TEP interconnection requirements
Sample preview — compiled from public sources 2026-08-19
Who this applies to
This page covers distributed generation interconnecting in parallel with Tucson Electric Power's distribution system (circuits of 46 kV line-to-line and below) — behind-the-meter solar, energy storage, and solar-plus-storage, residential through commercial. TEP is an ACC-jurisdictional utility, so two layers of documents govern:
- The Arizona Corporation Commission's Distributed Generation Interconnection Rules (A.A.C. Title 14, Chapter 2, Article 26), which set the application levels, screens, and review clocks. TEP publishes its own DGIR document implementing them.
- TEP's Interconnection Manual for Distributed Generation Projects confirm current revision, which carries the technical requirements — equipment certification to UL 1741 / UL 1741 SA and IEEE 1547-2018, the disconnect switch, metering, and protection — supplemented by TEP's Electric Service Requirements Book (SR-702 / SR-703 service requirements).
Back-up generation that never operates in parallel with TEP (open-transition transfer) is outside the interconnection process, and interconnections above TEP's highest distribution voltage are out of scope for this page.
Application pathway overview
Applications are filed through TEP's PowerClerk portal by the installer on the customer's behalf (new installers complete TEP's New Installer Packet first). TEP's manual sorts projects into the ACC levels by size, equipment certification, and technical screens A through J.
| Track | Eligibility | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — Super Fast Track | Inverter-based, 20 kW or less, certified equipment, passing screens A, E, and F | Rule clock: notification within 14 calendar days (R14-2-2617) |
| Level 2 — Fast Track | 21 kW to 2,000 kW, certified equipment, passing screens A through J | Rule clock: notification within 21 calendar days (R14-2-2618) |
| Level 3 — Study Track | Above 2,000 kW, or projects that fail lower-level screens | Optional pre-application and scoping meetings; Feasibility, System Impact, and Facilities studies as required |
| Supplemental Review | Applications that miss Level 1 or Level 2 requirements | Minimum feeder load, voltage/power quality, and safety/reliability screens |
Interconnection Agreements are required for all projects — routed through DocuSign for Level 1 and AdobeSign for Levels 2–3 — with a separate Exporting System Agreement form for systems of 20 kW-AC or less versus larger systems confirm current form.
Required forms & documents
The structural contents of a TEP packet, from TEP's Interconnection Manual and residential interconnection pages. Which items apply depends on level and configuration.
- Interconnection application in PowerClerk (tepdg.powerclerk.com), submitted by the installer on the customer's behalf
- Inverter manufacturer and model details, with equipment technical data — UL 1741 / UL 1741 SA listed, IEEE 1547-2018 conformant
- Facility site plan
- One-line electrical drawing
- Three-line wiring diagram
- Level 3 (above 2 MW): AC and DC control schematics, a location map, and equipment data sheets
- Interconnection Agreement executed with TEP (DocuSign for Level 1; AdobeSign for Levels 2–3), including the applicable Exporting System Agreement confirm current form
- Metering hardware per TEP's material kit — meter socket, hub, disconnect, and labels; a dedicated performance meter is required (TEP-supplied for Level 1 residential grid-tied systems)
- Service-entrance work compliant with TEP's Electric Service Requirements (SR-702 / SR-703 confirm current revision)
- After construction: AHJ electrical inspection and clearance, then the Notice of Installation Completion with as-built drawings and photos
Fees
TEP's consolidated Statement of Charges carries the customer-facing processing fee; Level 3 study costs are explained per project at the scoping meeting and billed to the applicant. Customer-side costs such as dedicated transformers or transformer upgrades are borne by the customer per the manual.
| Item | Published amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Go Solar Home Processing Fee | $100 verify current schedule | Per TEP's Statement of Charges (listed effective 2023-09-01) |
| Level 3 Study Track costs (Feasibility / System Impact / Facilities studies) | verify current schedule | Costs and timelines explained at the scoping meeting |
| Dedicated transformer or transformer upgrade | verify current schedule | Borne by the customer where required by TEP's manual |
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
- Project staging — TEP's residential process gives installers 60 days in Project Staging to prepare accurate drawings before submission.
- Submission — application and documents in PowerClerk, filed by the installer.
- Review — TEP reviews against the applicable level's screens. ACC rule clocks: notification within 14 calendar days (Level 1) or 21 calendar days (Level 2); Level 3 follows the study process.
- Agreement — Interconnection Agreement executed (DocuSign / AdobeSign by level).
- Construction and clearance — build to the approved design; obtain the AHJ electrical inspection and clearance, scheduling a power kill with TEP if needed.
- Notice of Completion — submit the Notice of Installation Completion with as-built drawings and photos.
- Meter set and permission to operate — TEP installs the production metering and issues PTO; the system stays off until then.
Common deficiency causes
Commonly cited reasons interconnection applications need rework — generic to the packet structure above, not drawn from SunDocket filing data.
- Three-line wiring diagram missing grounding, phase, or disconnect detail, or inconsistent with the one-line drawing
- Equipment not on the UL 1741 / UL 1741 SA certified lists the manual requires, or inverter model data missing from the application
- Metering hardware components missing from the material kit — meter socket, hub, disconnect, or labels — which TEP notes can cause rejection
- Missing signatures on the Interconnection Agreement or the wrong agreement form for the system size
- Customer-of-record or site data that doesn't match the TEP account
- Field installation not matching the approved drawings, surfacing at inspection or meter set
- Notice of Installation Completion filed without the required as-built drawings and photos, which stalls the meter set and PTO
FAQ
How long does TEP interconnection take?
The ACC's Distributed Generation Interconnection Rules set the review clocks TEP works under: notification of approval or denial within 14 calendar days for Level 1 Super Fast Track applications and within 21 calendar days for Level 2 Fast Track applications, with Level 3 timelines set by the study process. Separately, TEP's residential process gives installers 60 days in Project Staging to prepare accurate drawings before submission. Construction, inspection, meter set, and PTO add time on top of the review clocks.
What is the TEP interconnection application fee?
TEP's Statement of Charges lists a Go Solar Home Processing Fee of $100 (effective September 1, 2023 — verify current schedule). Level 3 Study Track projects also pay study costs, which TEP explains per project at the scoping meeting.
What portal does TEP use for interconnection applications?
TEP's PowerClerk portal (tepdg.powerclerk.com). The installer submits the interconnection application and required documents on the customer's behalf; new installers first complete TEP's New Installer Packet to get portal access.
What are TEP's interconnection levels?
Following the ACC rules, TEP's Interconnection Manual defines Level 1 Super Fast Track for inverter-based facilities of 20 kW or less using certified equipment, Level 2 Fast Track for facilities of 21 kW to 2,000 kW, and Level 3 Study Track for facilities above 2,000 kW or projects that fail the lower-level screens. A Supplemental Review is available for applications that miss Level 1 or Level 2 requirements.
What is the Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP)?
The RCP is TEP's export rate for excess solar energy, set under Rider-14. The rate in effect when the application is submitted is locked for 10 years; after that it adjusts annually, with a maximum decrease of 10% per year. Expanding a system by 1 kW or 10% ends the original rate lock. Each October, credit balances over $10 are paid out.
Do TEP solar customers have to change rate plans?
Yes. TEP publishes that new residential solar customers must enroll in a Time-of-Use or Demand Time-of-Use pricing plan; there is no standard flat rate for new solar customers. Verify current plan options against TEP's published rates before filing.
When can a TEP-connected system be turned on?
Only after TEP issues Permission to Operate. That happens after the AHJ electrical clearance, the Notice of Completion with as-built photos, and TEP's installation of the production metering. Installers must not operate the system before the PTO.
Change log
- Page created from public sources.
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
- TEP — Interconnection Manual for Distributed Generation Projects (PDF) (accessed 2026-08-19)
- TEP — Residential Interconnection Application Process (accessed 2026-08-19)
- TEP — Residential Solar Systems (RCP export rate and rate plans) (accessed 2026-08-19)
- TEP — Distributed Generation Interconnection Requirements (DGIRs) (PDF) (accessed 2026-08-19)
- TEP — Statement of Charges (PDF) (accessed 2026-08-19)
- Arizona Administrative Code, Title 14, Chapter 2, Article 26 — Distributed Generation Interconnection (R14-2-2617 et seq.) (accessed 2026-08-19)
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