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SMUD - Sacramento Municipal Utility District

California Utility Interconnection & net metering rules
Net Metering Allowed0
Supply Side Taps Allowed0
Line Taps Allowed0
Load Taps Allowed0
AC Disconnect RequiredYes

Net metering & export

Net Metering Allowed
0
TOU Utility
1
Post Solar Billing Method
Export Rate
Solar Export Type
Fixed kWh
Solar Export Rate
0.074
Solar Export Value Notes
Current ECR 2022: $0.074/kWh - will be reviewed every 4 years and may increase or decrease.
Net Excess Generation Notes

Effective date: 03/01/2022 - Excess electricity generated by customers on our SSR for power they do not use or store in their battery can be sold back to SMUD at a rate (ECR) of 7.4¢/kWh, no matter the time of day or season. ECR will be reviewed every 4 years and it may either increase or decrease.

Rebates Offered
0
Deregulated
0
Allows Standby
0

Interconnection & taps

Approval Req To Install
Yes
Interconnection Level
2
Supply Side Taps Allowed
0
Line Taps Allowed
0
Load Taps Allowed
0
Automatic Transformer Upgrade Size
0
Meter Aggregation Allowed
0

System size & offset

System Size Restrictions
0
System Size Restriction Type
No Restrictions
System Size Battery Included
0
System Size Includes Existing Systems
0
Offset Type
Percentage
Offset Value
110
Offset Calculation Basis
Historical
Offset Calculation Period
12
Industry Standard Watts Sqft
2
Inverter Oversize Restrictions
0
System Size Justification
Load Justification
System Offset Notes
  • 12 Month usage is necessary, if we do not have usage, we will have to size it at 2watts/sq ft, If the house is all-electric use 3watt/sq ft
  • PV Only systems can be sized to offset up to 110% of the customer's annual electricity use.
  • PV + Battery systems can be sized to offset up to 120% of the customer's annual electricity use.
  • Load justification accepted for systems producing more than 110% of annual usage for PV only and 120% for PV + Battery
  • Annual usage 'Green Button Data' shall be validated at the initial design to ensure system is within compliance to offset requirements
Offset Calc Tool
Historical Usage

Metering & disconnect

Production Meter Required
Situational
Production Meter Criteria

Production Meters are required for: PV Only projects.

Production Meters are required for: PV + PW2

Production Meters are required for: Enphase PV + Enphase 10T/5P

Production Meters are NOT required for: PV + PW+/PW3,

Production Meters are NOT required for: PV + SolarEdge Energy Bank

Production meter required after Junction box and before combiner panel on enphase NBU projects per 456539 #4

Production Meter Position
Inv-Disco-PM-POI
Production Meter Labeling
Production Meter
AC Disconnect Required
Yes
AC Disconnect Labeling
Visible Lockable Labeled Disconnect
Meter Spot Process

See the Sample of the Guidelines in the Files Attachment

1. Electric Service Requirements - Residential Overhead (Page 4)

2. Electric Service Requirements - Residential Underground (Page 3)



** All meter locations must be approved by a SMUD Engineering Designer. (SMUD) to request a meter spot. **

Allowed Meter Adapter
Tesla Backup Switch

Plans & docs

Site Plan Reqs

Standard Jobs

  • Call out fenceline
  • Production Meter (PM) and Visible Disconnect Device required. They shall be located within sight and within ten feet (10’) of each other with no other obstruction(s) in between.
  • Show the PV meter and disconnect on site plan in the same order as on the ELD.

Solarapp Jobs

  • Note is present on site plan - BOS will be installed in a code compliant location
  • Box drawn around BOS location is acceptable
  • IF any equipment will be internal, please make this clear to Utility
  • If the sum of breakers rule is being utilized, please state the sizes of all breakers in the main panel on the ELD. If no loads are present in the MSP, indicate that on the ELD.
SLD Reqs

DO NOT EXCEED 20kw CEC AC. SITE LIMIT PCS IS NOT ACCEPTED.

  • Reduce system size and send for change order
  • SMUD's portal calculates the connection fees based on the physical CEC-AC rating of the equipment
  • If we exceed this system size, the homeowner will be required to pay $2,500 just for the Interconnection Application fee but it isn't just a simple fee to bypass the rules. It actually kicks the project completely out of the residential 'Simplified' tier and forces it into a 'Standard' commercial review. If they choose to go that route, here is what can happen: the $2,500 is strictly a non-refundable application fee just to get SMUD's engineers to look at the project. If SMUD's engineers decide the local transformer or grid can't handle the >20kw AC, the homeowner or rep is legally on the hook to pay for those utility upgrades out of pocket (which frequently hit tens of thousands of dollars). If we exceed the 20kw limit, they will also need to install a dedicated service transformer, and the system will essentially be processed as a commercial system by SMUD. Commercial tier reviews aren't automated and can delay Permission to Operate (PTO) by several months. 
  • SMUD Interconnection Guidelines (Manual 11-01) https://www.smud.org/-/media/Documents/Business-Solutions-and-Rebates/Interconnection/11-01-Interconnection-Guidelines-February-2022.ashx


Standard Jobs

  • PM SHALL BE EATON B-LINE 011 METER SOCKET 125A 4 JAW 1PH NEMA 3R FORM 2S TOP FEED PV RINGED PRODUCTION METER
  • Utility Meter number MUST be included on ELD (next to the meter)
  • FOR CENTER FED PANELS - INCLUDE NOTE - PV BREAKER SHALL BE LOCATED AT THE FURTHEST END OF THE BUSBAR FROM THE MAIN BREAKER
  • If the AC system size is larger than 20kW. The following options are available:

- Decrease AC system size to 20kW or less (total combined AC inverter nameplate values need to be 20kW or less).

-Add a note on the Single Line Diagram stating that the system is PCS limited to limit the maximum output to the grid, all inverters combined, to 20kW.

Existing Systems:

  • Both systems need to be routed thru a single PM
  • Separate POI's for (N) and (E) system is unacceptable

BATTERY JOBS

  • If the sum of breakers rule is being utilized, please state the sizes of all breakers in the main panel on the ELD. If no loads are present in the MSP, indicate that on the ELD.
  • ESS JOBS DO NOT REQUIRE PV METERS
  • ESS Disconnect required - Visible break/lockable disconnect within 6' of the meter
  • Main PV breaker shall be labeled "Disconnect 1 of 2"
  • Main in backup loads panel shall be labeled "Disconnect 2 of 2"
Electric Service Reqs

SMUD utility does not allow solar ready panels, (This excludes the 225/125 panel this panel is acceptable for use)

Install Reqs

Does not allow any meters or electrical equipment within 36 inches (36”) of a gas riser

Equipment Approvals
California Energy Commission
Meter Num Req SLD 3LD
1
ESID Num Req SLD 3LD
0
Site Plan Notes

ALL JOBS [BOS will be installed in a code compliant location]

Electrical Diagram Notes
  • Provide Panel Schedule on ELD when utilizing Sum Of All Breakers
  • All Jobs [NEC compliance will be met with either 120% rule, Sum Of All Breakers or Power Control System // System will be set to either Non Export Mode or Limit Export to 20kw] 
Rate Schedule Link
link
Website
link
Phone
916-732-6096

Other details

Restrict Inspection
0
Revision Required
1
Mod Swap Requires Planset
1
Address ID
108043
Express Planset Eligible
No
Compiled from public records, 2026. Tariffs and interconnection rules change; verify with SMUD - Sacramento Municipal Utility District before you rely on this. The useful move: if an installer says you need a main panel upgrade, ask how these tap and interconnection policies were considered first.