PG&E interconnection requirements
Sample preview — compiled from public sources 2026-08-12
Who this applies to
This page covers behind-the-meter generating facilities — solar, storage, and solar-plus-storage — interconnecting in parallel with PG&E's distribution system under Electric Rule 21, the interconnection tariff that the California Public Utilities Commission requires of its jurisdictional utilities (PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E each file their own version).
- Residential and small commercial solar — typically filed under PG&E's net-metering successor program (Solar Billing Plan / Net Billing Tariff) for systems 1 MW or less. Legacy NEM2 applications submitted before April 15, 2023 had to reach completion by April 15, 2026 or transition to the Solar Billing Plan.
- Storage — PG&E treats storage devices as generators for interconnection purposes; stand-alone and paired storage both apply through the same portal.
- Non-export projects — generation for on-site use only, filed with non-export operating configurations.
- Larger export projects — Rule 21 export interconnection for projects selling or exporting beyond the retail programs.
Wholesale projects under PG&E's Wholesale Distribution Tariff (WDT) and transmission-level interconnections are out of scope for this page.
Application pathway overview
All generation interconnection applications go through PG&E's Your Projects portal, which pre-populates customer account and service data and takes document uploads and fee payment at submission.
Rule 21 review is a screening ladder. Initial Review runs a set of technical screens covering penetration, voltage, and protective coordination; projects that pass all screens interconnect without further study. Failing specific screens moves a project to Supplemental Review (additional screens, additional non-refundable fee); failing that moves it to Detailed Study, which is slower, costs more, and can identify distribution upgrades. CPUC Decision 19-03-103 exempted NEM and inverter-based non-NEM projects of 1 MVA or less from one of the screens (Screen Q), which keeps most behind-the-meter projects on the fast path.
| Pathway | Typical projects | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Billing Plan / NEM-class interconnection | Residential and small commercial solar and paired storage, 1 MW or less | Streamlined screening; most projects clear Initial Review |
| Non-export / storage (Form 79-1216 confirm current revision) | On-site-use generation, stand-alone storage, limited-export configurations | Screening reflects certified non-export controls |
| Rule 21 export (Form 79-1145 confirm current revision) | Exporting generators outside the retail billing programs | Initial Review → Supplemental Review → Detailed Study as screens require |
| Pre-application report (Form 79-1181 confirm current revision) | Optional; larger projects scoping a site before applying | Data report only — not an application |
Required forms & documents
The structural contents of a PG&E behind-the-meter packet. Exact forms depend on program and configuration; every form number below should be checked against the current tariff book before filing.
- Interconnection application in the Your Projects portal, tied to the correct customer of record, service ID, and meter
- Standard NEM-class interconnection application (Form 79-1151B confirm current revision)
- Signed Agreement and Customer Authorization (A&A) form
- Single-line diagram showing point of interconnection, disconnects, overcurrent protection, and grounding
- Equipment spec sheets — CEC-listed modules, inverters, and storage; a variance request if equipment is not pre-approved
- Storage operating details: charging source (grid vs. PV-only), export mode, and certified power control system documentation for limited- or non-export designs
- Contractor license (CSLB) information
- California Solar Consumer Protection Guide disclosures for residential sales
- Application fee payment through the portal
Fees
PG&E charges a flat interconnection application fee that varies by program and project size, paid through the portal at submission. Projects pushed into Supplemental Review or Detailed Study pay additional study fees, and any grid upgrades identified are billed to the applicant.
| Item | Published amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee — NEM-class programs, 1 MW or less | $145 verify current schedule | Per PG&E's NEM program page |
| Application fee — generating facilities above 1 MW / other Rule 21 | $800 verify current schedule | Per PG&E tariff forms and program guidance |
| Supplemental Review fee | $2,500 verify current schedule | Non-refundable, per Rule 21 Table E.1; $0 for NEM-class projects 1 MW or less. Optional fault current study adds $1,000 |
| Detailed Study | verify current schedule | Deposit-based study fees per the Rule 21 tariff (e.g., $10,000 Detailed Study deposit for smaller facilities) |
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
The Rule 21 tariff attaches business-day clocks to the review stages; the figures below are from PG&E's filed Rule 21 tariff as accessed 2026-08-19 verify current tariff.
- Submission — application, documents, and fee through Your Projects.
- Completeness review — PG&E states in writing whether the application is complete and valid within 10 business days of receipt (20 business days under the Cost Envelope Option). Incomplete applications receive a written deficiency list: 10 business days to cure after a first notice, 5 after a second, one extension of up to 20 business days on request — failing to respond results in withdrawal.
- Engineering review — Initial Review screens, with results notified in writing within 15 business days of validation absent extraordinary circumstances; Supplemental Review only if screens fail, completed within 20 business days of Initial Review when the fee is pre-paid (an optional fault current study extends it by up to 10 business days); Detailed Study only if Supplemental Review fails, on a study timeline.
- Approval and agreement — executed interconnection agreement for the approved design.
- Installation and inspection — build to the approved design; obtain the local jurisdiction's final electrical clearance and upload it.
- Permission to operate — PG&E publishes that PTO typically issues in 5–10 business days after complete final documentation, with a stated maximum of 30 business days.
Common deficiency causes
Common ways Rule 21 applications fall short of the published requirements above — each item is a requirement in PG&E's and the CPUC's cited documents whose absence triggers a deficiency. Not drawn from SunDocket filing data.
- Customer-of-record or service-ID data that doesn't match PG&E's account records — the portal pre-populates from the account, and mismatches surface immediately
- Single-line diagram missing the point of interconnection, disconnect, overcurrent protection, or grounding detail
- Equipment not on the CEC certified equipment lists, or spec sheets missing for non-listed equipment
- Storage nameplate math errors on multi-battery systems, or an undeclared charging source
- Limited- or non-export designs without certified power control system documentation
- Missing signatures on the A&A form, or a stale form revision
- Missed deficiency-response windows, which can cost queue position or force resubmission
FAQ
How long does PG&E interconnection take?
PG&E's Rule 21 tariff sets business-day clocks: PG&E states whether an application is complete within 10 business days of receipt, delivers Initial Review results within 15 business days of validation, and completes Supplemental Review — when required and the fee is pre-paid — within 20 business days of Initial Review. After installation, PG&E publishes that Permission to Operate typically issues in 5–10 business days, with a stated maximum of 30. End-to-end time varies with project complexity and packet quality; verify the current tariff before planning around any clock.
What is the PG&E interconnection application fee?
Per the fee table in PG&E's Rule 21 tariff, the interconnection request fee is $145 for NEM-2 or Solar Billing Plan (NBT) projects of 1 MW or less, and $800 for non-NEM projects and projects above 1 MW. Verify the current schedule — tariff fees change by advice letter.
What is Rule 21?
California Electric Rule 21 is the interconnection tariff the CPUC requires of its jurisdictional utilities. It governs how generating facilities — solar, storage, and hybrids — connect in parallel with the utility's distribution system, including the screening ladder, review timelines, and fees. PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E each file their own version.
What happens if my PG&E application gets a deficiency notice?
PG&E states the reasons in a written notice. The Rule 21 tariff gives the applicant 10 business days to supply the missing information after a first notice and 5 business days after a second, with one extension of up to 20 business days available on request. Deficiencies left unresolved within those windows mean the application is deemed withdrawn and must be refiled.
What is Supplemental Review and what does it cost?
Projects that fail specific Initial Review screens move to Supplemental Review, a deeper evaluation the tariff requires PG&E to complete within 20 business days of Initial Review when the fee is pre-paid. Rule 21's fee table lists a $2,500 non-refundable Supplemental Review fee for non-NEM classes and $0 for NEM-class projects of 1 MW or less, plus an optional $1,000 fault current study. Verify the current schedule.
When can I turn my system on?
Only after PG&E grants Permission to Operate. Once the system is built, inspected by the local jurisdiction, and the final documentation is uploaded complete, PG&E publishes that PTO typically issues in 5–10 business days, with a stated maximum of 30 business days.
Change log
- Page created from public sources.
- Added FAQ section; added published Rule 21 review timelines and Supplemental Review fee from PG&E's filed tariff.
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
- PG&E — Electric Generation Interconnection (accessed 2026-08-12)
- PG&E — Net Energy Metering Program (accessed 2026-08-12)
- CPUC — Electric Rule 21: Generating Facility Interconnections (accessed 2026-08-12)
- PG&E — Electric Rule 21 tariff (PDF): Sections E.5 and F.2 review clocks; Table E.1 fees (accessed 2026-08-19)
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