Minnesota Interconnection

If you generate electricity and are looking to interconnect with our system, read the documents below to learn more about the process, requirements, and more.

• Quick-start guide - Four basic phases of the interconnection process
• Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Process (MN DIP)
  • Section 1 – Application
    • Integration Flowchart
  • Section 2 – Simplified Process
    • General Simplified Process Flowchart
  • Section 3 – Fast Track Process
    • General Fast Track Process Flowchart
  • Section 4 – Study Process
    • General Study Process Flowchart
  • Section 5 – Provisions that apply to all applications
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Attachment 1: Pre-application Report Form Request
  • Attachment 2: Simplified Application Form
    • Terms and Conditions for Interconnecting an Inverter-based DER no Larger than 20 kW
    • For Energy Storage
    • Certificate of Completion
  • Attachment 3: Interconnection Application Form
  • Pay application fee online
  • Attachment 4: Certification Codes and Standards
  • Attachment 5: Certification of Distributed Energy Resource Equipment
  • Attachment 6: System Impact Study Agreement
  • Attachment 7: Facility Study Agreement

You may pay your application fee online or send a paper copy of your application along with the application fee to:

Otter Tail Power Company
Attn: Interconnection Coordinator
215 S. Cascade St.
Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0496

• Minnesota Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Agreement (MN DIA)
• Uniform Statewide Contract required by Minnesota Administrative Rules 7835.9910 for use between a utility and cogeneration or small power production facilities having less than 1 MW of capacity
• Purchase-power riders and applicability matrix
  • Small power producer rider (Net energy billing rate) - residential, farm, general service, large general service
  • Small power producer rider (Simultaneous purchase and sale billing rate) - firm power, nonfirm power
  • Small power producer rider (Time-of-day purchase rates) - firm power, nonfirm power
  • Distributed generation service rider
  • Standby service tariff

In addition to the procedures listed above, Minnesota Distributed Energy Resource interconnecting customers are required to abide by the following technical requirements to our electrical system:

• State of Minnesota Technical Interconnection and Interoperability Requirements (TIIR)
• Otter Tail Power Company's Technical Standards Manual (TSM) (Version 2023)

As of January 1, 2024, we require the use of UL 1741SB (3^rd Ed.) certified inverter(s) and Utility Required Profiles (URPs) to ensure the inverter-type DER system(s) adhere to our newly updated Technical Specifications Manual (TSM) requirements, shown above. 

For additional information on Utility Required Profiles, please visit the EPRI website and review a copy of EPRI’s Technical Report titled, ‘Common File Format for DER Settings Exchange and Storage’.

• Utility Required Profile (URP) Logistics Q&A - Intentions of Use

Otter Tail Power’s Utility Required Profiles (URP’s):

• URP (-SS) - “Specified Settings” file: Required by Otter Tail Power’s new inverter settings requirements as outlined above in the TSM
  • Example Version of URP (-SS) - (Not intended for use)
• URP (-AS) - “Applied Settings” file: Required to be returned to Otter Tail Power from the DER Installer along with the Certificate of Completion
  • Example Version of URP (-AS) - (Not intended for use)

Questions?

• Contact our Generation Interconnection Coordinator regarding the interconnection process and agreements.
• Contact our Principal Resource Planner regarding pricing and purchase agreements.