Back to Learning Center

Utility interconnection

Oncor Interconnection: The Installer's Field Guide

Oncor's solar interconnection process step by step: eTRACK, the two required signatures, the 30-day PTO rule, meter reprogramming, and common holdups.

Last updated August 3, 2026

Oncor is the largest TDU in Texas, covering Dallas–Fort Worth and a wide band of north and west Texas. Its interconnection process is well-documented and predictable — which means most Oncor delays are self-inflicted. Here's the process as it actually runs, and where jobs stall.

The process

  1. Prerequisites. Oncor expects a permitted installation where permits apply: pull the city permit, install, pass inspection. In unincorporated areas without permitting, the application stands on its documentation. Design to the certified path — UL 1741-listed inverters — so the job qualifies as a certified residential system.
  2. Application via eTRACK. Oncor's online portal handles submissions with electronic signatures and status tracking; Oncor itself notes eTRACK reduces processing time versus paper. The application identifies the parties and carries the technical package: one-line diagram, equipment make/model, and system details. Installers work in the portal routinely; homeowners doing self-installs have to request access (dg@oncor.com).
  3. Signature #1 — the tariff application. The customer signs; this is what starts Oncor's review. No signature, no clock.
  4. Review. Oncor screens the application, raises any objections, and performs a system impact review where appropriate. Certified renewable systems at residential scale generally don't carry a study fee (Oncor's fee schedule applies to larger systems — its 500 kW+ track involves study fees, impact review, and possible upgrade costs).
  5. Signature #2 — the interconnection agreement. Signed by the customer and Oncor. Chase this the day it's issued.
  6. PTO. Once the agreement is fully executed, Oncor issues the Permission to Operate letter to both the customer and the installer. The PUCT requires Oncor to provide PTO within 30 days of the interconnection submission date.
  7. Meter and market updates. Oncor orders the meter reprogrammed with an out-flow channel (allow up to 30 days), updates the load profile with ERCOT for certified systems, and surplus generation starts reporting to the homeowner's REP after the first full billing cycle following the later of the meter reprogram or the executed agreement — practically, 30–60 days after PTO.

Technical details Oncor checks

  • Certified equipment. Inverter make/model must match the certified listing; substituting hardware in the field without amending the application is a classic deficiency.
  • AC disconnect. Oncor's application materials call for a lockable, visible-break AC disconnect accessible to the utility. Match placement and labeling to the one-line exactly.
  • As-built accuracy. The one-line, the nameplates on the wall, and the application need to agree. Photo documentation at commissioning saves a truck roll later.

Where Oncor jobs actually stall

Oncor publishes a 30-day PTO commitment, so a job at day 45 is almost never "Oncor being Oncor." In order of frequency, the real causes: a tariff application submitted but never signed by the homeowner; an interconnection agreement issued and unsigned; a deficiency notice sitting unread in eTRACK; and equipment mismatches between application and install. All four are visible within 24 hours if someone is watching the portal — and invisible for weeks if no one is. TexPTO watches those states per job and counts aging against Oncor's own 30-day standard, so escalations happen on facts.

Don't energize early

Operating before the agreement is signed and PTO is issued violates Oncor's tariff and PUCT rules, and Oncor warns it can mean fines and disconnection. There's no gray zone here — the commissioning steps that need grid parallel operation wait for the letter. Background: our PTO guide.

FAQ

How long does Oncor interconnection take? The PUCT requires PTO within 30 days of submission. Complete applications with prompt signatures typically run faster; incomplete ones can take much longer for reasons on the applicant's side.

Does Oncor charge for residential interconnection? Certified residential-scale renewable systems generally carry no study fee; larger systems (Oncor runs a separate 500 kW+ track) involve fees and possible upgrade costs.

Does Oncor pay for exported solar? No — Oncor is wires only. Export compensation comes from the homeowner's REP buyback plan. See Texas Doesn't Have Net Metering.

Who do I contact at Oncor about a stuck application? Oncor's DG team: dg@oncor.com or 1.866.728.3674, weekdays 7–7 CT. Reference the eTRACK application and the submission date.

Sources

  • Oncor, Renewables/Solar FAQ: https://www.oncor.com/content/oncorwww/us/en/home/faqs/faq-renewables-solar-and-more.html
  • Oncor, For Installers: https://www.oncor.com/content/oncorwww/us/en/home/smart-energy/renewables-solar-and-more/for-installers.html
  • Oncor, Thinking About Solar (residential/small commercial): https://www.oncor.com/content/oncorwww/us/en/home/smart-energy/renewables-solar-and-more/residential-small-commercial-thinking-about-solar.html
  • Oncor Interconnection Application for Certified Systems: https://www.oncor.com/content/dam/oncorwww/documents/smart-energy/energy-system-developers/Oncor%20Interconnection%20Application%20for%20Certified%20Systems.pdf.coredownload.pdf
  • Oncor Application for Certified Systems 500 kW or Greater (fees/study track): https://www.oncor.com/content/dam/oncorwww/documents/smart-energy/energy-system-developers/Oncor%20Interconnection%20Application%20for%20Certified%20Systems%20500%20kW%20or%20Greate....pdf.coredownload.pdf

General information, not legal advice. Confirm current process and forms with Oncor.

TexPTO automates the submittal package for every DFW jurisdiction.

Enter an address. Get the checklist, the placards, the cheat-sheet, and the rejection-proof package — built from the same database that powers this article.

Try TexPTO →