Connexus Energy distributed energy resources: tiers, fees and insurance

How the size is measured

the total aggregate nameplate capacity of all elements of the system that generate or discharge power, which for solar is the AC power rating of the inverter or the sum of the ratings of multiple inverters. Connexus states this in its own words and its glossary confirms that the nameplate ratings referenced throughout the process are alternating current ratings at the point of coupling. Solar and storage at one point of coupling are aggregated. Export limiting is allowed but only by agreement, so a limited capacity figure cannot be assumed.

Size bands and what each one obliges

Simplified, up to 20 kW AC Size 0 to 20 kW	The process fee is $100, deducted from the member’s utility account on receipt. Insurance is $300,000 combined single limit below 40 kW AC, and below 40 kW the cooperative need not be added by endorsement, so a homeowner declaration page is accepted. Total review is 20 or 25 business days depending on track. $100 process fee $300,000 combined single limit insurance A separate Energy Storage Application in addition to the interconnection application, for any storage
Fast Track, above 20 kW to 4 MW Size 20.001 to 4000 kW	The fee is $100 plus $1 per kW for certified equipment or $100 plus $2 per kW for non certified. Insurance steps to $1,000,000 at 40 kW and above, $2,000,000 at 250 kW and above, and $3,000,000 at 5 MW and above, and from 40 kW up the cooperative must be added as an additional insured by endorsement. Net energy billing is available only below 40 kW, so the compensation program closes before the fast track band does. $100 plus $1 or $2 per kW process fee Insurance by band with the cooperative named as additional insured at 40 kW and above
Study process, above 4 MW to 10 MW Size 4000.001 to 10000 kW	A $1,000 plus $2 per kW down payment is required and additional study fees may apply. $1,000 plus $2 per kW study down payment $3,000,000 insurance at 5 MW and above

Simplified, up to 20 kW AC Size 0 to 20 kW

The process fee is $100, deducted from the member’s utility account on receipt. Insurance is $300,000 combined single limit below 40 kW AC, and below 40 kW the cooperative need not be added by endorsement, so a homeowner declaration page is accepted. Total review is 20 or 25 business days depending on track.

$100 process fee
$300,000 combined single limit insurance
A separate Energy Storage Application in addition to the interconnection application, for any storage

Fast Track, above 20 kW to 4 MW Size 20.001 to 4000 kW

The fee is $100 plus $1 per kW for certified equipment or $100 plus $2 per kW for non certified. Insurance steps to $1,000,000 at 40 kW and above, $2,000,000 at 250 kW and above, and $3,000,000 at 5 MW and above, and from 40 kW up the cooperative must be added as an additional insured by endorsement. Net energy billing is available only below 40 kW, so the compensation program closes before the fast track band does.

$100 plus $1 or $2 per kW process fee
Insurance by band with the cooperative named as additional insured at 40 kW and above

Study process, above 4 MW to 10 MW Size 4000.001 to 10000 kW

A $1,000 plus $2 per kW down payment is required and additional study fees may apply.

$1,000 plus $2 per kW study down payment
$3,000,000 insurance at 5 MW and above

The screens that decide it

Below the 40 kW point where net energy billing ends and insurance steps up Limit 39.999 kW.
Net energy billing service is available only to a small qualifying facility of less than 40 kW, and Connexus buys back excess energy only below that. Storage discharge is expressly excluded from buyback at any size. The same 40 kW line is where insurance triples and the additional insured endorsement begins.
Fifteen percent of line section annual peak or 100 percent of substation minimum load 15 percent of line section peak load, a figure only the utility holds.
Aggregated generation on the circuit including the proposal may not exceed 15 percent of the line section annual peak load as most recently measured, or 100 percent of the substation aggregated minimum load. The cooperative may use 100 percent of applicable loading, meaning daytime minimum load for solar, instead of the fifteen percent test where that data is available. Supplemental review adds a minimum load screen using daytime minimum load between 10am and 4pm for non storage solar.

Ask the utility this, before you sell it

What is the line section annual peak load and the substation aggregated minimum load here? Both are utility data and either can decide the screen.
If the system is export limited, will Connexus agree to consider it at the limited capacity? The process allows it only by agreement, so a design that relies on it must have that agreement first.

Worth knowing before you quote

The cost most likely to surprise a customer is a monthly demand charge triggered purely by owning solar. Under net energy billing effective 1 February 2026 there is a distributed generation grid access demand charge of $2.98 per kW, with billing demand equal to the nameplate rating less 3.5 kW and capped at 6.8 kW, which is a 10.3 kW nameplate system. So any system of 10.3 kW or larger pays $20.26 a month indefinitely. Systems interconnected or applied for before 1 June 2016 are exempt until June 2036, but only at their 2016 size. Export credit is 12.4 cents per kWh for a non demand customer and 6.1 cents for a demand metered one. No percentage of consumption cap and no aggregate program cap are published. Published clocks are in business days: incompleteness notice within 10, member cure 5 to 10, total review 20 or 25, executable agreement within 5, and 30 business days for the member to sign.

Source

Connexus Energy C-MIP Overview Process and Fast-Track Process effective 1 April 2019, with Section III Distributed Generation Electric Rate Book Revision 32 dated 11 December 2025 effective 1 January 2026

Read and recorded 2026-09-12. Rural electric cooperative. Minnesota Statutes 216B.1611 applies the interconnection process to cooperatives regardless of whether a local authority resolution has been adopted, and Connexus cites it directly. No Connexus document adopting a 216B.164 local authority resolution was found, and its rate book still names the Public Utilities Commission.

All Minnesota interconnection rules

Size bands and what each one obliges

The screens that decide it

Ask the utility this, before you sell it

Worth knowing before you quote

What to do with this