APS interconnection requirements
Sample preview — compiled from public sources 2026-08-12
Who this applies to
This page covers distributed generation interconnecting in parallel with Arizona Public Service's distribution system — behind-the-meter solar, energy storage, and solar-plus-storage, residential through commercial. Two documents govern the process:
- The Arizona Corporation Commission's Distributed Generation Interconnection Rules (A.A.C. R14-2-2601 through R14-2-2628, effective February 25, 2020), which set the application levels, screens, and review clocks for ACC-regulated utilities.
- APS's own Interconnection Requirements for Distributed Generation manual (Revision 10.0 confirm current revision), which carries the technical requirements — equipment certification to UL 1741 (including supplements SA/SB) and IEEE 1547-2018, the utility disconnect, metering, and protection.
Generation that sells power for resale under FERC jurisdiction follows a separate OATT process and is out of scope for this page.
Application pathway overview
Applications are filed through APS's PowerClerk portal. The ACC rules sort projects into levels by size and equipment certification, each with its own review clock.
| Track | Eligibility | Review clock (per rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — Super Fast Track (R14-2-2617) | Inverter-based generating facility, 20 kW or less, using certified equipment | Utility notifies approval or denial within 14 calendar days |
| Level 2 — Fast Track (R14-2-2618) | Generating facility under 2 MW not processed under Level 1 | Utility reviews and notifies within 21 calendar days |
| Level 3 — Study Track (R14-2-2619) | 2 MW or greater, or projects that fail lower-level screens | Study-based; timeline set by the study process |
| Supplemental review (R14-2-2620) | Applications that can't be approved without additional evaluation | Additional review window and fee verify current schedule |
APS's process guide recommends a pre-application for aggregate systems of 500 kW-AC or more; APS returns a pre-application report within 21 days of the request.
Required forms & documents
The structural contents of an APS packet, from APS's Interconnection Application Process Guide confirm current revision. Which items apply depends on project type and size.
- Interconnection application in PowerClerk
- Authorization form, signed by the customer of record (routed for signature through the portal)
- Interconnection agreement, executed with APS
- Consumer acknowledgement form — solar purchases, financings, and leases (per Arizona consumer statute A.R.S. § 44-1763 confirm current form)
- Executed contract or invoice — residential purchase, finance, or lease transactions
- Site plan diagram — equipment locations, access, orientation
- Electrical three-line diagram (a one-line diagram is accepted for residential single-phase, load-side connections)
- PE stamp: commercial electrical drawings stamped by a Professional Engineer (Electrical) registered in Arizona; residential drawings only when APS requires it in writing
- Battery spec sheets for energy storage systems
- Systems over 1 MW (inverter-based): AC and DC control schematics, relay setting sheets, and sequence of operations
- After construction: permit clearance ("green tag") or accepted letter in lieu, CT enclosure approval where applicable, and an NRTL field-inspection letter where applicable
Fees
The ACC rules establish the fee framework by application level, with study and supplemental-review costs borne by the applicant. APS's published Interconnection Application Process Guide states no application fee, and no consolidated application fee schedule appears in the sources reviewed — those amounts stay flagged. The dollar amounts APS does publish are the study fees in its ACC-approved Service Schedule 6, which by its own terms applies to non-FERC generation sold to APS (for example, qualifying facilities) and not to load-side behind-the-meter systems under 1 MW that primarily serve on-site load.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee by level (Level 1 / 2 / 3) | verify current schedule | Not published in the sources reviewed; APS's process guide states no application fee, and the ACC DGIR framework permits Commission-approved fees |
| Supplemental review fee | verify current schedule | Not published in the sources reviewed; charged when an application needs additional evaluation (R14-2-2620) |
| Feasibility study — sale-to-APS generation below 69 kV (Service Schedule 6) | $5,000 verify current schedule | Per study, non-refundable; 69 kV and above billed at APS's actual cost (Schedule 6, Rev. 5, effective 2024-03-08, ACC Decision 79293) |
| System impact study — sale-to-APS generation below 69 kV (Service Schedule 6) | $15,000 verify current schedule | Per study, non-refundable; reduced to $10,000 if APS completed a feasibility study for the project; 69 kV and above billed at actual cost |
| Facilities study (Service Schedule 6) | Actual cost | Required for interconnection under Schedule 6; $55,000 deposit before study start, reconciled at completion |
Separately, APS's requirements manual directs interconnecting customers to carry appropriate insurance and to show proof of insurance no later than ten business days before the facility begins interconnected operation.
Filing here every month?
Design partners get 5 free filings and their territory encoded first — packets produced with dual human review while the software is built.
Typical timeline stages
- Submission — application and documents in PowerClerk.
- Review — APS reviews against the applicable level; revision requests come back through the portal. Rule clocks: 14 calendar days (Level 1) or 21 calendar days (Level 2) for notification.
- Approval to build — signed authorization and interconnection agreement in place.
- Construction and final documents — build to the approved design; submit permit clearance and any required inspection letters.
- Inspection and meter set — APS inspects where required and sets or reprograms the meter.
- Permission to operate — APS confirms PTO; until then the system stays off.
Common deficiency causes
Commonly cited reasons interconnection applications need rework — generic to the packet structure above, not drawn from SunDocket filing data.
- Three-line diagram missing grounding, phase, or disconnect detail — or a one-line submitted where a three-line is required
- Commercial drawings without the required Arizona PE stamp
- Equipment not certified to UL 1741 / IEEE 1547-2018 as the manual requires, or spec sheets missing
- Missing signatures on the authorization form or interconnection agreement
- Customer-of-record or site data that doesn't match the APS account
- Field installation not matching the approved diagrams at inspection or meter set
- Final documents (permit clearance, inspection letters) missing after construction, which stalls PTO
FAQ
How long does APS interconnection take?
The Arizona Corporation Commission's interconnection rules set the review clocks: APS must notify approval or denial within 14 calendar days for Level 1 applications (inverter-based, 20 kW or less, certified equipment) and within 21 calendar days for Level 2 (under 2 MW). Level 3 projects — 2 MW or greater, or projects that fail lower-level screens — run on a study timeline instead. Construction, inspection, and meter set add time beyond the review clocks.
What rules govern APS interconnection?
The Arizona Corporation Commission's Distributed Generation Interconnection Rules (A.A.C. R14-2-2601 through R14-2-2628, effective February 25, 2020) set the application levels, screens, and review clocks. APS's own Interconnection Requirements for Distributed Generation manual carries the technical requirements — equipment certification, the utility disconnect, metering, and protection.
What is the APS interconnection application fee?
APS's published Interconnection Application Process Guide states no application fee, and the ACC rules set a fee framework rather than dollar amounts — a consolidated application fee schedule is not published in the sources reviewed for this page. For interconnection studies on generation sold to APS (non-FERC), APS's ACC-approved Service Schedule 6 does publish study fees — see the fees table above. Verify the current schedule with APS before budgeting.
Do I need an engineer's stamp for APS interconnection?
For commercial systems, yes — electrical drawings must be stamped by a Professional Engineer (Electrical) registered in the State of Arizona. For residential systems, a stamp is required only when APS specifically requires it in writing.
Do I need a three-line diagram for APS?
APS requires an electrical three-line diagram for all systems that contain static inverters. A one-line diagram is accepted only for residential, single-phase, load-side connections.
What happens if my APS application needs revisions?
APS reviews the application and either approves it or sends revision requests back through the PowerClerk portal — its guide describes these as necessary changes to system design for safety or access reasons. The system can only be built after the application is approved, and at inspection APS verifies field conditions match the approved diagrams.
When can I turn my system on?
Not until APS grants permission to operate (PTO). After the final documents are reviewed, APS performs the inspection and meter set, then confirms PTO with a door hanger and confirmation email. APS's guide instructs customers not to operate the system before receiving PTO.
Change log
- Page created from public sources.
- Added FAQ section; added published Service Schedule 6 study fee amounts and noted which fees APS does not publish.
Requirements drift. Get the changes.
When this page's change log gets a new entry, we'll email you that entry. Nothing else — see the privacy note.
Sources
- APS — Interconnection Application Process Guide (PDF) (accessed 2026-08-12)
- APS — Interconnection Requirements for Distributed Generation, Revision 10.0 (PDF) (accessed 2026-08-12)
- Arizona Administrative Code, Title 14, Chapter 2, Article 26 — Distributed Generation Interconnection (R14-2-2617 et seq.) (accessed 2026-08-12)
- APS — Service Schedule 6: Interconnection Study Services and Fees for Non-FERC Generation Facilities, Rev. 5, effective 2024-03-08 (PDF) (accessed 2026-08-19)
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