Use a utility Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA) / hosting capacity map to pre-screen a project site before submitting an interconnection application

Steps

1. Identify whether the project's utility publishes a public ICA/hosting-capacity map — California's three major IOUs (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) each provide one as part of CPUC's Data Portals requirement (e.g., SDG&E's Interactive Map and ICA tool)
2. Look up the specific circuit/feeder serving the project address and check available hosting capacity for new generation at that location before finalizing system size
3. Review the interconnection queue information shown on the map to understand how much capacity from other pending projects is already claimed ahead of a new application on that circuit
4. For larger commercial projects near a capacity-constrained circuit, factor potential upgrade costs or queue delays into the proposal timeline rather than assuming standard turnaround
5. Use the ICA data as a planning input only — final interconnection feasibility is still determined by the utility's formal application review, not by the public map alone