Arizona interconnection applications

Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC)

A.A.C. R14-2-2601 through R14-2-2628 (Title 14, Ch. 2, Article 26) – Interconnection of Distributed Generation Facilities · source

Generating facilities operating in parallel with the distribution system of an ACC-jurisdictional utility (public service corporations: IOUs such as APS, TEP, UNS Electric, and electric cooperatives; cooperatives may use Commission-approved Interconnection Manual timelines per R14-2-2627). Not SRP or municipal utilities (not ACC-jurisdictional).

Utility-specific application 'on a form provided by the Utility, or according to a format provided by the Utility' (R14-2-2614); utility Interconnection Manuals required (R14-2-2628).

Completeness review 7 calendar days (applicant has 30 days to cure). Level 1 review 14 days, Level 2 review 21 days. Interconnection agreement sent within 7 days of approval; site inspection within 7 days of request; approval/failure notice within 3 days after inspection and signed documents; re-inspection within 14 days; application may be deemed withdrawn if not interconnected within 180 days of approval (R14-2-2614, -2617, -2618, -2621). Non-exporting storage and inadvertent-export systems <=20 kW exempt from R14-2-2614 application requirements; Expedited process in R14-2-2623.

Application/processing, additional-review, inspection and metering fees only if contained in a Commission-approved tariff (R14-2-2614, -2617, -2618, -2621). Customer pays required utility facility/equipment modifications.

Utility shall not require general liability insurance as condition of interconnection, nor a particular insurer (R14-2-2607); exception: RUS-financed utilities (cooperatives) may require liability insurance to the extent needed for RUS obligations.

If required by the utility, customer installs a visual-open, manually operated, load-break disconnect switch isolating all ungrounded conductors (gang-operated for multi-phase); utility may add requirements in its Interconnection Manual (R14-2-2624). Inspection checks 24-hour utility access to disconnect (R14-2-2621).

Net billing – A.A.C. R14-2-2301 et seq. (Net Metering rules, eff. 2009); ACC Decision No. 75859 (Jan. 3, 2017)
Decision 75859 replaced retail net metering for new customer-generators of ACC-regulated utilities with an export rate initially set by the Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) methodology, changes limited to 10%/year; existing NEM customers grandfathered. Exact implementation is utility-tariff specific (APS, TEP, UNSE RCP riders). Details from secondary summaries; decision text not retrieved.

Electric cooperatives are bound by Article 26 but may substitute timelines via Commission-approved Interconnection Manuals and must use best reasonable efforts to meet deadlines (R14-2-2627). SRP and municipal utilities are not ACC-regulated and follow their own interconnection and export-rate policies.