diff --git a/compiler/base/geometry.py b/compiler/base/geometry.py
index 2e33885c..18e1a39b 100644
--- a/compiler/base/geometry.py
+++ b/compiler/base/geometry.py
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ class geometry:
 
 class instance(geometry):
     """
-    An instance of an instance/module with a specified location and
-    rotation
+    An instance of a module with a specified location, rotation,
+    spice pins, and spice nets
     """
     def __init__(self, name, mod, offset=[0, 0], mirror="R0", rotate=0):
         """Initializes an instance to represent a module"""
@@ -176,6 +176,14 @@ class instance(geometry):
         self.rotate = rotate
         self.offset = vector(offset).snap_to_grid()
         self.mirror = mirror
+
+        # deepcopy because this instance needs to 
+        # change attributes in these spice objects
+        self.spice_pins = copy.deepcopy(self.mod.pins)
+        self.spice_nets = copy.deepcopy(self.mod.nets)
+        for spice_obj in self.spice_pins + self.spice_nets:
+            spice_obj.set_inst(self)
+
         if OPTS.netlist_only:
             self.width = 0
             self.height = 0
@@ -274,6 +282,11 @@ class instance(geometry):
             new_pins.append(p)
         return new_pins
 
+    def connect_spice_pins(self, nets_list):
+        for i in range(len(self.pins)):
+            self.pins[i].set_inst_net(nets_list[i])
+            nets_list[i].connect_pin(self.pins[i])
+
     def calculate_transform(self, node):
         #set up the rotation matrix
         angle = math.radians(float(node.rotate))
diff --git a/compiler/base/hierarchy_spice.py b/compiler/base/hierarchy_spice.py
index 90c65109..3bf2af7f 100644
--- a/compiler/base/hierarchy_spice.py
+++ b/compiler/base/hierarchy_spice.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ from pprint import pformat
 from openram import debug
 from openram import tech
 from openram import OPTS
+
+from compiler.base.net_spice import net_spice
 from .delay_data import delay_data
 from .wire_spice_model import wire_spice_model
 from .power_data import power_data
@@ -58,7 +60,8 @@ class spice():
         self.pin_indices = []
         # THE CONNECTIONS MUST MATCH THE ORDER OF THE PINS (restriction imposed by the
         # Spice format)
-        self.conns = []
+        # internal nets, which may or may not be connected to pins of the same name
+        self.nets = []
         # If this is set, it will out output subckt or isntances of this (for row/col caps etc.)
         self.no_instances = False
         # If we are doing a trimmed netlist, these are the instance that will be filtered
@@ -178,16 +181,13 @@ class spice():
         for pin in other_module.pins:
             self.add_pin(pin.name + suffix, pin.type)
 
-    def connect_inst(self, args, check=True):
+    def connect_inst(self, args):
         """
         Connects the pins of the last instance added
-        It is preferred to use the function with the check to find if
-        there is a problem. The check option can be set to false
-        where we dynamically generate groups of connections after a
-        group of modules are generated.
         """
 
-        num_pins = len(self.insts[-1].mod.pins)
+        spice_pins = self.insts[-1].spice_pins
+        num_pins = len(spice_pins)
         num_args = len(args)
 
         # Order the arguments if the hard cell has a custom port order
@@ -195,11 +195,11 @@ class spice():
 
         if (check and num_pins != num_args):
             if num_pins < num_args:
-                mod_pins = self.insts[-1].mod.pins + [""] * (num_args - num_pins)
+                mod_pins = spice_pins + [""] * (num_args - num_pins)
                 arg_pins = ordered_args
             else:
                 arg_pins = ordered_args + [""] * (num_pins - num_args)
-                mod_pins = self.insts[-1].mod.pins
+                mod_pins = spice_pins
 
             modpins_string = "\n".join(["{0} -> {1}".format(arg, mod) for (arg, mod) in zip(arg_pins, mod_pins)])
             debug.error("Connection mismatch:\nInst ({0}) -> Mod ({1})\n{2}".format(num_args,
@@ -207,27 +207,22 @@ class spice():
                                                                                     modpins_string),
                         1)
 
-        self.conns.append(ordered_args)
+        ordered_nets = self.create_nets(ordered_args)
+        self.insts[-1].connect_spice_pins(ordered_nets)
 
-        # This checks if we don't have enough instance port connections for the number of insts
-        if check and (len(self.insts)!=len(self.conns)):
-            insts_string=pformat(self.insts)
-            conns_string=pformat(self.conns)
+        # TODO: replace functionality that checked if user forgot to connect an inst before connecting the next
 
-            debug.error("{0} : Not all instance pins ({1}) are connected ({2}).".format(self.name,
-                                                                                        len(self.insts),
-                                                                                        len(self.conns)))
-            debug.error("Instances: \n" + str(insts_string))
-            debug.error("-----")
-            debug.error("Connections: \n" + str(conns_string), 1)
-
-    def get_conns(self, inst):
-        """Returns the connections of a given instance."""
-        for i in range(len(self.insts)):
-            if inst is self.insts[i]:
-                return self.conns[i]
-        # If not found, returns None
-        return None
+    def create_nets(self, names_list):
+        nets = []
+        for name in names_list:
+            try:
+                i = self.nets.index(name)
+                nets.append(self.nets[i])
+            except ValueError:
+                net = net_spice(name)
+                self.nets.append(net)
+                nets.append(net)
+        return nets
 
     def sp_read(self):
         """
@@ -246,6 +241,7 @@ class spice():
             subckt = re.compile("^.subckt {}".format(self.cell_name), re.IGNORECASE)
             subckt_line = list(filter(subckt.search, self.spice))[0]
             # parses line into ports and remove subckt
+            # FIXME: needs to use new pins interface
             self.pins = subckt_line.split(" ")[2:]
         else:
             debug.info(4, "no spfile {0}".format(self.sp_file))
@@ -345,7 +341,7 @@ class spice():
 
             # Also write pins as comments
             for pin in self.pins:
-                sp.write("* {1:6}: {0} \n".format(pin, self.pin_type[pin]))
+                sp.write("* {1:6}: {0} \n".format(pin, pin.type))
 
             for line in self.comments:
                 sp.write("* {}\n".format(line))
diff --git a/compiler/base/net_spice.py b/compiler/base/net_spice.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d1c24ab6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/base/net_spice.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# See LICENSE for licensing information.
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2016-2023 Regents of the University of California and The Board
+# of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College
+# (acting for and on behalf of Oklahoma State University)
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+from openram import debug
+from .pin_spice import pin_spice
+
+
+class net_spice:
+    """
+    A class to represent a spice net.
+    pins are all the pins connected to this net.
+    inst is the instance this net is a part of, if any.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, name):
+        self.name = name
+        self.pins = []
+        self.inst = None
+
+        # TODO: evaluate if this makes sense... and works
+        self._hash = hash(self.name)
+
+    def connect_pin(self, pin):
+        debug.check(isinstance(pin, pin_spice), "pin must be a pin_spice object")
+        if pin in self.pins:
+            debug.warning("pin {} was already connected to net {} ... why was it connected again?".format(pin.name, self.name))
+        else:
+            self.pins.append(pin)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """ override print function output """
+        return "(pin_name={} type={})".format(self.name, self.type)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        """ override repr function output """
+        return self.name
+
+    def __eq__(self, name):
+        return (name == self.name) if isinstance(name, str) else super().__eq__(name)
+
+    def __hash__(self):
+        """
+        Implement the hash function for sets etc.
+        Only hash name since spice does not allow two pins to share a name.
+        Provides a speedup if pin_spice is used as a key for dicts.
+        """
+        return self._hash
diff --git a/compiler/base/pin_spice.py b/compiler/base/pin_spice.py
index 1754550e..0d2d2342 100644
--- a/compiler/base/pin_spice.py
+++ b/compiler/base/pin_spice.py
@@ -6,19 +6,29 @@
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 from openram import debug
+from .net_spice import net_spice
 
 
 class pin_spice:
     """
     A class to represent a spice netlist pin.
+    mod is the parent module that created this pin.
+    mod_net is the net object of this pin's parent module.
+    inst is the instance this pin is a part of, if any.
+    inst_net is the net object from mod's nets which connects to this pin.
     """
 
     valid_pin_types = ["INOUT", "INPUT", "OUTPUT", "POWER", "GROUND"]
 
-    def __init__(self, name, type):
+    def __init__(self, name, type, mod):
         self.name = name
         self.set_type(type)
+        self.mod = mod
+        self.mod_net = None
+        self.inst = None
+        self.inst_net = None
 
+        # TODO: evaluate if this makes sense... and works
         self._hash = hash(self.name)
 
     def set_type(self, type):
@@ -26,6 +36,18 @@ class pin_spice:
                     "Invalid pin type for {0}: {1}".format(self.name, type))
         self.type = type
 
+    def set_mod_net(self, net):
+        debug.check(isinstance(net, net_spice), "net must be a net_spice object")
+        debug.check(net.name == self.name, "module spice net must have same name as spice pin")
+        self.mod_net = net
+
+    def set_inst(self, inst):
+        self.inst = inst
+
+    def set_inst_net(self, net):
+        debug.check(isinstance(net, net_spice), "net must be a net_spice object")
+        self.inst_net = net
+
     def __str__(self):
         """ override print function output """
         return "(pin_name={} type={})".format(self.name, self.type)
@@ -34,6 +56,9 @@ class pin_spice:
         """ override repr function output """
         return self.name
 
+    def __eq__(self, name):
+        return (name == self.name) if isinstance(name, str) else super().__eq__(name)
+
     def __hash__(self):
         """
         Implement the hash function for sets etc.