Installing Generating Equipment

Our Minimum Requirements for Interconnection Service will ensure the safe and reliable operation of customer generating equipment systems that will operate in parallel with our transmission and distribution systems. These requirements are approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and also found in Chapter 4901:1-22 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

Installing a permanent renewable energy generating equipment system may qualify you for our Net Energy Metering Service.

All other permanent generating equipment systems with a cogeneration facility capacity of ≤ 20 MW or small power production facility capacity of ≤ 5 MW, may qualify for our COGEN/SPP Service.

An overview of the Interconnection Process is available for your review.

For general information regarding the interconnection of generating equipment systems, please contact our DG Coordinator via US mail, e-mail or phone as noted below.

Sometimes you may need more specific information about the AEP Ohio system as you are making plans to interconnect your generating equipment system. We can provide a Pre-Application Report that will contain available pre-existing data that may be beneficial, particularly if you are considering a large generating equipment system and/or multiple locations. Simply complete a Pre-Application Request for each location online in PowerClerk after registering an account. An invoice for $300 per location will be emailed to the address indicated on the Pre-Application Request. The invoice must be paid before the Pre-Application Request will be reviewed and completed.

For generating equipment systems that have a capacity of 25 kW or less and utilize an inverter that is UL 1741 approved / IEEE 1547 compliant, the Short Form Application must be submitted. You can submit a Short Form Application online after registering an account with PowerClerk.

Please review the Short Form Information for details you will need to prepare an acceptable application.

The AEP Ohio Technical Requirements for Interconnection Service of Distributed Generation < 25 kW are based on the IEEE 1547 requirements and serve to add clarity to the IEEE 1547 requirements or to specify requirements not addressed by IEEE 1547. These Technical Requirements of AEP Ohio shall not be in conflict with Chapter 4901:1-22 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

AEP Ohio will prepare and provide the Interconnection Agreement once the application is approved. Here is a sample of the Interconnection Agreement for inverter-based equipment that is < 25 kW.

The Standard Form Application must be submitted for generating equipment systems that don't qualify for the Short Form Application. You can submit a Standard Form Application online after registering an account with PowerClerk.

Please review the Standard Form Information for details you will need to prepare an acceptable application.

The AEP Ohio Technical Requirements for Interconnection Service are based on the IEEE 1547 requirements and serve to add clarity to the IEEE 1547 requirements or to specify requirements not addressed by IEEE 1547. These Technical Requirements of AEP Ohio shall not be in conflict with Chapter 4901:1-22 of the Ohio Administrative Code. Please see the AEP Guide for Testing and Reporting per IEEE 1547.1 and the blank DG IEEE 1547.1 Testing matrix and Results Summary.

AEP Ohio will prepare and provide the Interconnection Agreement once the application is approved. Here is a sample of the Standard Interconnection Agreement.

Off-the-shelf portable generators, often used for backup or emergency power, should not be connected to your internal wiring without proper isolation from the AEP Ohio system. There are two approved manual electronic transfer switch devices (Generlink by Global Power Products & DirectPower by Briggs & Stratton) that can be installed between the AEP Ohio electric meter and its base to be used with a portable generator. AEP Ohio does not sell these devices. For safety reasons, AEP Ohio requires the signing of a liability waiver and that our meter electricians perform the installation of the devices. There is a fee for this installation service. See Generlink or Direct Power agreement for details.

A permanent emergency standby or backup generator using a make-before-break transfer scheme where the generator is paralleled less than 100 milliseconds (6 cycles) with the AEP Ohio distribution or transmission system does not fall under the interconnection service rules. The systems must meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1008.