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East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative interconnection application

East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving 7,417 residential customers in Iowa (EIA-861, 2025). Gridpol files East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative interconnection applications for licensed installers – solar, storage and EV chargers – with single-line diagram and site plan, unlimited for $500 a month.

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Iowa’s commission rule (199 IAC Chapter 45 (199-45.1 to 45.13)) does not bind electric cooperatives; East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative sets its own interconnection policy. We confirm its form on the first project. Municipal utilities and non-rate-regulated electric cooperatives are outside 199 IAC 45 and §476.49 definitions (rate-regulated utilities only); they adopt their own interconnection and net metering/buyback policies.

East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative at a glance

Utility

East-Central Iowa Rural Elec Coop

Type

Electric cooperative

EIA utility ID

5588

Residential customers

7,417 (EIA-861, 2025)

Net-metered residential customers

4 (EIA-861, 2025)

Service territory

11 counties in Iowa

Wholesale supplier / association

Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) · CIPCO Generator Interconnection Document (available on request)

Documents East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative asks for

  • Interconnection application formFilled in by us from your project data in the utility’s portal or on its form. Gridpol prepares this.
  • Single-line diagram (one-line)Drawn by us from your equipment data: modules, strings, inverter, battery, disconnects, point of interconnection, meter. Gridpol prepares this.
  • Site plan / site layoutDrawn by us from your roof sketch or photos: array, inverter, battery, disconnect, meter and main panel locations. Gridpol prepares this.
  • PV module spec sheetManufacturer data sheet of the modules.
  • Inverter spec sheetManufacturer data sheet (string inverter, microinverter or hybrid inverter).
  • Customer signatureThe account holder signs the application or authorization. We send the signature link.
  • Recent electric billName, service address, account and meter number must match the application.
  • Final inspection sign-offApproved electrical inspection from the authority having jurisdiction after installation.

Typical documents for US utilities – not yet verified for East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative. We confirm East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative’s exact list on the first project.

Iowa interconnection rule

Commission

Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC, formerly Iowa Utilities Board)

Interconnection rule

199 IAC Chapter 45 (199-45.1 to 45.13) – Electric Interconnection of Distributed Generation Facilities · source

Applies to

Electric utilities subject to IUC rate regulation (MidAmerican Energy, Interstate Power & Light/Alliant) for DG not subject to FERC/MISO/SPP/affected-system interconnection requirements (199-45.1 'Utility', 45.2). >10 MVA starts at Level 4.

Application form

Commission-approved statewide interconnection request forms and agreements posted on iuc.iowa.gov (Level 1 Interconnection Request Application form and Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement incl. Conditional Agreement; Level 2/3/4 forms; Certificate of Completion) (199-45.4(1)); electronic submission if agreed.

Timelines

Level 1: completeness 7 BD, screens 15 BD; approval conditioned on local electrical code approval, Certificate of Completion, witness test (completed or waived), signed Conditional Agreement within 30 BD (+15 BD extension). Level 2: completeness 10 BD, screens 20 BD. Witness test needs 15 BD notice. Preapplication report $300.

Fees

Caps (199-45.4(3)): L1 $125 (+$125 witness test); L2 $250 + $1/kVA (+$125); L3 $500 + $2/kVA; L4 $1,000 + $2/kVA. Preapplication report $300.

Insurance

Chapter 45 text contains no insurance requirement (terms may be in commission-approved forms; not checked).

External disconnect

Required for DG placed in service after 2015-07-01: customer-owned disconnection device easily visible and adjacent to meter (within 10 ft home/business, 30 ft multi-building; 30-72 in height), labeled; permanent placard within 10 ft of meter (199-45.3(2)).

Export compensation

Net billing – Iowa Code §476.49; utility tariffs
Rate-regulated utilities file either net billing (monthly kWh credit, annual cash-out at avoided cost split with LIHEAP) or inflow-outflow billing (hourly/subhourly, credited at retail volumetric rate for 20 years until value-of-solar). Facility <=1 MW AC and <=110% of annual usage. Value-of-solar proceeding after 2027-07-01 petition or 5% statewide DG penetration.

Not bound by the rule

Municipal utilities and non-rate-regulated electric cooperatives are outside 199 IAC 45 and §476.49 definitions (rate-regulated utilities only); they adopt their own interconnection and net metering/buyback policies.

Other utilities in Iowa

All Iowa utilities →

Gridpol Unlimited

$500 / month

Unlimited interconnection applications. 12-month agreement, signed online. The agreement starts the day you sign; first invoice right away, then monthly.

  • Unlimited interconnection applications
  • Single-line diagram and site plan for every application
  • Pre-submission check against the utility’s requirements
  • Homeowner e-signature link for the authorization
  • Filing in your utility portal accounts or by the utility’s method
  • Utility questions, corrections and resubmissions
  • Follow-up through approval, inspection and PTO
  • Customer list, exports, API and webhooks
Get started

Applications are typically submitted within 2 business days after complete documents. Utility review times are set by each utility.

Get started – $500/month unlimited