Renewable Energy Interconnection

Interconnection Requirements

The Distributed Resource Interconnection Tariff describes the interconnection requirements for generators that connect to Midwest Energy’s distribution system. These generally include connections made on the customer’s side of the meter at farms, homes and small businesses. Click on the following links to obtain application forms and sample agreements.

• Exhibit A - Simplified Application and Agreement (For inverter-based units of 10 kW or less.) 
• Exhibit B - Expedited/Standard Application (For units larger than 10 kW.)
• Exhibit C - Supplemental Review Agreement (For projects requiring more than 10 hours of engineering time.)
• Exhibit F - Interconnection Service Agreement (For units larger than 10kW; Midwest Energy completes this form and obtains customer signatures before installation should begin.)
• Exhibits D & E are additional study agreements only used for very complex projects. The actual forms are available upon request. The content of these exhibits can be viewed at Exhibit D or Exhibit E.

Midwest Energy’s complete interconnection requirements can be found in the Renewable Energy Interconnection link at the bottom of the electric rate page.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) establishes guidelines for very large projects connected to the high voltage transmission system. SPP procedures and requirements for transmission interconnections are in the Generation Interconnection Studies section of the SPP tariff.

Renewable Energy Purchase Price

All power supply costs are passed directly to Midwest Energy customers, regardless of the source. For customers’ benefit, Midwest Energy wants the lowest possible price.  

The formula for the price paid for energy from wind machines no larger than 25 kW (residential) and 200 kW (commercial) is established by Kansas law and is contained in a Parallel Generation Rider. It has resulted in the following average buy-back rates for Midwest Energy:

• 2011: 3.764¢ per kWh
• 2012: 3.823¢ per kWh
• 2013: 3.864¢ per kWh
• 2014: 4.064¢ per kWh
• 2015: 3.616¢ per kWh
• 2016: 3.309¢ per kWh
• 2017: 3.357¢ per kWh

Interconnecting customers may choose from Midwest Energy’s Net Metering option instead of the Parallel Generation arrangement. In this case, customers receive the full retail value for all kWh generated and used in the same month. Any excess generation at the end of the billing period reverts to Midwest Energy.

NOTE: By the law, the generator must be appropriately sized for the electric load. 

For renewable generators larger than 200 kW, Midwest Energy expects the developer to propose a price. Proposed prices will be compared to expected costs for other conventional and renewable energy sources. Midwest Energy will not enter into contracts that may increase long-term costs above other alternatives. Midwest Energy will continue to use a competitive bidding process for utility scale renewable energy purchases.

Midwest Energy’s Role in Energy Generation

• Midwest Energy is a buyer of renewable energy from both small scale and utility scale projects.  Midwest Energy’s has wind energy supply contracts in place for 106 megawatts -- In 2008, we signed agreements to purchase 49 megawatts from the Smoky Hill Wind Farm in Lincoln County, Kan., and in 2016 purchased 57 megawatts from the Kingman Wind Energy Center in Kingman County, Kan.  Midwest Energy also purchases solar energy, including 1 megawatt of output from our customer-owned Community Solar Array in Colby.  Today, more than a quarter of our customer-owner’s energy is sourced from renewable Kansas resources.
• Midwest Energy began to buy power generated by the 1 megawatt Community Solar Array near Colby in February 2015.  Individual Midwest Energy customers own panels in the array and receive a credit on their montly electric bill for generation each month.  More than 100 Midwest Energy customers, representing residential, commercial, agricultural, oil, school, and government accounts, own panels in the array and receive the benefits of the electricity generated.
• Midwest Energy is not a renewable energy developer. It has neither the experience nor resources to develop large renewable projects. From time to time, Midwest Energy will issue requests for proposals (RFP) from renewable energy developers.
• Small projects may not require a developer, but even small projects must comply with interconnection requirements discussed above. The wind turbine or solar panel dealer should be familiar with the procedures. The utility scale renewable energy contracts do not affect the amount of small scale renewable energy allowed to interconnect.