The 'Fences' that Block Community Microgrids

By Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge

Why isn’t there a microgrid in your community? Part of the reason is that it’s very difficult — because of utility rules — to build a microgrid that serves multiple properties.

In most places, microgrids cannot provide service to adjacent properties because it involves crossing utility rights-of-way. California calls the prohibition the “over the fence rule.”

So, not surprisingly, multiproperty microgrids were a big part of the discussion in comments that?Think Microgrid?recently filed with the US Department of Energy (DOE).

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