Distributed Generation

Have you been considering the possibility of installing your own solar panels? No matter where you live or what your energy needs, Free State is committed to helping you. We have the resources and information to walk you through the ins and outs of interconnecting with the grid and parallel generation.

We are here to assist you by answering questions, providing feedback, and giving you the information you need to help in making the decision to add solar. There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer or solution, but understanding your options is the first step in making an informed decision for your property.

We want what is best for our members. Give us a call at 1-800-794-1989 and ask for Matt Lambert to get more information or to get started with your application to interconnect.

NOTICE: FreeState must approve all applications for grid interconnection.

Members operating distributed generation outside the rules and regulations of FreeState are subject to disconnection.

Please keep in mind that FreeState will work with your solar installation company, but it is important for members to stay in touch with FreeState during the process and have the system approved for the safety of our lineworkers.

Yes! FreeState is supportive of members who want to build their own generation system (such as solar and wind), as long as the member is fully aware of the commitment to cost, resources, and outcomes. It is vital that members understand the risks and are fully educated on how the cooperative handles member-owned distributed generation.

Members must follow the Interconnection Procedures, and the terms and conditions of the Interconnection Agreement between the Cooperative and the Customer, the Cooperative’s Rules and Regulations, and K.S.A. 66-1,184 et seq.

We want to protect our members, so we ask that before you ever sign anything or commit to anything, contact us first.

Buyers beware! Do your research. If someone asks you to sign immediately or you won’t get the deal, don’t sign. A reputable salesperson for a reputable company will give you the time needed to decide. Don’t be bullied into making a decision.

We recommend at least three bids (include local contractors) and know the cash price or understand the total cost of financing.

Members are our priority, and we want to help you – and make sure you are protected.

Please note that members operating renewable systems outside the rules and regulations of FreeState are subject to disconnection.

As defined in K.S.A. 66-1,184 et seq., any device or assembly of devices and supporting facilities that are capable of feeding excess electric power generated by a Customer’s energy producing system into the utility’s system, such that all energy output and all other services will be fully consumed by the Customer or the utility.

The owner or operator of a qualified distributed energy system:

Is powered by a “Qualifying Facility” for co-generation or small power production as defined in Subpart B of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), and 18 CFR Part 292;
Is located on a premises owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by the Customer’s Distributed Energy System;
Is interconnected and operates in parallel phase and synchronization with the Cooperative.
Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the Customer’s Distributed Energy System electrical energy requirements.
Meets all applicable safety, performance, interconnection, and reliability standards established by the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
Follows the guidelines of Underwriters Laboratories, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and any local governing authorities; and
Contains a mechanism that automatically disables the unit and interrupts the flow of electricity back onto the supplier's electricity lines in the event that service to the Customer Distributed Energy System is interrupted.

The following are FreeState’s Interconnection Procedures

1. The Interconnection Customer (“Customer”) completes the Interconnection Request (“Application”) and submits it to the Distribution Provider (“FreeState Electric Cooperative”). The application must include:
1. a. Contact Information – The Customer must provide the contact information for the legal applicant (i.e. the Interconnection Customer). If another entity is responsible for interfacing with the Company, contact information must be provided on the Application.
2. b. Ownership Information – Enter the legal names of the owner(s) of the Small Generating Facility. Include the percentage of ownership (if any) by any utility or public utility holding company, or by any entity owned by either.
2. The export capacity of a customer's renewable energy system shall be appropriately sized for such customer's anticipated electric load. Consideration:
1. a. UL1741 Listed – This standard (“Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems”) addresses the electrical interconnection design of various forms of generating equipment. Many manufacturers submit their equipment to a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) that verifies compliance with UL1741. This “listing” is then marked on the equipment and supporting documentation.
2. b. Alternating current, 60 cycles, at the voltage and phase of the Cooperative's established secondary distribution system immediately adjacent to the service location.
3. FreeState acknowledges to the Customer receipt of the Application within ten days of receipt.
4. FreeState evaluates the Application for completeness and notifies the Customer within thirty Days of receipt that the Application is or is not complete and, if not, advises what material is missing.
5. FreeState verifies that the Small Generating Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the screens contained in the Fast Track Process in the Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP). FreeState has 90 Days to complete this process. Unless FreeState determines and demonstrates that the Small Generating Facility cannot be interconnected safely and reliably, FreeState approves the Application and returns it to the Customer.
6. After installation, the Customer returns the Certificate of Completion to FreeState. FreeState acknowledges the Customer receipt of the Certificate of Completion within ten business days of receipt.
7. Prior to parallel operation, FreeState requires inspection of the Small Generating Facility for compliance with standards. FreeState will schedule a witness test within thirty days.
8. FreeState notifies the Customer in writing that interconnection of the Small Generating Facility is authorized. If the witness test is not satisfactory, FreeState has the right to disconnect the Small Generating Facility. The Customer has no right to operate in parallel until a witness test has been performed or previously waived on the Application. FreeState is obligated to complete this witness test within thirty Days of the receipt of the Certificate of Completion. If FreeState does not inspect within thirty Days or by mutual agreement of the Parties, the witness test is deemed waived.

Please note that members operating renewable systems outside the rules and regulations of FreeState are subject to disconnection.

The only way to avoid an electric bill is to go completely off the grid. The majority of members using solar panels or other distributed generation systems remain connected with the cooperative to ensure they have enough power during the times the system doesn’t produce enough. If you remained connected to the grid, you will receive a bill, which will assess the Electric Service Charge, plus any energy use, and demand charges, less the amount credited for your excess generation.

It is a deceptive sales practice to tell you that you will no longer have an electric bill.

As defined in K.S.A. 66-1,184 et seq., power that flows from a customer’s electrical system through such Customer’s billing meter and onto the utility's electricity lines. Export includes the sum of power on all phase conductors.

Even if you have a non-export system operating in parallel, it is still considered a distributed energy system.

Members using the parallel generation rider will still get a monthly bill for the power consumed from the grid as well as the typical monthly charges. What's different is that excess generation exported onto the grid is purchased by the cooperative and shows as a credit on the bill. The amount credited is equal to 100% of the amount FreeState would have paid their wholesale power supplier for the same amount of energy.

The legal language:

The Cooperative shall render a bill for consumption at approximately 30-day intervals during the Cooperative’s normal billing process. Billing by the Cooperative to the Customer shall be in accordance with the Cooperative’s applicable rate schedule. For electrical energy delivered by the Customer to the Cooperative from the Distributed Energy System, the Cooperative shall pay per kilowatt hour 100% of the Cooperative’s Avoided Cost of energy as a credit to the Customer’s electric bill. If the Cooperative utilizes the Locational Marginal Price method to determine its Avoided Cost, the Cooperative may credit the Customer’s bill on an annual basis. In no case will the Cooperative issue an invoice to the Customer for the energy exported to the Cooperative by the Customer’s Distributed Energy System.

In this region, the most common type of distributed generation installed by a member is solar, whether on the rooftop or in an array on land. The graphic below explains how solar energy is converted to electricity that can be used in a home.

To Report an Outage: