By the end of 2021, nearly 5,000 CORE members had rooftop solar systems interconnected to our grid, accounting for more than 26 megawatts of potential power. CORE welcomes additional generation interconnections and wants members considering rooftop solar to be aware of the following:
- CORE does not require a contract with any rooftop solar vendor for solar panel installation within our service territory, nor do we require any members to obtain rooftop solar generation. We accept all interconnection applications that meet the criteria listed in our Small Generation Interconnection Procedure (SGIP) or Qualifying Facility Large Generation Interconnection Procedure (LGIP), both of which can be found on our Generation Interconnections page.
- We have received reports of door-to-door and other solar sales personnel falsely claiming to be affiliated with CORE. We do not have agreements of any type with any solar providers granting either exclusive or non-exclusive business within our service territory, nor have we authorized any solar contractors to speak on our behalf.
- CORE is not at all against solar interconnections. We do, however, want members to have the most accurate information regarding rooftop solar, which is not always provided by rooftop solar companies. Some sales and installation personnel falsely blame CORE for their own company’s decision to not operate within CORE’s service territory. Also be wary of comments seen on social media, especially generalizations and mischaracterizations of CORE’s policy regarding solar. We do not and cannot prohibit solar providers from installing their products in our service territory. We also do not have a preferred company for a rooftop solar installation.
- Our application for an interconnection describes net metering and qualified facilities in detail. That application can be found on our Generation Interconnections page.
- Net metering is available to residential members installing a system that is 10 kilowatts (AC) or less, and from which proposed annual solar production does not exceed 200% of the member’s 12-month usage. If the system exceeds 10 kilowatts, it will not be net-metered, consistent with state law. A solar-generating member with a system exceeding 10 kilowatts may still receive a monthly credit for any kilowatt-hours their system delivers to CORE at our avoided cost, which was 4.8 cents per kilowatt-hour through April 2023 and is 5.5 cents per kilowatt-hour from May 2023 through April 2024. Our avoided cost is recalculated annually; the amount credited will be adjusted consistently with changes to the avoided cost.
- If your solar vendor is not familiar with CORE’s policies and procedures, be sure to contact us to discuss how the installation of solar may affect your monthly bill.
- Solar vendors often operate in multiple states with varying policies on interconnections and may not be familiar with CORE’s rate structure. When speaking with a rooftop solar vendor, request that any explanation of possible benefits be based specifically on CORE’s rate structure.