Con Edison Solar Interconnection Requirements and Process

Consolidated Edison Company of New York (Con Edison) operates the electric distribution network serving New York City's five boroughs and Westchester County, making its interconnection process a mandatory gateway for hundreds of thousands of potential solar installations. Any solar photovoltaic system that exports power to the grid — or that draws from it as a backup — must satisfy Con Edison's technical, administrative, and safety requirements before energization. This page documents the requirements, process phases, classification rules, and known complications that define the Con Edison interconnection pathway.

• Definition and Scope
• Core Mechanics or Structure
• Causal Relationships or Drivers
• Classification Boundaries
• Tradeoffs and Tensions
• Common Misconceptions
• Checklist or Steps (Non-Advisory)
• Reference Table or Matrix

Definition and Scope

Con Edison solar interconnection refers to the formal process by which a distributed generation (DG) solar system is reviewed, approved, physically connected to, and authorized to operate in parallel with Con Edison's electric distribution system. The legal framework is grounded in the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) Case 15-E-0751, which established standardized interconnection procedures for distributed energy resources statewide, and in Con Edison's own tariff schedules — specifically Tariff Leaf No. 160 (the Distributed Generation Interconnection Tariff) filed with the PSC.

Geographic scope: This page covers Con Edison's service territory only — New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) and most of Westchester County. It does not apply to PSEG Long Island customers (see PSEG Long Island Solar Interconnection), Orange and Rockland Utilities customers, or any areas served by municipal utilities. National Grid territory in upstate New York, Central Hudson, or NYSEG service areas fall outside the scope of Con Edison's tariff and application portal.

The interconnection obligation applies to grid-tied systems regardless of size — from a 3 kW rooftop residential array to a multi-megawatt commercial installation. Off-grid systems with no utility connection are not subject to Con Edison interconnection review, though they may still require local building permits and must comply with National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 690 and New York State building codes.

For broader context on how solar energy systems function in New York, see How New York Solar Energy Systems Work.

Core Mechanics or Structure

Con Edison's interconnection process is structured in discrete phases that mirror the New York Standardized Interconnection Requirements (SIR), published by the New York PSC. The SIR defines three primary review tracks based on system capacity and installation type.

Track 1 — Simplified Process: For residential and small commercial systems at or below 25 kW (single-phase) or 50 kW (three-phase) that meet pre-certified inverter and equipment standards, Con Edison targets a 15-business-day approval timeline. The application is primarily administrative. Systems using inverters on Con Edison's pre-approved list — typically UL 1741-certified equipment that also meets the supplemental IEEE 1547-2018 requirements — qualify automatically for Track 1 if the host site's load meets minimum thresholds.

Track 2 — Standard Review: Systems between 50 kW and 5 MW undergo a more detailed technical study. Con Edison performs a Supplemental Review to assess voltage regulation, protection coordination, and potential impacts on the feeder serving the site. The study period can extend to 45 business days.

Track 3 — Detailed Study: Systems above 5 MW, or those that fail Supplemental Review, require a full Impact Study. This can involve distribution system modeling, cost allocation for required upgrades, and negotiation of an Interconnection Agreement. Timelines for Track 3 are project-specific and frequently exceed 6 months.

Across all tracks, a formal Interconnection Agreement (IA) must be executed before the system is energized. Con Edison also issues a Permission to Operate (PTO) letter — the final authorization — only after a utility inspection or review of third-party inspection documentation confirms the physical installation complies with the approved design.

Causal Relationships or Drivers

The structure and complexity of Con Edison's interconnection process is driven by the density and age of its distribution infrastructure. Con Edison serves approximately 3.4 million electric customers (Con Edison 2022 Annual Report) across one of the most densely built urban grids in North America. Underground cable networks in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn operate at higher fault current levels and tighter voltage tolerances than overhead rural systems, which means that even small solar arrays can trigger protection coordination concerns that would be negligible in suburban territories.

New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) — signed into law in 2019 — mandates 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, creating a regulatory push that has dramatically increased the volume of interconnection applications. This application volume increase stresses Con Edison's review pipeline, contributing to timeline extensions that are documented in PSC proceedings.

Net metering policy — specifically New York's transition from traditional net metering to Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) / Value Stack tariff — also shapes how interconnection is structured, because the applicable compensation mechanism is determined at the time of interconnection application, not at installation. For details on how these rate structures affect project economics, see New York Utility Rate Structures and Solar.

IEEE Standard 1547-2018, adopted as the mandatory interconnection equipment benchmark in New York, requires advanced inverter functions — including ride-through capability, reactive power control, and voltage/frequency response — that did not exist in earlier generations of solar equipment. Inverters purchased before 2020 may not satisfy these requirements even if they carry UL 1741 listing.

Classification Boundaries

Con Edison uses four primary size thresholds to classify interconnection applications, each carrying different study, fee, and timeline implications:

The "network protector zone" classification is particularly important for New York City. Con Edison's secondary network — a looped underground system serving dense urban areas — uses network protectors that automatically disconnect under reverse power flow. Solar systems in these zones face additional engineering review regardless of size, and in some feeder configurations, interconnection may be denied or limited to export-limited operation. This constraint affects a significant portion of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Battery storage paired with solar adds another classification dimension. Under PSC Case 18-E-0130, storage systems above 5 kWh must be separately disclosed in the interconnection application, and systems configured for export require their own DER interconnection treatment. See New York Solar Battery Storage Integration for technical specifics.

Tradeoffs and Tensions

The principal tension in Con Edison's interconnection framework is between approval speed and grid safety. Track 1's 15-business-day target is achievable only when equipment is pre-certified and feeder capacity is adequate — conditions that do not apply to dense urban feeders already hosting multiple DG systems. Applicants sometimes discover mid-process that their feeder has reached its "screen" threshold under the SIR's 15% of peak load rule, which automatically escalates a Track 1 application to Track 2.

A second tension exists between the VDER application date rule and project development timelines. Because the compensation rate is locked at application submission, developers face financial pressure to file early — even before equipment procurement is final. Con Edison allows application amendments, but material changes to system size or equipment after submission can restart the review clock.

The cost allocation of distribution upgrades is a recurring conflict. If a Track 2 or Track 3 study finds that feeder upgrades are required to accommodate a new solar system, those costs may be allocated to the applicant under Con Edison's tariff. Upgrade costs ranging from tens of thousands to over $1 million have been documented in PSC proceedings, making large-system interconnection economically uncertain before the study is complete.

Export limitation — where Con Edison approves a system only if its export capacity is capped below its generation capacity — resolves some feeder capacity conflicts but reduces the energy value of the installation. Systems in network protector zones frequently receive zero-export approvals, meaning all generation must be consumed on-site or stored.

For a broader look at how these regulatory tensions shape New York solar project development, see the Regulatory Context for New York Solar Energy Systems.

Common Misconceptions

Misconception: Utility approval of a solar permit means interconnection is approved.
Con Edison's interconnection application is separate from the building permit issued by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) or a Westchester municipality. A DOB permit authorizes construction; Con Edison's PTO authorizes grid connection. Both are required before a system can legally energize.

Misconception: Pre-certified inverters guarantee Track 1 approval.
Using an inverter on Con Edison's pre-approved equipment list is a necessary but not sufficient condition for Track 1. The feeder capacity screen and the site's load-to-generation ratio must also pass before the application stays in the simplified track.

Misconception: Interconnection applications can be submitted after installation.
Con Edison's tariff requires application and approval before energization. Connecting a solar system without authorization violates the tariff and can result in required disconnection and potential liability under the service agreement.

Misconception: All New York City buildings can export solar power.
Buildings served by Con Edison's secondary network in dense Manhattan and Brooklyn zones frequently cannot export power due to network protector operation. This is a hardware constraint of the grid, not a policy choice, and it cannot be resolved by equipment upgrades on the customer side alone.

Misconception: The interconnection process is the same for all New York utilities.
New York's SIR establishes minimum standards, but each utility's tariff and engineering practices differ. Con Edison's network protector territory, its application portal (the Con Edison MyAccount DG portal), and its study fees are specific to its service area. The New York Solar Authority home page provides orientation to the multi-utility landscape across the state.

Checklist or Steps (Non-Advisory)

The following sequence reflects the phases of the Con Edison interconnection process as documented in the New York SIR and Con Edison's published DG interconnection procedures. This is a structural description, not professional guidance.

1. Pre-application site assessment: Confirm service territory (Con Edison vs. another utility), identify network protector zone status using Con Edison's DG Hosting Capacity Map, and determine applicable size threshold.

2. Equipment selection: Select inverters from Con Edison's pre-approved list (IEEE 1547-2018 / UL 1741 SA certified). Confirm battery storage, if included, meets PSC Case 18-E-0130 disclosure thresholds.

3. Application submission: Submit via Con Edison's online DG interconnection portal. Include single-line electrical diagram, equipment specifications, site plan, and applicable application fee (fees range by system size as published in Tariff Leaf No. 160).

4. Completeness review: Con Edison has 10 business days to notify the applicant of any missing documentation. Incomplete applications pause the review clock.

5. Technical screening: Con Edison applies the SIR's screens (15% of peak load, short-circuit current, voltage regulation). Track 1 systems that pass all screens proceed to approval without a full study.

6. Supplemental or Impact Study (Track 2/3): If screens are not passed, Con Edison issues a study agreement and fee estimate. The applicant must execute the study agreement to continue.

7. Interconnection Agreement execution: Upon study completion and approval, Con Edison issues a draft IA. The applicant executes the IA and pays any required upgrade cost deposits.

8. Construction and inspection: The solar system is constructed per approved design. A licensed electrician completes the installation. A final electrical inspection is conducted (DOB or local authority having jurisdiction).

9. As-built documentation: Applicant submits as-built single-line diagram and any required test results (anti-islanding test, interconnection test report) to Con Edison.

10. Permission to Operate (PTO): Con Edison reviews as-built documentation and, if compliant, issues the PTO letter. The system may be energized only after PTO receipt.

Reference Table or Matrix

Con Edison Interconnection Track Comparison

Key Regulatory References for Con Edison Interconnection

References

• New York Public Service Commission (PSC) — Regulatory authority over utility interconnection standards and tariff approvals in New York State
• NY PSC Case 15-E-0751 — Standardized Interconnection Requirements — The foundational PSC proceeding establishing the NY SIR framework
• Con Edison Distributed Generation Interconnection — Con Edison's official DG interconnection portal and tariff documentation
• IEEE 1547-2018 Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources — Equipment performance standard required for New York interconnection
• NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code, Article 690 — PV system electrical installation safety requirements
• [New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)](https://www.nyserdata.ny.gov/landing/clcpa