Solar & Battery Interconnection
Our certified Energy Advisors can help you make an informed decision about solar energy. We can walk you through the process and help you understand feasibility, economics, and taxes. We want you to have peace of mind in your decision to add solar.
Prior to Installation
Laurens Electric recommends members do not install a solar system or enter into any contracts or financial obligations until the cooperative has evaluated the proposed system.
Solar Application Fees
- Residential Fee $200.00
- Non-Residential $300.00
Note: In the memo area of the check, please include the address of the member applying for interconnection. (example: 1234 Solar Dr. Laurens, SC 29360)
Or call 1-800-942-3141 and pay by debit or credit card with one of our member services representatives.
Step by Step Guide and Online Application
Step 1 Submit Application to Interconnect.
Member herby gives notice of intent to operate an interconnected Distributed Resource facility pursuant to the “Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resource less than 2 MVA with Cooperative’s Electric System”. Permission to interconnect is not granted until an Interconnection Agreement has been completed between the Cooperative and the Member.
Step 2 Laurens Electric Cooperative will review the application.
If the system is oversized, Laurens Electric will contact both the member and the solar company.
Step 3 Standards for Interconnecting Distributed Resources
Step 4 Once all materials are reviewed and pass inspection, Laurens Electric will contact the member to sign the Interconnection Agreement.
*All AC disconnects must be on the exterior of the home and within 5 feet of the Utility Meter. If further than 5 feet away permission to operate will not be given.*
*Please allow 2 to 3 business days for the review period to be completed*
Step 5 After the member has signed the interconnection agreement, Laurens Electric will send an “Approval to Install” letter to the solar company.
Step 6 Once the solar company has received the codes release from the appropriate county, Laurens Electric will update the meter, following the completion of a field inspection.
The meter will be updated at either the end of the month or the end of the billing cycle, whichever may come first.
Step 7 Laurens Electric will forward the “Permission to Operate” letter to the solar installer and member.
*If a PV system has back-up power provision that will not operate in parallel with utility, an open transfer switch would be required to have a physical separation from utility power*
Requirements for Solar Providers
- LEC no longer approves any lineside piercing taps. Should such a configuration be encountered, the solar-system application would not be approved, nor would the interconnection process be completed.
- If at any time these accepted points of interconnection require a meter base gut change out, meter base upgrade, or upgrade to service at the member’s home, the solar provider must contact interconnections@laurenselectric.com to request a temporary disconnect before the work is done. If the application is NOT in “approval to install” status, we will NOT grant the temporary disconnection until the application is in “approval to install” status. Also, once power is temporarily disconnected, we will require a county inspection separate to the solar permit to have service reconnected.
- Any plan to install solar equipment upon a power-line right-of-way easement assigned to the cooperative is prohibited. Neither project approval nor the interconnection process will go forward until the proposed site of the equipment is relocated. The relocation site must be situated on ground that rests totally beyond the boundaries of any said right-of-way strip.
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