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Your Trusted Solar Advisor



The Residential Interconnection and Permitting Process with Roseville Electric Utility

If you’ve read through the previous pages about photovoltaic (PV) systems congratulations!  A lot of information was covered, and we hope you found it useful toward making an informed decision about solar power.  Let’s move forward.

Interconnection is the term used for connecting a PV system to the rest of the energy grid.  Over the next few pages, we’ll cover the residential interconnection process which involves both Roseville Electric Utility and the Roseville Building Inspection Division. If you’re a customer, most of the interconnection process will be handled by your solar contractor who will submit the appropriate applications. 

There are four primary steps in the residential interconnection process and we’ll go over each one.

The interconnection process for commercial customers is different than the residential process. Visit our commercial interconnection website to review the interconnection application directions for commercial customers. 

If you have questions about the interconnection process with Roseville Electric Utility you can contact Your Trusted Solar Advisor by calling Roseville Electric at 916-774-6937 or emailing [email protected]. We also have a useful Residential Interconnection Checklist that summarizes the interconnection process.

Step 1: Acknowledgements

The first step in the residential interconnection process is reading the City of Roseville’s Design Standards that contains city-wide code requirements and the City of Roseville’s Rule 21 that contains the requirements for the interconnection, operation, and meter requirements of a distributed generation system (photovoltaic system) in parallel with Roseville Electric’s distribution system.  Lastly, read the City of Roseville’s Municipal Code related to Roseville Solar 2.0 or net metering.

Step 2: The Interconnection Application

Based on photovoltaic (PV) equipment selection, the contractor will estimate the annual output (kWh) of the customer’s system using the online CSI-EPBB calculator.

The City of Roseville has a PV system maximum size limit equal to 100% of the customer’s most recent total 12 month energy usage (this limit does not apply to new construction under Title 24).  To find a customer’s 12 month historical usage, log into Roseville Utilities Customer Self-Service system). For example, if the customer’s last 12 months of energy usage is 10,000 kWh, the resident can select a PV system that produces up to 10,000 kWh a year.  Any PV system producing more than 10,000 kWh a year would be prohibited. 

If the customer doesn’t have 12 months of historical energy usage, the alternative PV system maximum is the square footage of conditioned space multiplied by 3 kWh.  For example, a 2,000 square foot home multiplied by 3 kWh per square foot, equals a maximum allowable PV system size with an output of 6,000 kWh a year. 

Customers can look up the square footage of their home through Roseville’s Parcel Viewer ArcGIS system.  Enter the customer’s address in the search bar, then on the map double click on the property, select “Property Report” – the square footage of the home is listed under “Characteristics” then “Developed Bldg. (Sq. Ft)”.

Once the maximum PV system size is determined, the customer and contractor will complete the Residential Interconnection Application and email it to [email protected].  For the subject line of the email, please use the format “New PV – (customer’s last name), (customer’s address)”.  If approved, the applicant will receive an interconnection reservation confirmation that is valid for 120 days.

For builders and developers of new residential construction projects, please complete the Residential New Construction PV Interconnection Application.

Step 3: The Development Services Department Permit

Separate from the interconnection application, Roseville’s Development Services Department requires a Residential Photovoltaic Packet. The packet contains requirements for photovoltaic (PV) systems to meet California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, and City of Roseville design standards. Development Services’ online system offers appointments for permit assistance, the ability to schedule inspections, and online permit submittal.  For assistance, the Development Services Department can be contacted at [email protected] or 916-774-5285.

Under the Roseville Solar 2.0 program, new PV systems (and customers expanding an existing system by more than 10%) require the installation of a net, or multi-register, electrical meter.  Most residents have a simple electric meter that only measures how much electricity a customer receives, but PV systems require the ability to measure the energy that a customer consumes, and the energy their PV system produces and sends back to the electricity grid.  To receive credit for the generated excess energy, a multi-register meter is required.  Customers installing a PV system pay a meter upgrade charge (page 25: Solar Energy Program – Meter Upgrade Charges) as well as other permit fees associated with the project.

Submitted packets may require corrections, so resubmittals may be necessary.  After the both the permit is approved, and the interconnection reservation confirmation is received, construction on the photovoltaic system can begin.

Step 4: Inspection and Permit to Operate

After the contractor completes the installation of your PV system, the contractor will schedule an inspection with the Development Services Department.  If the inspection is approved, a meter technician will be scheduled to install a multi-register meter. 

Next, the contractor will email a Residential Interconnection Permission to Operate Request to [email protected] for review.  If approved, a permit-to-operate will be issued by Roseville Electric Utility, and the customer may then turn on their PV system.


Your Trusted Solar Advisor

As a publicly owned utility, Roseville Electric Utility is dedicated to the members of our community and the successful growth of our city. We hope you’ve found this guide helpful. 

Please reach out to Your Trusted Solar Advisor at 916-774-5676 or [email protected] with any questions or concerns you have.