codes and legal requirements for small power systems

Codes and legal requirements involving the installation of small solar, wind and hydro electric systems vary with each state and local community. But you should know them when adding small power systems to your home.

Looking for help

Your local installer or energy renewable company should be able to help you meet the requirements from your community and power provider. Your state energy office and local officials can also help you about such requirements.

Grid connection requirements

Connecting your system to the national electric grid involves requirements between you and the electric utility.

One of these requirements is the net metering: an arrangement by which the excess electricity your renewable system may generate "turns back" your electricity meter as the power is fed back into the grid.

That arrangement may consider the payment (by the utility) of excess generation. Inform yourself about that, if the size of your system opens such a possibility.

See:
Grid connection vs. Off grid renewable systems
On Grid Renewable Systems
Stand alone Renewable Systems

Safety framework

Safety is another important area of grid-connection requirements.

Your system should comply with safety standards, and its components – switches, wires, power conditioning equipment to ensure the power matches the voltage and frequency in the grid - should obey to power quality norms (IEEE and NEC - in USA -, UL standards).

Some states are now "pre-certifying" some types of equipment, which means that they can be safely connected to the grid without additional inspections or requirements.

Installers, local energy organizations and power providers should know the standards applicable to your case, and how to implement them.

Building Codes

Your small solar, wind or hydro system should also comply with local building codes in what concerns electrical and plumbing standards, and it is subject to the respective inspections. Check local requirements with your building code office.

Easements

Some legal requirements include easements and legal arrangements like those allowing or restricting the building of structures necessary to run small solar, wind or hydro system.

These binding agreements - involving you and the owners of sites adjacent to your property- can ensure, for instance, that future buildings or other structures won't block or interfere with the sun, wind or water necessary to run your renewable energy system.

Local requirements: covenants and ordinances

Some communities have regulations specifying what homeowners can or cannot do in their properties in order to limit noise or not to hurt aesthetics.

These regulations may have provisions allowing the installation of solar modules or other renewable systems, but they may also restrict or prohibit the installation of some of the structures associated with renewable systems (for aesthetic or noise-control reasons).

That’s why you should check these local requirements with local authorities or associations .

Requirements & Type of renewable system

See:
Water rights for Hydro power systems
Legal issues involving Wind Power Systems
Requirements involving PV Solar Systems
Stand-alone Small Electric Systems
Grid-connected Small Electric systems