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Nashville Electric Service (NES) interconnection application

Nashville Electric Service (NES) is a municipal utility serving 424,808 residential customers in Tennessee (EIA-861, 2025). Applications: PDF + email (NES Application for Interconnection (NESolar Savings & NESolar Connect) emailed to Renewables@NESPower.com; contracts signed via DocuSign). Gridpol files Nashville Electric Service (NES) 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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Process verified from Nashville Electric Service (NES)’s official sources (see below). Application, documents, programs confirmed on NES PDFs. Verify on first project: current fee in NES Schedule of Fees and Charges, typical review time.

Nashville Electric Service (NES) at a glance

Utility

Nashville Electric Service (TVA local power company (municipal))

Type

Municipal utility

EIA utility ID

13216

Residential customers

424,808 (EIA-861, 2025)

Net-metered residential customers

none reported

Service territory

7 counties in Tennessee

How to apply

PDF + email – NES Application for Interconnection (NESolar Savings & NESolar Connect) emailed to Renewables@NESPower.com; contracts signed via DocuSign · official link

Who submits

Account holder (name must match NES account; authorized contact must be primary/secondary account holder or authorized corporate representative and signs via DocuSign). Project designer and solar contractor/installer listed on application (NABCEP level recommended).

Export compensation

Net billing – NESolar Savings (excess purchase) / NESolar Connect (buy-all)
No net metering. NESolar Savings pays for exports at seasonal rate + TVA Total Monthly Fuel Cost (2024: summer $0.02916, winter $0.03083, transition $0.03147 per kWh + TMFC). NESolar Connect: $0.07031/$0.04267/$0.05433 + TMFC. TVA (wholesale supplier) role: Tennessee has no state net metering mandate and the TN PUC does not regulate TVA local power companies (LPCs); the LPC sets its own interconnection rules under its TVA wholesale contract. For export compensation from TVA, the customer first establishes an interconnection agreement with the LPC and can then register in TVA's Dispersed Power Production (DPP) program to sell all or excess generation to TVA at avoided cost (time-of-day rates); metering at customer expense to TVA specs. Some LPCs (under TVA Long-Term Partnership flexibility) instead buy excess generation in their own programs.

Review time (official)

Application due no later than 60 days before production; formal engineering study may be required. No official review clock stated.

Wholesale supplier / association

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - local power company (distributor) network · TVA Dispersed Power Production (DPP) Guidelines + Dispersed Power Price Schedule CSPP (Attachment A)

Documents Nashville Electric Service (NES) asks for

  • Interconnection application formNES Application for Interconnection of Renewable Generation - required in early planning, no later than 60 days before power production; total system cost required Gridpol prepares this.
  • Customer signatureAuthorized customer signature (primary/secondary account holder)
  • Single-line diagram (one-line)Detailed one-line diagram incl. wire/fuse sizes, inverters, breakers, relays, PV panel number/location; >50 kW show interlocks/anti-islanding operation Gridpol prepares this.
  • Site plan / site layoutSite plan with address, billing and generation meter locations, inverter and panel locations; >50 kW AutoCAD in state plane coordinates Gridpol prepares this.
  • Other utility-specific documentSite placard documentation: sunlight/weatherproof placard (no stickers) with system one-line, screwed/riveted at or in sight of utility solar disconnect, listing contractor and customer contacts
  • Inverter spec sheetManufacturer cut sheets; UL 1741 and IEEE 1547 compliant
  • PV module spec sheetPV panel cut sheets
  • Battery spec sheet (when applicable)Battery manufacturer/model/chemistry/kW/kWh/cycle life, DC or AC coupled
  • Interconnection agreementNES Interconnection and Operating Agreement (IOA) for each solar installation
  • Net metering / net billing agreement (when applicable)NESolar Savings or NESolar Connect Power Purchase Agreement (if selling excess/all)
  • Final inspection sign-offLocal building code official inspection/certification of solar and metering installation submitted to NES (Metro Codes electrical PV permit); NES Distributed Generation Checklist (commissioning)
  • Other utility-specific document (when applicable)Operational Notice Form (to TVA) before production; Initiation Notice Form submitted by NES

How the Nashville Electric Service (NES) process runs

  1. Early planning: email NES Application for Interconnection with one-line, site plan, placard, cut sheets (no later than 60 days before operation); do not buy/install before written approval.
  2. NES review (engineering study if required); NES submits Initiation Notice to TVA; TVA approval if size requires.
  3. Sign IOA and NESolar Power Purchase Agreement via DocuSign.
  4. Install; Metro Codes electrical/PV permit inspection; submit inspection certification to NES.
  5. Operational Notice Form to TVA; NES commissioning per Distributed Generation Checklist; NES installs metering.
  6. Written authorization for parallel operation from NES.

Fees

FeeApplies toNote
Per NES Schedule of Fees and ChargesNon-refundable application and engineering review charge (as applicable)Charged to the NES account; amount not stated on application

Utility fees are paid by the installer or customer; they are not part of the Gridpol plan.

Size levels and limits

LevelUp toNote
NESolar Savings (behind-the-meter, excess sale)250 kW<=250 kW DC; min 50 kWh avg monthly excess; sales <=100% of annual usage; program cap 10 MW
NESolar Connect (line-side, buy-all)Min 200 kW solar (80 kW other); program cap 35 MW
Facilities Study500 kWFormal scoping for systems above 500 kW

Systems may require TVA approval based on size; TVA transmission study/modeling for 5-25 MVA.

Storage, EV and stamps

Battery storage

Solar PV with battery storage is eligible under NESolar Savings; battery data required on application. NES may require equipment to prevent generation flowing to the grid per IOA.

Common issues the utility lists

  • Placard showing only equipment layout (without one-line) or using stickers is not acceptable
  • Customer name not matching NES account / signer not account holder
  • NES may reject any energy resource posing safety risk or adverse system impact

Gridpol’s pre-submission check covers these before we file.

Sources

Other utilities in Tennessee

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

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