Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange

The Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X™) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative supported by the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation to enable simple, fast, and affordable interconnection while enhancing the reliability and security of our electric grid. i2X is a public-private collaboration dedicated to finding practical ways to reduce the time and cost it takes for American energy projects to get online.

The i2X initiative focuses on strategic roadmaps, stakeholder engagement, data & analytics, and research & innovation to advance open dialogue on interconnection challenges, knowledge gaps, and solutions. Solution e-Xchange webinars convene a variety of stakeholders involved in interconnection of new energy resources to facilitate peer-learning and knowledge exchange and inspire new ideas and capabilities.

Sign up here to learn about future webinars, publications and other resources.

Transmission-level Interconnection. Berkeley Lab’s transmission-level interconnection work focuses on fundamental data collection and analysis that enhances the transparency of outcomes within both the transmission interconnection processes across the U.S. In our flagship Queued Up report, we compile and analyze data from organized electricity markets (RTO / ISOs) and additional balancing areas outside of RTO / ISOs, which collectively represent over 98% of currently installed U.S. electricity generation. Furthermore, we provide never-before-compiled data and analysis summarizing the cost to interconnection new generation and storage resources across six of the seven RTOs / ISOs in the US.

Berkeley Lab leverages these datasets and wholesale market expertise to facilitate important stakeholder conversations and develop novel ideas that could enhance interconnection processes across the country. For example, LBNL helps facilitate the i2X Forum for the Implementation of Reliability Standards for Transmission, in partnership with the Energy Systems Integration Group, and also led the development of the Transmission Interconnection Roadmap.

For more information about our transmission interconnection work, please contact Will Gorman ([email protected]) or Joe Rand ([email protected]).

Distributed Energy Projects Interconnection. DOE's i2X initiative set 2030 targets related to distributed energy resource interconnection. Berkeley Lab supports achieving those targets through the implementation of a wide range of solutions to address challenges to interconnecting generation and storage resources to distribution and sub-transmission grids. In addition to Solution e-Xchange webinars, Berkeley Lab conducts analytical studies on DER interconnection timelines and costs; automated interconnection processes; cost allocation; and innovative technologies to improve interconnection procedures. Technical workshops, training, and cohort-based learning opportunities also cover topics such as IEEE's 1547-2018 standard and data transparency. The Lab also is developing a publicly available dashboard of DER interconnection timelines, and costs across the U.S.

For more information about DER interconnection, please contact Sydney Forrester ([email protected]). Members of state public utility commissions can find information about participating in the NARUC-Berkeley Lab DER interconnection cohort in the accordion tab below.

Past Solution e-Xchanges webinars

Starting in 2023, the i2X team hosted a series of virtual meetings and webinars to facilitate open dialogue among diverse stakeholders across the U.S. electricity ecosystem on important interconnection issues in distribution and transmission grid networks and their interaction. These webinars facilitate peer-learning and knowledge exchange that inspire new interconnection ideas and capabilities. Find content from those meetings summarized below.

2026 NARUC-LBNL DER Interconnection Cohort

In partnership with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), Berkeley Lab is supporting a cohort of state public utility commissions (PUCs) to better understand utility distributed energy resource (DER) interconnection practices and advance solutions that improve transparency, speed, affordability, security, and reliability. The cohort meets once monthly through September 2026 from 3 – 4:30 pm ET. PUCs can find more information, dates, and register for future webinars on NARUC’s webpage.

Following an initial kickoff meeting and questionnaire responses, Berkeley Lab and NARUC identified topics for expert presentations, peer-sharing, and exploring how to apply solutions in participating states:

Data transparency for interconnection queues, timelines, and costs
Allocating distribution system upgrade costs for DER interconnection
Distribution system planning, including capacity expansion modeling, for managing interconnection costs
Technical standards, studies, and other processes for improving DER interconnection

For more information, reach out to Jeff Loiter ([email protected]) and Grace Relf ([email protected]).

i2X DER Interconnection Trainings and Other Presentations

January 20, 2026: DOE Fellows informational webinar: Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection
This informational webinar for DOE Energy Innovator Fellows on Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection covers:

Overview of interconnection process, technical standards and studies
State interconnection requirements
DOE's Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) DER roadmap and goals
Interconnection timelines and costs
Using automation to reduce interconnection time and cost
Allocating cost of utility distribution system upgrades for DER interconnection

November 17, 2025: Cost Transparency for Distributed Energy Resources Interconnection
On behalf of Berkeley Lab, Cody Davis with Electric Power Engineers presented on cost transparency for DER interconnection for the District of Columbia Public Service Commission's Interconnection Working Group on November 17, 2025. Topics included timelines and key concepts for design and cost estimation; drivers of variances between initial and final estimates and construction actuals, example practices from other jurisdictions, and key questions jurisdictions can ask. Download the presentation slides (PDF).

August 7, 2025: DER Interconnection – Performance Incentive Mechanisms
Grace Relf, Berkeley Lab, presented on performance-incentive mechanisms (PIMs) for DER interconnection for a District of Columbia Public Service Commission Interconnection Technical Conference on August 7, 2025. Topics included best practices and considerations for PIM design and state examples of using PIMs to reduce interconnection timelines. Download the presentation slides (PDF).

June 4, 2025: Power Flow Analysis for DER Interconnections
On behalf of Berkeley Lab, Cody Davis with Electric Power Engineers provided training on power flow analysis for DER interconnection studies for the District of Columbia Public Service Commission's Interconnection Working Group on June 4, 2025. Download the presentation slides (PDF).

2025 Solution e-Xchange webinars on the i2X Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Roadmap

Speed Dating: Faster Connections Between Customer Resources and Utility Grids, Recording & Slides, May 19, 2025
The webinar covers solutions to streamline the interconnection process and improve queue management practices, mitigating bottlenecks resulting from misalignment between queues designed for a small number of interconnection requests and rapid growth of DERs.

Panelists included Hanna Terwilliger and Derek Duran, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, and Ken Habel and Katie Cleary, Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Clearing the Fog on Interconnection Queues: Increasing Data Access, Transparency, and Security, Recording & Slides, June 2, 2025
This public webinar discusses solutions for improving interconnection processes and associated timelines for distributed energy resources, including increasing data access and transparency, strategically using automation, and improving hosting capacity analysis to facilitate interconnection applications and studies. The webinar also discusses how utilities balance data confidentiality, security, and workforce and computing requirements.

Panelists included Cody Matthews, Michigan Public Service Commission, David Rearden and Calvin Monson, Illinois Commerce Commission, and Adam Podpora, NY Central Hudson.
Promoting Economic Efficiency in Interconnection–Part 1: Coordination Between Interconnection and Grid Planning, Recording & Slides, August 21, 2025
This webinar will discuss how closer alignment between DER interconnection processes and long-term grid planning can improve identification and deployment of potential system upgrades.
Promoting Economic Efficiency in Interconnection (Part 2): Cost Sharing, Recording & Slides – October 22, 2025.
This webinar will explore solutions such as group study processes, pro rata cost sharing, grid export tariffs, and proactively upgrading distribution circuits through grid modernization processes.

Panelists included Brian Ritzinger, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Kate Tohme, New Leaf Energy, Arthur O'Donnell, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, Ron Nelson, Current Energy, and Grace Relf, Berkeley Lab.
DER Interconnection Solutions for a Reliable and Secure Grid, Recording & Slides - December 16, 2022
This webinar will discuss how to maintain a reliable and secure grid with distributed energy resources (DERs) connecting to local utility grids. Speakers will discuss the performance of inverter-based DERs, interconnection models and tools, and approaches to adopting technical standards such as IEEE 1547-2018 to address emerging technologies and issues.

Panelists included John Kaduk, Georgia Public Service Commission, Jennah Denney and David Farmer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Daniel Aguirre and Taylor Mullenix, Puget Sound Energy, and Nathan Walsh, National Grid

2024 Meetings on the Transmission Interconnection Roadmap

The 2024 i2X Solution e-Xchange series on the bulk power system discussed the Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, which provides the diverse group of interconnection stakeholders with near- to long-term solutions to address current challenges in transmission system interconnection.

December 3, 2024: Interconnection Reliability Assessment Models and Tools
In this meeting, speakers discussed the importance of improving models and tools used in interconnection studies and reliability assessments to address the fourth goal of DOE’s Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, focused on maintaining a reliable, resilient and secure grid. Watch a recording of the webinar and download the slide deck.

October 31, 2024: Enhancing Interconnection Processes
In this meeting, speakers discussed the second goal of DOE’s Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, focused on improving the process and timeline for interconnection, including changes to queue management and affected system studies, more fair processes, and workforce development. Watch a recording of the webinar and download the slide deck.

September 19, 2024: Promoting Economic Efficiency in Interconnection
In this meeting, speakers discussed the third goal of DOE’s Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, focused on finding least-cost solutions to transmission needs and ensuring efficient and fair cost allocation of network upgrades identified through interconnection. Watch a recording of the webinar and download the slide deck.

July 18, 2024: Possibilities to Improve Interconnection Data Access and Transparency
In this meeting, speakers weighed in on the need and value of improving data transparency and on the opportunities for and barriers to implementing new solutions and protocols. Watch a recording of the webinar and download the slide deck.

May 14, 2024: Introducing the DOE Transmission Interconnection Roadmap
The i2X team hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Transmission Interconnection Roadmap and lay the foundation for future deep-dive conversations. Watch a recording of the webinar and download the slide deck.

2023 Meetings informing the Transmission Interconnection Roadmap

The 2023 i2X Solution e-Xchange series on the bulk power system discussed various challenges in transmission system interconnection, meant to inform the draft of the Transmission Interconnection Roadmap.

July 12, 2023: Improving Interconnection Study Methodologies in the Bulk Power System
Interconnection study case selection, dispatch assumptions, criteria and modeling processes differ by transmission areas. Additionally, transmission upgrade options being evaluated may not be comprehensive or up to date with current technologies. This meeting discussed the overall study process, study case selection, assumptions, and criteria to determine upgrade needs, re-study triggers, as well as consideration of various upgrade options. Topics such as generation dispatch assumptions and interactions in capacity accreditation and ERIS/NRIS assumptions, transmission upgrades being evaluated, and affected system study assumptions and criteria were also discussed. Watch a recording of the meeting and download the presentation slides (PDF).

July 6, 2023: Opportunities to Improve Accessibility and Standardization of Post-Application Interconnection Queue and Cost Data
Data on interconnection processes, timelines, and upgrade costs are crucial to enable third-party analysis, auditing, and to assess the efficacy of implemented reforms. Yet, the publicly accessible data currently provided through interconnection queues lacks details that are important to understanding key trends and interconnection barriers and are not well standardized across grid operators. Interconnection cost data, in particular, is very difficult or even impossible to access at the project-level, making any compilation and analysis of cost trends extremely costly and challenging. This e-Xchange explored opportunities to improve the transparency, accessibility, and standardization of interconnection process, timeline, and cost data in order to inform, assess, and improve interconnection procedures going forward. Watch a recording of the meeting and download the presentation slides (PDF).

June 7, 2023: BPS Interconnection Cost Allocation: Perspectives and Options for Reform
Rising interconnection costs are raising questions about the efficiency and fairness of current approaches to interconnection cost allocation on the transmission system. This meeting explored different perspectives on cost allocation methods and discussed potential changes to cost allocation methods going forward. Watch a recording of the meeting and download the presentation slides (PDF).

May 31, 2023: Limitations and Barriers to Improving Pre-Application Data Transparency
Previous i2X Solution e-Xchanges have highlighted the need for increased data prior to the submission of an interconnection request in order to reduce developer uncertainty and mitigate the need to submit exploratory requests. This meeting will unpack the limitations and barriers to making such data more transparent and accessible. Pre-application data may include, for example, data on transmission or distribution headroom (i.e., hosting capacity), data on estimated or historical upgrade costs by location, and detailed generator equipment data needed by transmission providers to run models. This meeting will feature shared content and breakout sessions across both distribution (DER) and transmission (BPS) interconnections. Watch a recording of the meeting and download the presentation slides (PDF).

May 11, 2023: Managing the Bulk Power System Interconnection Study Process
Managing the enormous increase of active interconnection queue projects is a key challenge for transmission providers. The FERC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) proposes that transmission providers use a first-ready, first-served cluster study process coupled with increased financial commitments and readiness requirements to mitigate queue process issues. This webinar discussed additional opportunities to improve queue management, potentially via further integration of interconnection process and transmission planning processes. Watch a recording of the meeting and download the presentation slides (PDF).

April 13, 2023: Interconnection Pre-Request Information for Bulk Power Systems
This meeting covered different options for interconnection customers to receive information prior to an interconnection service request (i.e., pre-request info) from transmission service providers including those proposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other stakeholders. This meeting focused on requirements for information that is helpful and can practically be made available. Watch a recording of the meeting and download the presentation slides (PDF).

April 5, 2023: Solution e-Xchange Kick-Off
New generators face an increasing number of bottlenecks and rising costs when connecting their projects to the electrical grid. Across the country, more than one terawatt of generation is waiting in line to be connected to the grid. The Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) Solutions e-Xchange aims to support simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection through discourse. This kick-off event provided an overview of the i2X mission and identified key questions around QM/CA, covering both transmission and distribution systems. Download the presentation slides (PDF).