As used in this chapter:
(A) "Administrative law judge" (ALJ) has the same meaning attributed to attorney examiner and refers to the positions authorized under section 4901.18 of the Revised Code.
(B) "Applicant" means the person requesting interconnection service either originally or through subsequent transaction or other agreement as the owner or operator of a distributed energy resource as defined in paragraph (J) of this rule.
(C) "Application" means a request to an electric distribution utility (EDU) using the format set forth on the website of the public utilities commission of Ohio for interconnection of a distributed energy resource to the electric distribution system owned by the EDU.
(D) "Area network" means a type of electric distribution system served by multiple transformers interconnected in a distribution secondary network circuit, which is generally used in large metropolitan areas that are densely populated, in order to provide highly reliable service. Area networks may also be described as "grid networks" or "street networks."
(E) "Area electric power system" (area EPS) means an EPS that serves local EPSs, as defined in institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) standard 1547 (2018). For purposes of this chapter, an EDU's distribution system itself will always be considered an area EPS.
(F) "Automatic sectionalizing device" means any self-contained, circuit-opening device used in conjunction with a source-side protective device, which features automatic reclosing capability.
(G) "Calendar day" means any day, including Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays.
(H) "Commission" means the public utilities commission of Ohio.
(I) "Competitive retail electric service" means a component of retail electric service that is competitive as provided under division (B) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(J) "Distributed energy resource" (DER) is a source of electric power that is not directly connected to a bulk power system. DER includes both generators and energy storage technologies capable of exporting active power to an electrical power system (EPS) either by itself or together with an equipment package that is necessary for compliance with IEEE standard 1547.
(K) "Distribution secondary network" means an AC distribution system where the secondaries of the distribution transformers are connected to a common network for supplying electricity directly to consumers. There are two types of secondary networks: area networks (also referred to as grid networks or street networks) and spot networks.
(L) "Electric distribution utility" or "EDU" has the same meaning as division (A)(6) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(M) "Equipment package" means individual or multiple devices assembled to facilitate operation of the DER including switchgear, inverters, or other interface devices.
(N) "Electric power system" (EPS) means facilities that deliver electric power to a load. An EPS may include generation and may contain only load, only generation, or a mix of load and generation.
(O) "Energy storage" means technology that stores energy as potential, kinetic, chemical or thermal energy that can be released at a later time to produce electric power, including, without limitation, batteries, flywheels, electrochemical capacitors, compressed-air storage and thermal storage devices.
(P) "Export capacity" means the maximum nameplate rating of a DER in alternating current (AC); except where such capacity is limited using a means of limiting electrical export as defined in an EDU's technical interconnection and interoperability requirements (TIIR).
(Q) "Hybrid facility" means a facility that includes both a resource for the generation of electricity and energy storage that is used only to offset the applicant's power usage when onsite generation is not available or when disconnected from the grid as a backup source, not to inject active power to the area EPS (i.e., "non-exporting" energy storage).
(R) "Interconnection" means the physical connection of the applicant's DER to the EDU's system for the purpose of electrical power transfers.
(S) "Interconnection service" means the services provided by an EDU or transmission provider for the applicant's DER.
(T) "Limited export" means the exporting capability of a DER whose export capacity is limited by the use of any configuration or operating mode as defined in an EDU's TIIR.
(U) "Line section" means either that portion of an EDU's electric system connected to a customer bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices, the end of the distribution line, or a line segment identified as appropriate for study by a utility engineer.
(V) "Local electric power system" (local EPS) is an EPS contained entirely within the single premises or group of premises, as defined in IEEE standard 1547 (2018).
(W) "Material modification" means any substantial alteration to the design or construction of a DER facility that occurs after an interconnection application is deemed complete that materially impacts the cost, timing, or design of any customer interconnection facilities or upgrades, or adversely impacts other interdependent interconnection requests. "Material modifications" include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Modifications to transformer connections or grounding;
(2) Any change that creates an adverse impact to the operation, safety, or reliability of the EDU's distribution system;
(3) Changes to the location of the DER site that affect the impacted circuit or point of common coupling;
(4) Replacement of generating equipment, such as generator-type, inverters, transformers, relaying, or controls, that is not a like-for-like substitution in ratings, impedances, efficiencies, or capabilities of the equipment specified in the original or preceding interconnection request;
(5) Any change that results in noncertified devices;
(6) Any change to the operating profile of the DER which results in a change in the impact to the grid.
(X) "Minor modification" means any modification to an interconnection application that is not a material modification.
(Y) "Operating profile" means the manner in which the DER is designed to be operated, based on the generating prime mover, operating schedule, and the managed variation in output power or charging behavior. The operating profile includes any limitations set on power imported or exported at the point of common coupling and the resource characteristics, e.g., solar output profile or energy storage system operation.
(Z) "Parallel operation with the EDU's system" means all electrical connections between the applicant's DER and the EDU's system that are capable of operating in conjunction with each other.
(AA) "Point of common coupling" means the point of connection between the area EPS and the Local EPS, as defined in IEEE standard 1547 (2018).
(BB) "Relevant Minimum Load" means the lowest measured circuit or substation load coincident with the DER's production. Such load may be estimated where measurement is not readily available.
(CC) "Reliability" means the degree of performance of the elements of the electric system that results in electricity being delivered to and from an applicant in the amount desired while avoiding adverse effects on the adequacy and security of the electric supply, defined respectively as:
(1) The ability of the electric system to supply the aggregate electrical demand and energy requirements at all times, taking into account scheduled and unscheduled outages of system elements.
(2) The ability of the electric system to withstand sudden disturbances such as electric short circuits or unanticipated loss of system elements.
(DD) "Retail electric service provider" means any entity in this state that provides retail electric service as defined by division (A)(27) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(EE) "Sale for resale" means a sale of energy to an energy supplier, electric utility or a public authority for resale purposes.
(FF) "Scoping meeting" means a meeting between representatives of the applicant and the EDU conducted for but not limited to the following purposes:
(1) To discuss alternative interconnection options.
(2) To exchange information including any electric distribution system data and earlier study evaluations that would be expected to impact such interconnection options.
(3) To analyze such information.
(4) To determine the potential points of common coupling.
(GG) "Self-generator" has the same meaning as in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(HH) "Spot network" means a type of electric distribution system that uses two or more inter-tied transformers to supply a distribution secondary network circuit and is generally used to supply power to a single customer or a small group of customers.
(II) "Technical Interconnection and Interoperability Requirements" or "TIIR" means commission-approved public documents, often utility-specific, which include requirements for interconnection, interoperability, DER capabilities and their utilization (settings), and grid integration (e.g., protection coordination, telemetry).
Last updated July 20, 2026 at 10:41 AM