Interconnection News | August 24–September 1, 2025 Record IA throughput, gas heavy fast tracks, and a California test of Rule 21 enforcement

High Level

U.S. interconnection showed progress and pressure this week. Wood Mackenzie reported a record 75 GW of signed interconnection agreements in 2024 with momentum into 2025, reflecting early gains from Order 2023 and ISO queue reforms. MISO’s new fast‑track study lane drew 26.6 GW of proposals dominated by gas to meet near‑term reliability needs. In California, the state’s leading solar trade group asked regulators to fine PG&E and SCE for persistent Rule 21 timeline violations. Together, the items show higher throughput at the transmission level, reliability‑driven triage that favors dispatchable resources, and continuing friction in distribution‑level interconnection.

Full View

Record 75 GW of 2024 interconnection agreements coincides with early Order 2023 impacts
• What happened: Interconnection agreements rose 33% year over year in 2024 to a record 75 GW. Solar and storage accounted for about 75% of 2024 agreements, and 2025 is on pace to sustain similar volumes.
• Who did it: Wood Mackenzie published the analysis on August 28, 2025 using its Lens Power and Renewables platform.
• Why they did it: To assess early effects of FERC Order 2023 and ISO reforms that aim to curb speculative entries, increase withdrawals of nonviable projects, and accelerate study timelines.
• Stakeholder views:
• Kaitlin Fung, Wood Mackenzie: “We saw a record year in 2024, with 75 gigawatts of secured capacity. 2025 is maintaining this momentum.”
• What happens next: Operators report fewer new entries and more withdrawals since 2022, consistent with queue hygiene goals. Regional performance diverges, with ERCOT leading on success rates and speed, ISO‑NE slower during its cluster transition, and CAISO facing lower success rates tied to speculative applications.
• Sources:
Wood Mackenzie, “US grid interconnection agreements increase 33% in 2024,” Aug. 28, 2025
pv magazine USA, “Solar leads as U.S. grid interconnection agreements grow 33%,” Aug. 28, 2025
LBNL, “Queued Up: 2024 Edition,” Apr. 2024

CALSSA seeks $10 million penalties, alleging PG&E and SCE persistently miss Rule 21 timelines
• What happened: The California Solar & Storage Association filed a complaint at the California Public Utilities Commission alleging PG&E and SCE routinely violate distribution‑level interconnection deadlines, causing costly delays for solar and storage customers.
• Who did it: CALSSA filed on August 28, 2025.
• Why they did it: CALSSA points to CPUC rules that set standardized interconnection timelines and a benchmark that at least 95% of projects meet those timelines. The group says enforcement has lagged despite utility reporting that shows low compliance for several steps.
• Stakeholder views:
• Kevin Luo, CALSSA: “There are clear rules on how long the utilities can take, but there has been zero enforcement.”
• What happens next: An Administrative Law Judge will evaluate the complaint.
• Sources:
CALSSA, “Interconnection Formal Complaint,” Aug. 28, 2025
Solar Power World, “CALSSA seeks $10 million fine against CA utilities for thwarting solar interconnection,” Aug. 29, 2025
CPUC, “Electric Rule 21: Generating Facility Interconnections,” accessed Sept. 2025

Gas dominates MISO’s new ERAS fast‑track window as 26.6 GW seeks expedited study
• What happened: MISO’s Expedited Resource Addition Study window drew 47 applications totaling about 26,575 MW. Roughly three quarters of the proposed capacity is gas, about 15% is storage, with smaller shares of wind, solar, and a 675 MW nuclear project.
• Who did it: Midcontinent Independent System Operator, per its August 26, 2025 update.
• Why they did it: ERAS is a temporary process to add near‑term capacity to address reliability and resource adequacy needs. Projects must be operable in three to six years and have support from a relevant retail regulator.
• Stakeholder views:
• Aubrey Johnson, MISO VP of System Planning: “This broad mix underscores MISO’s evolving energy landscape and the urgent need to bring new resources online to address growing reliability challenges.”
• What happens next: The first quarterly ERAS study begins September 2. MISO will study up to ten projects per quarter, for as many as 68 projects through August 31, 2027. The next application deadline is November 9.
• Sources:
MISO, “Expedited Resource Addition Study attracts large, diverse applicant pool,” Aug. 26, 2025
MISO, “FERC approves MISO’s Expedited Resource Addition Study,” July 22, 2025
Utility Dive, “MISO’s fast‑track interconnection review draws 26.6 GW in proposals, dominated by gas,” Aug. 27, 2025

What’s the So What?

The interconnection picture this week is one of throughput, triage, and tension. Order 2023 tools are lifting throughput by discouraging speculative entries and accelerating studies, which pushes more viable projects to the finish line. Fast‑track programs like MISO’s ERAS address near‑term reliability and have drawn a gas‑heavy first wave, a predictable outcome given three to six year in‑service expectations and state support requirements. At the distribution edge, CALSSA’s complaint underscores that standardized timelines must be matched by enforcement or customer‑sited resources will remain bottlenecked. The path forward is coherent: maintain queue hygiene, use fast‑track authority transparently and narrowly, and tighten utility accountability for Rule 21 performance so distributed resources contribute to reliability.

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