These are the basic steps to installing solar or other distributed energy resources: 

1. Contractor completes the Utilities interconnection application. Installation work cannot begin without approval from Fort Collins Utilities.  
2. Contractor obtains building permit from Building Services. Work cannot being without a paid permit.  
3. Install solar PV system within six months of the date the rebate reservation is issued.
4. Schedule and complete final building inspection through Building Services.  
5. Notify Utilities through PowerClerk that the project passed final building inspection.
6. Utilities tests system to validate proper system performance. 
7. Rebate payment will be issued by check approximately six weeks after final Utilities system test. Residential solar and battery incentives are payable only to the electric account holder or real property owner, not the contractor.
   • For shared energy systems, the incentive still goes to the building owner or entity that's investing in the system. This would be the customer of record for the production meter. 

Tracking Your Application

Monitor your applications in PowerClerk from application through final Permission to Operate. 

Contractors and customers can use the Fort Collins Citizen Access Portal to track a building application with the Building Department using the site address.  

PowerClerk Training Resources 

See the linked slide deck or recorded training to learn how to use PowerClerk: 

• Presentation slides
• Recorded presentation

Using a Loan?   

If your customer is obtaining solar financing using the Epic Loan, the process includes a few more steps:  

1. Consider a home energy assessment through Epic Homes. 
2. Customer selects the contractor. 
3. Customer completes the Epic Loan application with fees. 
4. Lender confirms customer eligibility and sends loan approval form to Utilities. 
5. Lender notifies homeowner to contact the contractor with loan pre-approval and to submit solar application materials to Utilities (solar-rebates@fcgov.com).  
6. Solar contractor submits all required interconnection documents to Utilities (solar-rebates@fcgov.com) and the building permit application to Building Services.  
7. Utilities solar approver reviews project, issues rebate reservation letter and completes the loan approval form to send to Lender.  
8. Contractor submits building permit application to Building Services (review fee required). Building Services will notify contractor when permit review is completed.  
9. Lender notifies customer that project is approved, and contractor may begin. 
10. Contractor picks up building permit and pays fees. 
11. Construction occurs. 
12. Contractor calls for building inspection.
13. Building Services inspection is performed. 
14. Utilities testing, inspection and PTO is issued. 
15. Contractor submits Lien Waiver & Completion of Work affidavit to Lender along with final project invoice.  
16. Lender sends final loan approval form to solar program approver with final invoice.  
17. Solar approver completes final loan approval form and returns to Lender. 
18. Lender closes loan with customer and releases loan proceeds to contractor / customer. 

Code Resources for Distributed Energy Projects

All solar photovoltaic (PV) and electrical energy storage systems (ESS) interconnected to the customer electric service panel are connected to the Fort Collins Utilities distribution system as parallel generation resources and therefore must comply with Utilities' Interconnection Standards.

Prior to initiating any construction activity, the customer or installation contractor must:

1. Submit a completed Distributed Energy Interconnection application package and receive approval for interconnection from Utilities.
2. Pay for and possess a building permit for the installation.

See Fort Collins Building Department Codes page for current codes enforced for solar PV and battery installations. Colorado adopted NEC 2023 in August 2023.

Systems with solar PV and/or batteries connected to a building’s electrical system (and thus the electric distribution grid) are required to have:

• A manually operated, lockable, AC disconnect switch with a visual break must be readily accessible at all times by Utilities personnel on the outside of the building to allow all generation and storage elements of the DER system to be disconnected from the grid safely during maintenance or outage conditions. The disconnect(s) shall be located next to the Utilities' electric meter and rated for the voltage and fault current requirements of the DER system. A permanent engraved placard shall be applied to the meter with a site diagram if the AC disconnect is within sight and 10 feet from the meter. 
• It is recommended that the disconnect be positioned so that it also serves to isolate any future installation of energy storage or electric vehicle charging equipment from the grid.

NEC 2023 requires:

• Energy storage systems are required to have a readily accessible and lockable disconnect located within sight of the ESS, or as close as practicable.
• For one and two-family dwellings ONLY, a disconnect which isolates the ESS or its remote control shall be located outside the building, grouped with the AC disconnect that isolates the house from the grid.

Placard Requirements:

Permanent placards are required by NEC 110, 480, 690 and 705, 706 and potentially other codes which may apply. NEC 2020 provides updates to placard requirements.

International Residential Code (2021), R328 addresses installation location, spacing, size, fire detection, documentation, listing and labeling in accordance with UL9540 and UL1741, ventilation of flammable gasses and protection from vehicle impact. (More detail here.)

Design Configurations

Acceptable system configurations have been outlined by Fort Collins Light and Power for five unique inverter connected DER configurations including storage:  

1. AC-coupled with no backed up loads 
2. DC-coupled with no backed up loads 
3. AC-coupled with backed up loads, generation operable during backup 
4. AC-coupled with backed up loads, generation not operable during backup 
5. DC-coupled with backed up loads 

View Approved Storage System Designs

Using Meter Collar Equipment for Solar Interconnection

The ConnectDER (5.1) and Tesla Backup Switch are approved for use in Utilities' electric service territory on homes that have ring-type meter can assemblies. Newer homes have ringless meter cans, which are currently not approved for the implementation of these meter collars.

For customers with battery systems, use of a Tesla Backup Switch with a whole-home backup configuration locates the AC disconnect in the home electrical system such that opening the AC disconnect causes the battery system to isolate from home loads. Utilities staff will open the AC disconnect any time they need to work on the distribution grid in the immediate vicinity. This loss of service from the battery during a grid-down scenario can be unexpected and frustrating to customers.

This issue is not unique to Tesla project designs; system configurations with other equipment can be designed in a way that introduces the same concern.

Utilities recommends solar contractors educate their customers about the implications of design choices and incorporate the following authorization language into their project documentation for customer signatures and submit it with the DE Interconnection Application:

My solar contractor has explained to me, and I fully understand, that the system design proposed in this application uses a Tesla Backup Switch, or other meter socket-based equipment, instead of a separate Gateway or transfer switch.

While both of these equipment options function the same way under normal grid operating conditions, as well as during widespread outages, the battery system will be isolated from all loads in the building if the AC disconnect switch is opened (turned off). This would occur if the AC disconnect is opened for maintenance, an emergency, or for safety reasons so Fort Collins Utilities can repair a local portion of the electric distribution system.

Customer Signature & Date: ___________________________________

In November 2021, Utilities offered clarifying policy regarding customer notification about use of the Backup Switch meter collar equipment and educating customers about the potential implications of this electrical configuration to protect contractors from liability:

• Solar contractors are not required to submit evidence of customer authorization in their interconnection application to use the Backup Switch in their home energy system.
• If a solar contractor does submit a signed customer authorization, this protects the contractor from complaints by the customer about the functional performance of their system regarding the battery isolation from loads when the AC disconnect is opened.
• If a solar contractor does not submit a signed customer authorization, the contractor will be held responsible for complaints from the customer about the functional performance of their system regarding the battery isolation from loads when the AC disconnect is opened.

Battery Installations in Garages

The International Residential Code (IRC 2021) Section R328 addresses installation location, spacing, size, fire detection, documentation, listing and labeling in accordance with UL9540 and UL1741, ventilation of flammable gasses and protection from vehicle impact. Fort Collins Building Services enforces this code.

Regarding the protection from impact from a vehicle, the code provides little clarity regarding what the impact zone is or how to mitigate it:

R328.8 Protection from Impact: ESS installed in a location subject to vehicle damage shall be protected by approved barriers.

Building Services has offered interpretation and guidance to contractors regarding designs complying with this code:  

Although the International Fire Code (IFC) is enforced by Poudre Fire Authority, not Building Services, the IFC Figure 1207.1.7.1 provides a helpful illustration of potential ESS locations, some of which need impact protection:

There are obvious impact zone areas as shown that present a hazard and require approved barriers. The wall directly in front of vehicle parking would be an impact zone and would require the extra barrier for protection whereas a side wall of a garage (where we see the majority of ESS installed) would not be considered an impact zone. ESS manufacturer requirements may be more restrictive than what minimum code would require.