Issaquah, WA — October 21, 2025 — Hundreds of solar & wind projects once considered outside federal oversight will be required to register and comply with reliability standards for the first time.
This closes the long-standing gap that allowed many 20–74 MVA solar & wind plants to avoid registration under the previous 75 MVA and 100 kV threshold. NERC has identified more than 800 projects nationwide that now fall into scope.
Under the new Category 2 rules, any inverter-based resource 20 MVA (≈18 MW) or larger, interconnected at 60 kV or higher, must register by May 2025 and achieve full compliance by May 2026.
Why It Matters
- Hundreds of sites lack compliance programs and must build them from scratch
- Enforcement action and penalties from NERC and regional entities
Owners Must Act Now
For asset owners in the 20–74 MVA range, preparation cannot wait. Registration and compliance programs take time to implement, and NERC requires sites to be registered well before the 2026 compliance deadline. Delays could leave projects exposed to penalties or interruptions in revenue.
NAES Can Help
NAES has a dedicated NERC compliance team ready to guide owners through registration and program implementation.
If you own or manage a 20–74 MVA solar or wind site, schedule time with our NERC team today to secure your compliance path.
ABOUT NAES
NAES is an independent services company dedicated to optimizing the performance of energy facilities across the power generation landscape. Founded in 1980, NAES and its 4,000 team members provide decades of experience in operations, maintenance, construction, engineering and technical support to build, operate and maintain both traditional and renewable energy facilities.
