Identify the form and the utility process
New York DPS currently links the Standardized Interconnection Requirements effective February 9, 2026. That document addresses qualifying distribution-connected generation and storage systems of 5 MW or less. It includes separate property-owner consent and site-control forms.
Ask the project team which process applies to the proposed connection and why your signature is needed at this stage. A transmission proposal or a different utility arrangement needs its own explanation. Do not assume one form applies to every New York battery project.
Request the utility name, project reference if available and the current form version. Ask who will submit it and how you will receive a copy. If a representative has filled it in, review the completed document rather than only an example.
You do not need to complete engineering calculations before asking about your land. The developer should explain the proposal and prepare its application. Your review starts with whether the statements about your property and agreement are accurate.
Reference: New York DPS: current distributed generation and interconnection resources · New York PSC: Standardized Interconnection Requirements, effective February 9, 2026, Appendices H and J
Owner consent can include an exclusivity statement
Appendix H states that the acknowledgment does not convey an interest in the property. It also asks the owner to certify either exclusive work with the developer on the proposal or a specified executed option, lease or purchase agreement.
Ask which statement you are being asked to make. If you are still speaking with several companies, mention that before signing. If an agreement is already in place, request the exact version being referenced.
Discuss what exclusive work means for the proposal and the area under consideration. Ask how it relates to your existing agreement and what happens if discussions end. Have the actual language reviewed before relying on someone’s description of it.
Keep the form separate from permission to enter, test or construct on your land. Ask which document covers each activity. A company’s request for a signature should come with a clear explanation of what it confirms and what further permissions it still needs.
| Document | Question before signing |
|---|---|
| Owner consent | Which statement about our discussions or agreement am I confirming? |
| Site-control certification | Which signed agreement and dates support this statement? |
| Visit or testing permission | What work and access does this document allow? |
| Option or lease | What land, payments and duration have I agreed to? |
Site-control certification refers to an agreement already in place
Appendix J identifies an agreement authorizing use of the property and provides choices for an option, lease, purchase agreement or another qualifying exclusive-use agreement. It asks for the agreement date and its term, including extension options.
Compare those entries with the signed agreement. Check the parties, property and dates. If the option has been extended, ask which notice or amendment establishes the extension and keep a copy with the certification.
If no agreement has been signed, say so. Ask the team to explain the document it wants you to certify and the next step it is proposing. Do not let a deadline turn an unresolved draft into a statement that an agreement already exists.
For an agreement covering only part of your parcel, ask how the affected area is identified. Compare the drawing, legal description and utility proposal. Find out whether the project also needs access or electrical rights outside that area.
Want to ask about your land?
Send the location and what you know. You don’t need a project plan.
Tell us about your landCheck who owns the land and who signs for the company
Tell the team if there are co-owners or if the property is held by a company, trust or estate. Ask your reviewer who must approve and sign. The person receiving the offer may not be the only person whose authority is needed.
Check the developer’s legal name against the proposed land agreement. A project company may have a different name from the representative’s employer. Ask who is making the payment and restoration promises and who will submit the utility documents.
If the developer changes, ask how the existing agreement and application will be handled. Request updated documents and contacts where needed. Keep the company names and project references consistent so you can follow the same proposal over time.
Let the team know about another option, lease, tenant or land-use commitment affecting the site. Those details should be considered before certifying the proposed arrangement. You can begin an inquiry without deciding how every conflict would be resolved.
Keep a record of what changes after submission
Save the form as submitted, its attachments and the confirmation or reference supplied by the developer. Ask for the application stage in plain language: submitted, complete, under study, contracted or authorized to operate. Those are different events.
If the equipment area or connection route moves, compare the new plan with the signed land documents. Ask whether revised owner information or consent is needed. A form prepared for an earlier layout should not leave you uncertain about the current proposal.
Keep your payment schedule alongside the project milestones. Ask which event starts each payment and what happens while further review is pending. A utility application does not by itself tell you when rent begins.
If the project does not proceed, ask what happens to the application and your private agreement. Discuss notices, any recorded document release and who provides confirmation. Keep access and restoration obligations clear for investigation work already performed.
Ask about the property before gathering every form
Start with your name, email and phone, then the property location. Tell us if someone has requested a signature or if you already have an option or lease. Acreage, parcel numbers and project paperwork are optional for the initial inquiry.
Explain which area you would consider and which uses you need to preserve. If you have a completed form or offer, identify the utility and project company so further discussion can focus on the same proposal.
Sunland can begin with the information you have. Further review must establish the rights, workable layout, connection, approvals and commercial fit. Sending an inquiry does not reserve your land or certify any utility application.
Questions landowners ask
Are owner consent and site-control certification the same thing?
No. Read the actual form: the consent acknowledgment and certification of an existing land agreement make different statements. Compare each with what you have agreed to.
Does a utility form set the rent I receive?
It does not replace the payment terms in your private agreement. Review amounts, due dates and triggers there.
Do I need utility forms ready before contacting Sunland?
No. Start with contact details, location and what you know. Tell us about anything already signed or requested.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-05. Local rules and program details can change. Check the requirements for the actual project.