Interconnection is the step that ties your finished solar system to the grid — and it's what lets you actually use your power and, where applicable, receive credit for what you export. For Los Angeles homeowners, the process differs depending on whether you're served by LADWP or SCE, and it ends with permission to operate (PTO). This page explains what interconnection involves, how it relates to net billing under NEM 3.0, and what to expect on timing.
Home Upgrade Specialist is a licensed Southern California solar and battery contractor (CSLB #1031989 HVAC, CSLB #1055444 solar/roofing/battery) and a Tesla Certified Premium Installer serving Los Angeles and Orange County. We handle the interconnection application and track it to PTO.
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Los Angeles is split across utilities, and interconnection isn't identical between them. LADWP and SCE each have their own applications, requirements, and timelines, and rules can change over time. We manage the application for your specific utility so you don't have to decode the differences. For how your utility shapes the value of solar and storage, see our NEM 3.0 guide and battery backup planning.
Interconnection is one of the final stages, after design, permitting, installation, and inspection. It's closely tied to PTO — the moment your system is cleared to switch on. Understanding the full sequence helps the home stretch feel predictable.
From the utility application to permission to operate, we handle the steps that get your system switched on.
Request a Free EstimateCall (833) 446-6387Interconnection is the formal process of connecting your solar system to the utility grid so you can use power, and where applicable receive credit for exports. It involves an application to your utility and ends with permission to operate (PTO), the approval to switch the system on.
Both Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and Southern California Edison (SCE) have their own interconnection applications, requirements, and timelines, and rules can change. As your installer, we handle the application for your specific utility and keep you updated on where it stands.
Timelines vary by utility and workload, so we give you a realistic estimate for your situation rather than a fixed promise. Interconnection usually follows the local building inspection and concludes with permission to operate.
No. Your system should not be operated until the utility grants permission to operate (PTO). Turning a system on before approval can create safety and compliance problems, which is why we manage the process through to final sign-off.
For a Powerwall or Tesla solar system, Permission to Operate (PTO) from the utility and the Tesla app's Permission to Export setting are related but not identical steps. Tesla documents that Powerwall systems can operate in a temporary non-export self-powered mode while utility PTO is pending. In that state, the system can use solar and battery energy at the home while controlling or reducing solar output to prevent unauthorized grid export.
After the utility grants PTO, a Tesla Certified Installer project may still require the Permission to Export setting to be changed to Yes in the Tesla app or commissioning interface, depending on the approved configuration. Do not enable export before the required utility approvals are complete.
References: Tesla Permission to Export guidance and SCE solar interconnection FAQ.
If your system has passed inspection but export is still restricted, the next step is to identify whether the open item is utility PTO, meter/interconnection processing, or the Tesla system setting rather than assuming the solar or battery equipment has failed.
