The IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems was approved by the IEEE Standards Board in June 2003 and reaffirmed in 2008. The USA Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 calls for state commissions to consider certain standards for electric utilities. Section 1254 of the act reads: "Interconnection services shall be offered based upon the standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: IEEE Standard 1547 for Interconnecting Distributed Resources With Electric Power Systems, as they may be amended from time to time."
The IEEE 1547 standards are sponsored by the IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee on Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Dispersed Generation, and Energy Storage (IEEE SCC21).