Interconnection Guidelines

Kansas adopted the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act in May 2009 (see K.S.A. 66-1263 through 66-1271), establishing interconnection guidelines and net metering for customer-owned generators.

Generators must meet all applicable safety, performance, interconnection and reliability standards established by the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Underwriters Laboratories, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and any local governing authorities. The Kansas Corporation Commission adopted rules (K.A.R. 82-17-1 through 82-17-5) to implement the statute’s interconnection and reliability standards in July 2010. These rules are limited, and they include additional protection for the utility in the event of disruptive problems to the utility’s system caused by a net-metered facility.

Process

The utility must provide a bi-directional meter to the customer at no additional cost to the customer. The utility may not require a customer-generator to purchase additional liability insurance if all safety and interconnection requirements are met. However, utilities are authorized to require interconnected customers to install an external disconnect switch.

System Capacity Requirements

Net metering and the accompanying interconnection guidelines apply to systems that generate electricity using solar, wind, methane, biomass, or hydro resources and to fuel cells using hydrogen produced by an eligible renewable technology.

Eligible systems in operation prior to July 1, 2014, must have a rated capacity of:

• 25 kW or less for residential customers and
• 200 kW or less for non-residential customers.

Eligible systems in operation on or after July 1, 2014, must have a rated capacity of:

• 15 kW or less for residential customers,
• 100 kW or less for non-residential customers, and
• 150 kW for any postsecondary educational institution or any public or private school which provides instruction for students enrolled in grade kindergarten or grades one through 12.