Investor-Owned Utility (IOU)
A utility owned by private investors as opposed to one owned by a public trust or agency; a commercial, for-profit utility as opposed to a co-op or municipal utility.
Interconnection
Interconnection Agreement
A legally binding document that defines the technical and contractual terms under which a generator can interconnect and deliver energy to a transmission operating utility’s system.
Interconnection
The process of connecting an electrical generator to the electrical power grid or the physical location of the connection of an electrical generator to the electrical power grid.
Grid
A network of power lines or pipelines used to move energy from its source to consumers.
Commissioning
The process of connecting the turbine to the transmission lines and making sure it is operating within its normal or defined parameters.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of connecting my wind system to the utility grid?
The advantages of utility interconnection include having standard utility AC power when you need it, not just when the wind blows; eliminating the need for storing excess electricity in batteries, which can be expensive; and you only pay for the net electricity used. One disadvantage of net metering and net billing may be the cost of the interconnection, which can vary considerably from utility to utility. There are efforts to get standards in place for interconnection guidelines.
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