You must follow several requirements when installing power generation equipment at your site. These requirements protect the safety of the public and our line crews. They also enable the reliable and compatible operation of your generation system with our electrical system.
What is customer generation?
Typical customer electric generation is located on your property and may include:
- solar photovoltaic systems
- wind turbines
- fuel cells
- biomass
- hydro
- on-farm anaerobic digestion systems
- fossil-fuel power generation
Customer generation can serve a number of purposes:
- Emergency generation designed to be used during power outages
- Cogeneration for customers that have consistently high needs for steam or another form of thermal energy
- Peak demand generation to be used during periods of high energy demand
- Dispersed generation, which is customer generation operated at the request of Detroit Edison
- Distributed generation, regularly operated by the customer and no larger than 100 kilowatts
- Renewable generation, which uses a renewable energy source to produce power
- Regenerative dynamometer generation installed to provide an electrical load to measure mechanical force or power
- Small power-producing facilities - renewable energy facilities that must meet federal standards
- Isolated generation - any generation that is not connected in any way to the Detroit Edison electrical system but serves load that can be transferred to Detroit Edison service if the on-site generation is not operating.
If you choose to generate your own power
It is important that you contact us early in the process. There are technical issues, as well as local, state and possibly regional guidelines, you must follow depending on the scope of your generation project.
Here are the guidelines, applications and additional information you will need to begin your project:
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Guidelines and applications
Outlines the process, technical requirements and agreements for installation or modification of generation projects
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Interconnection equipment list
A list of inverters and relays that have met application-specific standards
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Interconnection vendor list
The list of contractors who are currently or have recently performed construction services for Detroit Edison
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Meter configuration
Meter configurations vary depending on the type of onsite generation and applicable rates
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Rate options
Learn more about the rates and riders that apply to onsite generation
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Customer obligations
Local, state and federal codes and regulations must be met, and required permits and inspections obtained
Safety Note: Before installing a permanently connected generating system, you must receive authorization from Detroit Edison and all other applicable regulatory bodies to ensure all local, state and federal codes and regulations are met.
Additional info
