Announced 8/21/2017 4:26 PM

Stakeholders,

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has approved a decision in our rate review, and we are happy to share some details with you affecting our solar customers. We appreciate your support in delivering this message to customers and will be glad to help you with any questions you may have. For your reference, attached are letters that were sent to customers regarding grandfathering. Other resources are available at aps.com/gosolar.

Grandfathering

• Current solar customers that are interconnected to the APS grid will remain grandfathered for 20 years from the date of interconnection.
  • The grandfathering stays with the premise. Systems transferred to a new premise will require a new application, and the customer would no longer be eligible for EPR-6.
  • Over the terms of the grandfathering period, a customer may not increase the capacity of their grandfathered solar system by more than a total of 10% or 1 kW, whichever is greater.
• Customers who submit a complete application by 11:59 p.m. August 31, 2017 will be eligible for grandfathering. The system would need to be installed and have AHJ approval by February 28, 2018 in order to qualify. A complete application includes all of the following:
  • Customer Application
  • Executed Contract
  • Disclaimer
  • Consumer Acknowledgement
  • Installer Application
  • Three Line Diagram
  • Site Plan
• Future solar customers whose complete application (as noted above) is submitted on or after September 1, 2017 may be eligible for Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) Export rate. This rate would allow customers to receive a credit for excess energy sent to the grid.

Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) Export Rate

In addition to the typical requirements, to qualify for RCP the solar system will need to meet the following criteria:

• Systems over 10 kW DC may not exceed 150% of the customer’s maximum one-hour peak demand over the prior 12 months. (For example, if the customer’s maximum peak demand is 8 kW, then the maximum size system installed would be 12 kW DC.)
• The nameplate capacity cannot be larger than the following electrical service limits:
  • For 200 Amp service, a maximum of 15 kW DC
  • For 400 Amp service, a maximum of 30 kW DC
  • For 600 Amp service, a maximum of 45 kW DC
  • For 800 Amp service, a maximum of 60 kW DC

Use this link to learn more: Rate Rider RCP

Interconnection Application Checklist

The checklist used to review applications has been revised to include RCP qualification criteria, and is attached for your convenience. Please use this tool to ensure applications meet the qualifications and Interconnection Requirements for expeditious approval.

New Homes

In order to qualify for RCP (see RCP requirements above), customers installing solar systems over 10 kW DC on a newly constructed home that does not have established usage history will need to provide load calculations stamped by an Electrical Professional Engineer in Arizona. These load calculations will need to be uploaded to the application under the document type “New Build Load Calculations”.

Resubmittals After Approval

In order to continue our efforts to streamline the application review process, applications that have new diagrams submitted after approval (i.e. change in equipment and new diagrams are uploaded) will need to be canceled and a new application will be required. The new application will be subject to the rate rider in effect at the time the complete application is submitted. This change is effective immediately. (See below, APS has extended this) Applications with resubmittals prior to today will continue to be manually processed.  

Saver Choice Tech Plan Qualification (Formally known as R-Tech)

The Saver Choice Tech Plan Qualification application will be available online August 22, 2017. Customers interested in this experimental rate can apply if they meet the requirements.

Use this link to learn more: Saver Choice Tech

Solar Water Heater Incentive Program

The Solar Water Heater Incentive Program is now closed. Applications that have already been submitted will remain active.

We appreciate your patience as we process the high volume of applications received over the past several months. We will continue to work with you and answer any questions that may arise during this time of transition.

If you would like more information regarding the rate review decision, please visit azenergyfuture.com.

Sincerely,

APS Renewable Energy Team

 On 8/21/2017 5:35 PM, APS Renewable Energy emailed a revision: