Additional Permitting and Cost Considerations

Beyond the interconnection process, there are multiple permitting requirements and considerations for different distributed generation technologies. These can range from local inspections and historical commissions to review by the State Energy Facilities Siting Board and other state and federal review boards and agencies.

  • Note: in order to participate in the Forward Capacity Market, DG and other "Demand Resources" must submit "Show of Interest Forms" to ISO-NE before February 28, 2007

The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER) Permitting and Interconnection Guidebook is an authoritative source on permitting requirements for distributed generation and renewable energy at these different levels. These permitting requirements must be fully understood in pursuing any distributed generation project and, if not properly planned for, may add significant review time before installation of a project.

Two critical outside / alternative reviews are:

The following cost and revenue topics should also be considered:

The interconnection tariff explicitly addresses possible upgrades of the electric distribution system. However, it does not mention that the customer should contact other (non-electric) utilities and entities for possible construction costs. Interconnection arrangements with the electric utility will only address electric system upgrades. Associated work by other utilities (telephone, cable T.V.) is not included in estimates of electric upgrade costs. It is the customer's responsibility to contact these other utilities and pay any associated costs. Please note that in some towns the telephone company is responsible for setting poles and does so on their schedule.

Below are examples of possible pole attachments for which that a DG customer could incur costs:

  • telephone
  • cable T.V.
  • fiber optic
  • fire alarm
  • town street lights
  • municipal electric department
  • miscellaneous attachments (Chamber of Commerce banners, town owned
    flags).