Utility use of PV system ratings

It is pointed out that, for utility acceptance and eventual implementation of photovoltaics (PV), industry use and reporting of system performance parameters need to be modified to match utility requirements. The authors discuss a number of parameters some of which are currently used (and misused) by the PV industry, and some which are not commonly reported. PV system ratings are considered, and a recommendation is made to determine three system ratings consistent with utility practice: nameplate, maximum, and dependable. These ratings are defined using IEEE standards. System availability and reliability indices are also presented.<>