Small PV Program:
Technical Requirements

The PNM solar photovoltaic (PV) program has the following technical requirements:

System size and type

• Your PV system must be 10kW or smaller for the small PV program.
• Contact PNM if your system will have backup capability.
  • If the PV system will include battery backup or any type of fossil fuel backup generation, it will require special approval.

Interconnection

• Your PV system must be designed to connect to the PNM electric grid and – following all inspections and approvals – be interconnected to the grid.
• The system must interconnect by means of a UL 1741-compliant inverter.
  • Most 120V and 240V inverters will require a standard 4 terminal (4 jaw) meter base to receive a standard form 1S or 2S meter.
• For inverters with different voltage outputs, contact PNM.

Learn more about the regulations that apply to customer-owned generation and interconnection to the PNM power grid

Customer disconnect switch and documentation

• PNM requires that a lockable load-break disconnect switch be installed between the output of the inverter and the point of interconnection.
  • Utility personnel must be able to access the switch.
  • This switch, referred to as the customer generation disconnect switch, must provide a verifiable, visible air gap between the inverter and the point of interconnection.
  • Be sure to confirm with your installer that opening the customer generation disconnect switch will not cause you to be without power from PNM.
• Circuit breakers and inverter software modes do not meet the disconnect switch requirement.
• A permanent weatherproof one-line diagram or sketch of the system must be installed at the PNM point of service.

View a drawing tube example for weatherproof diagram storage
View a mail slot-style example for weatherproof diagram storage
View a permanent label example for weatherproof diagram display

REC meter (for REC incentive participants)

• If you choose to participate in the REC-purchasing incentive, your system must have a REC meter.
• You or your contractor must install the meter base for your system’s REC meter; PNM installs the meter.

View a meter base wiring diagram

• The REC meter must be electrically connected at the output of your PV system inverter before any loads and must be physically located near your PNM electric billing meter.

Contact PNM if you still have questions
Return to the program participation steps