DC utility operator approves ConnectDER meter collars for capital’s grid
Pepco has approved ConnectDER meter collars for solar, battery storage and EV charging in Washington, D.C., enabling faster, lower-cost installations by avoiding main panel upgrades.
Pepco, the utility serving Washington, D.C., has authorized the use of ConnectDER’s meter collar products for residential solar, battery storage and electric vehicle charging installations throughout its service area. The approval allows installers to bypass costly and time-consuming upgrades to electrical panels, service equipment or household wiring by connecting directly to the existing meter socket. This change addresses a major barrier in D.C.’s older building stock, where aging infrastructure often delays clean energy projects. The decision expands ConnectDER’s national footprint to 54 utilities, covering nearly 40 million households.
ConnectDER’s adapters eliminate the need for main panel upgrades, service upsizing, circuit relocations or additional backup system components, which can significantly increase labor costs and project timelines. Ivo Steklac, ConnectDER’s president and CEO, highlighted the surge in demand for residential solar, battery backup and EVs in D.C., noting that older infrastructure has slowed installations. He emphasized that the approval enables installers to deploy clean energy systems more efficiently, reducing costs and labor time while supporting the District’s electrification goals.
The District’s clean energy market is driven by mandates such as the Clean Energy DC plan, which includes a renewable portfolio standard with a 15% local solar carve-out. D.C.’s urban building stock, dominated by historic row homes with 100-amp electrical panels, often requires costly main service upgrades before solar, battery storage or EV charging systems can be connected. ConnectDER’s meter collars provide a solution by enabling installations without reconfiguring panels or rerouting household circuits.
Robin Dutta, executive director of the Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association (CHESSA), called the approval a significant win for D.C. residents and installation companies, crediting enabling regulations passed by CHESSA members. ConnectDER’s IslandDER MSA product, designed for whole-home backup and battery storage, integrates multiple functions into a single device mounted at the meter. The product avoids the need for panel reconfiguration or circuit rerouting, further streamlining installations.