The existing system for connecting generators to the electrical grid is woefully inefficient, prioritizing order of application over customer needs, leading to backlogs and delays, and resulting in a suboptimal mix of generation resources. To address this issue, a more effective approach is needed, one that shifts towards customer-centric interconnection policies, tailoring regulatory frameworks to regional needs, prioritizing agreements directly linking generation to customer demand, and integrating market-based interconnection principles to determine the value of interconnection based on customer benefit and market forces.