the local county Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Save your paperwork of a passed inspection because YVEA will require it.
- Certificate of Completion – Notify YVEA. You will be emailed with a notification form to complete after passing an AHJ inspection, you may back feed the grid (if applicable) for up to 2 hours. We encourage you to test your inverter’s reconnect delay, and make sure that the grid profile aligns with YVEA Smart Inverter Settings (3).
- Final inspection. YVEA will schedule an inspection with the proper party for a final inspection. Inspection items will include:
- Proper anti-islanding
- 5-minute grid reconnect delay
- Proper labels (see the Net Metering Policy for label requirements)
- Installed components match application
- Grid protection settings are in place
- Please contact the Energy Resources Team ahead of your inspection if you have any questions. Installers are expected to have the system fully operational and turned on at the time of inspection.
- Permission to Operate & Billing Changes. After a final inspection has been passed, YVEA will swap the physical meter for a more appropriately programmed “Net Meter”. Billing will change to reflect both imported energy to the home, and exported energy from the grid. For more information about how net metering works, see this resource.