Why does APS inspect my System as a condition to its startup and operation?
Your system is inspected to assure that it will not cause damage to our system or injury to our personnel or contractors. This inspection is required of all electric generators who request permission to connect to our system that can or will deliver electricity.

Is the inspection intended to make certain that my system is properly installed and in good working order?
Our inspection is centered on your interconnection to our system to assure that it complies with our standards. Our inspection is not intended to verify that in other respects your system has been correctly installed. Any questions you may have about your system's installation need to be refered to your installer. We may inspect certain elements of your system as they pertain to program requirements prior to payment of your incentive.
 
Why are these standards for interconnected operation so important?
These standards are important to safe and reliable operation of both your photovoltaic system and our utility distribution system. For example, our line crews routinely perform maintenance on our system and need to be able to verify that the facilities they are working on are de-energized to prevent being seriously injured. Our interconnection standards that are referenced in the Interconnection Agreement you signed are intended, in part, to allow for this verification. Other requirements make certain that your system does not interrupt our system's operation, resulting in system outages that could effect energy delivery to our other customers.

Failing to comply with the conditions of the Interconnection Agreement is a breach of its terms and may result in its termination. If that happens, we can require that you disconnect your system from our utility system and that you refund the incentive payment that was paid to you as a part of the Solar Partners Program.

What other operating consideration should I be aware of in the Interconnection Agreement?
Carefully review the Interconnection Agreement and its attachments to make sure you are fully aware of your responsibilities. For example, in addition to compliance with the interconnection standards, you need to bear in mind that you cannot make any changes to your system once we have inspected and cleared it for interconnected operation without first advising us. You also have to provide us continuing, unobstructed access to your property in case we need to observe your system's operation or access our meter or other equipment on your property.   

Why don't these requirements apply to all APS customers?  Why are Solar Partner Program Participants being singled out?
As a participant in the APS Solar Partners Program, you are no longer an ordinary electric customer - you are now also an electric generator.  As such, your responsibilities have changed significantly.  A lack of awareness or a negligent or intentional failure to abide by the terms governing your interconnection with our system can pose serious threats of personal injury (including loss of life) as well as property damage or loss, and can disrupt the reliability of electric distribution to other customers we serve.  The standards of interconnection included in our Interconnection Agreement with you are therefore intended for our mutual protection, to manage adverse risks that can easily be avoided given compliance with their requirements.

What happens if my System fails its inspection?
We will schedule another inspection at your premises to verify that your system is interconnected in compliance with the standards established in the Interconnection Agreement.  Because it is so important, we want to again emphasize that once your photovoltaic system is cleared for interconnected operation with the APS distribution system, changes to photovoltaic system's approved configuration may not be made without first informing us so that we may verify that the proposed changes meet required standards for interconnected operation.

Who should I call or contact if I have questions about the Interconnection Agreement and its requirements?
You can get answers to your questions by calling the APS Solar Partners Team at (602) 328-1924 or by e-mailing us at aps@aps.com.