Install Solar

Generating your own electricity using solar and other technologies is becoming more common in many parts of the U.S. and around the world. Recent federal and state incentives help make customer generation even more viable. This page serves as an information gateway for customers interested in generating their own power. It includes steps for installing solar and links to other resources.

Solar modules attach easily to this metal roof at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture.

Getting Started

Solar Electric Installation: Basic Steps

1. Obtain bids from solar contractors.
2. Complete a "Interconnection Application & Agreement."
3. Get an electrical permit.
4. Install your system.
5. Schedule a final electrical inspection.
6. Request a production meter from City Light (for production incentive).
7. Complete the Washington State Department of Revenue certification form (for production incentive).
8. Claim your solar energy federal tax credit (expires December 31, 2016).
9. Apply for and receive your production incentive payment each year.
10. Enjoy using your clean, locally-generated electricity!

Required City Light Forms for Solar Electric Systems
Customers interested in installing a solar electric system on their premises, interconnecting to the grid and net metering are required to submit the following form.

• Interconnection Application and Agreement for New Generating Systems   (Adobe PDF, 48K)
  

Customers who are new owners of an existing solar electric system on their premises are required to submit this form.

• Interconnection Application and Agreement for Existing Generating Systems   (Adobe PDF, 47K)
  

Seattle City Light requires all customers who choose to operate generation equipment connected to the City's distribution grid to complete one of the above agreement forms.

Renewable Energy Production Incentives
Washington's Renewable Energy Incentive Program applies to solar, wind and anaerobic digester technologies. Annual payments for qualifying customer generation based on kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity produced are available through June 30, 2020. A Seattle City Light production meter is required. To request a production meter, please submit the following form.

• Application for Electric Service
  Application Form Only  (PDF format, 32K)
  Application Form Only  (WORD format, 198K)
  $59 meter fee applies

Further Resources

• Solar Electricity FAQs - Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on solar electric systems - such as, "How much does a solar electric system cost?" and "Do I have a good site?"
  

• Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Customer Assistance Memos (CAMs):

  • CAM 420 - Solar Electric Systems (Adobe PDF) - An overview of solar electric technology, installation issues, and interconnection and permitting requirements.
    

• WA Department of Revenue Special Notice (Adobe PDF)
  Overview of Renewable Energy Production Incentive Program.
  

• WA Department of Revenue Renewable Energy System Cost Recovery Certification (Adobe PDF)
  Use this form to qualify your renewable energy system for the state's production incentive program.
  

• Requirements for Electrical Service Connection (Adobe PDF) - Manual of Seattle City Light processes for new and rewired services, including where to install meter sockets.
  

• Solar One Line and Production Meter Wiring Diagram (Adobe PDF, 75 KB)
  

• Customer Interconnection Standards (Adobe PDF, 57 KB)
  Interconnection technical standards for customer generation 25 kilowatts (kW) and less, including net metering and production metering requirements.
  

Customer Generation program contact:

Jack Brautigam
206.684.3954
jack.brautigam@seattle.gov