What Is Interconnection?
Interconnection is the utility's formal approval for your solar system to connect to the electric grid. Without it, you cannot legally turn your system on, and you cannot get net metering credits.
In Orlando, your utility is almost certainly Duke Energy or the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC). Both follow Florida's net metering rule (F.A.C. 25-6.065), so the process is similar either way. Here is how it works, step by step.
Step 1: The Interconnection Application
After your system is designed, your installer submits an interconnection application to your utility. It includes your system size, equipment models, and the engineered electrical plans.
Most Orlando home systems are Tier 1 — 10 kilowatts or smaller — which has the simplest application and the lowest fees. Larger systems face more review and higher fees, which is one reason installers size home systems carefully.
You should not have to do this yourself. A professional installer files the application as part of the job. If a company asks you to handle utility paperwork, that is a red flag.
Step 2: Utility Review and Agreement
The utility reviews your application to make sure your system will not cause problems on their grid. For a standard Tier 1 home system, this is routine — the utility has approved thousands just like it.
You will sign a net metering / interconnection agreement. Read it, but know it is a standard document. It sets the terms for your 1:1 net metering credits — the same credits explained in our net metering guide.
Step 3: Installation and Inspection
While the utility reviews, your installer pulls city or county permits, installs the system (usually 1 to 3 days), and passes building and electrical inspections. See our Orlando permitting guide for that side of the process.
Step 4: The Meter Swap
Your old electric meter only measures power flowing one way — into your home. Net metering needs a bi-directional meter that also measures power your panels send out to the grid.
The utility swaps your meter, usually at no charge for Tier 1 systems. They schedule it; you just need to be aware it is happening. The swap itself takes under an hour, and your power is off for only a few minutes.
Step 5: Permission to Operate
The final step: the utility sends written permission to operate (PTO). Only then does your installer flip the system on for good.
This is important: do not turn the system on before you have PTO. Running interconnected without approval violates your utility agreement. Your installer knows this — the system stays off until the letter arrives.
How Long Does Interconnection Take?
Honest answer: about 2 to 6 weeks for a standard home system, and it is the least predictable part of the timeline. Duke Energy and OUC both process large volumes of applications, and turnaround moves with their backlog.
The full journey — signing to switch-on — typically runs a few weeks to a couple of months. The physical installation is the fastest part; paperwork is the slowest. A good installer tracks your application and nudges the utility when needed.
Duke Energy vs. OUC: Any Real Differences?
For a homeowner, very few. Both offer 1:1 net metering under the same state rule. Both use the same tier system. Both require an application, an agreement, a meter swap, and PTO. The forms look different and the online portals differ, but the experience is essentially the same.
One thing to know: OUC is a municipal utility, so its customer service and processes are local to Orlando. Duke Energy is a large investor-owned utility with standardized statewide processes. Neither is meaningfully faster or slower as a rule — it depends on current backlog.
What Can Go Wrong
- Incomplete applications get kicked back. An experienced installer gets it right the first time.
- Main panel upgrades can add an inspection step if your electrical panel needed replacing.
- HOA delays hold up everything downstream — get HOA approval early (see our HOA guide).
None of these are disasters. They are normal speed bumps, and a good installer sees them coming.
We Handle the Utility Paperwork
Applications, agreements, meter coordination, PTO tracking — we manage all of it with Duke Energy and OUC, and we keep you updated at every step. Fill out our contact form to get started with a team that does the paperwork right.