News Stories
Sponsored by Earth Etch. Regulatory insight and compliance solutions for today’s energy markets.
PSC Order Revises Standardized Interconnection Requirements for DER Projects
On August 17, 2026 the New York PSC issued an order revising the standardized interconnection requirements to improve cost transparency for distributed energy resource projects.
Among other things the NYPSC found that utility cost estimates are generally reliable and that CESIR studies are typically completed within required timelines, so it declined to impose cost caps or new performance metrics.
The order requires utilities to publish and annually update cost matrices by March 3031 and provide actual upgrade costs by equipment and upgrade type and use the current cost matrix when developing CESIR estimates. The utilities must also provide a process for developers to request higher-confidence cost estimates, with a proposal due January 15, 2027.
The Commission maintained the 60 business day CESIR timeframe, with up to 40 additional business days by agreement, and directed utilities to continue including the 15% contingency in estimates, while clarifying that it is not a cap on developers’ actual costs.
Previously on August 13, 2026, the New York PSC issued a press release directing major utilities to improve standardization in the interconnection process for distributed energy resources up to 5 MW press release. The utilities must file tariff amendments by October 1, 2026.
As background the NY PSC opened this proceeding to consider standardized interconnection requirements, the application process for new distributed generators, and energy storage systems 5 MW or less connected to the utility distribution systems.
