Interconnection Guidelines

May 31, 2024

Summary

Missouri enacted legislation in June 2007 requiring all electric utilities—investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and electric cooperatives—to offer net metering to customers that generate electricity using wind energy, solar-thermal energy, hydroelectric energy, photovoltaics (PV), fuel cells using hydrogen produced by one of the aforementioned resources, and other sources of energy certified as renewable by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted administrative rules for investor-owned utilities that included simplified interconnection standards, and electric cooperatives and municipal utilities adopted their own rules, including an all-in-one document that includes a simple interconnection request, simple procedures, and a brief set of terms and conditions. 

Systems must meet all applicable safety, performance, interconnection and reliability standards established by any local code authorities, the National Electrical Code (NEC), the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for distributed generation. Utilities may require customers to provide a switch, circuit breaker, fuse or other easily accessible device or feature that allows the utility to manually disconnect the system. 

System Capacity Requirements

Systems must be intended primarily to offset part or all of a customer's own electrical energy requirements, have a capacity up to 100 kilowatts (kW), and be located on a facility owned, operated, leased or otherwise controlled by the customer.

Process

Utilities must offer a net-metering tariff or contract that is identical in electrical energy rates, rate structure, and monthly charges to the contract or tariff that the customer would be assigned if the customer were not an eligible customer-generator. Utilities may not charge the customer any additional standby, capacity, interconnection, or other fee or charge that would not otherwise be charged if the customer were not an eligible customer-generator. 

Applications for interconnection must be accompanied by a plan for the customer's system, including a wiring diagram and specifications for the generating unit. Utilities must review and respond to the customer within 30 days for systems up to 10 kW, and within 90 days for systems greater than 10 kW. Prior to interconnection, a customer must furnish the utility with certification from a qualified professional electrician or engineer that the installation complies with the established safety and operating requirements. 

In June 2009 the PSC reduced the minimum liability insurance requirement for systems larger than 10 kW to $100,000 and eliminated the insurance requirement for systems of 10 kW and smaller. Insurance requirements may be met with an additional insurance policy or an endorsement on an existing policy.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Regulatory Policy
State: Missouri
Incentive Type: Interconnection
Web Site: https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/net-metering-easy-connection-act-pub2238/pub2238
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar Thermal Electric
  • Solar Photovoltaics
  • Wind (All)
  • Hydroelectric
  • Wind (Small)
  • Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Applicable Utilities: All utilities
System Capacity Limit: 100 kW
Standard Agreement: Yes
Insurance Requirements: None for systems less than or equal to 10 kw
$100,000 for systems larger than 10 kW
External Disconnect Switch: Utility's discretion
Net Metering Required: Yes

Authorities

Name: R.S. Mo. § 386.890
Date Enacted: 06/25/2007
Effective Date: 01/01/2008
Name: 4 CSR 240-20.065
Date Enacted: 10/23/2008
Effective Date: 02/28/2009 (subsequently amended)

Contact

Name: Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy Division of Energy
Address: 1101 Riverside Drive
Jefferson City MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-2254
Email: energy@dnr.mo.gov
Name: Dan Beck
Organization: Missouri Public Service Commission
Address: P.O. Box 360
Jefferson City MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-7522
Email: dan.beck@psc.mo.gov

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.