Establishes three processes to study small generator interconnections:
- the default Study Process that could be used by any Small Generating Facility,
- the Fast Track Process for a certified Small Generating Facility no larger than 2 MW, and
- the 10 kW Inverter Process for a certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility no larger than 10 kW
Overview of the Interconnection Process for Small Generating Facilities
Before submitting the IR, the IC may informally discuss the proposed interconnection with the TP. The IC then submits the IR to the TP and the TP assigns the IC's project a Queue Position based on the date and time the IR is received by the TP. The IR must be accompanied by a deposit that goes toward the cost of the feasibility study, unless it is submitted under the Fast Track Process or the 10 kW Inverter Process, which have small processing fees. As noted above, an IR can be evaluated in one of three ways.
The Study Process is the default method; it relies on the scoping meeting and standard feasibility, system impact, and facilities studies to evaluate the safety and reliability of the proposed interconnection. It is identical in concept to the evaluation procedure that is used for the interconnection of Large Generating Facilities. Two optional methods are available to ICs whose Small Generating Facilities are certified and no larger than 2 MW. The 10 kW Inverter Process is available for owners of inverter based Small Generating Facilities no larger than 10 kW and the Fast Track Process is available for owners of any kind of Small Generating Facility no larger than 2 MW.
The Study Process normally consists of a scoping meeting, a feasibility study, a system impact study, and a facilities study. At the scoping meeting, the Parties discuss the proposed interconnection and review any existing studies that could aid in the evaluation of the proposed interconnection. The feasibility study is a preliminary technical assessment of the proposed interconnection. The system impact study is a more detailed assessment of the effect the interconnection would have on the TP's electric system and Affected Systems. The facilities study determines what modifications to the TP's electric system are needed, including the detailed costs and scheduled completion dates for these modifications. These studies identify adverse system impacts that need to be addressed before the Small Generating Facility may be interconnected and any equipment modifications required to accommodate the interconnection. The IC pays the TP's actual cost of performing the studies. Once the IC agrees to fund any needed Upgrades, the Parties execute an SGIA that, among other things, formalizes responsibility for construction and payment for Interconnection Facilities and Upgrades.
A Fast Track Process is available for certified SGFs no larger than 2 MW. Under this process, in place of the scoping meeting and three interconnection studies, technical screens are used to quickly identify reliability or safety issues. If the proposed interconnection passes the screens, the TP offers the IC an SGIA. If the proposed interconnection fails the screens, but the TP determines that the SGF may nevertheless be interconnected without affecting safety and reliability, the TP also offers the IC an SGIA. However, if the TP is concerned that the interconnection could degrade the safety and reliability of its electric system, the Parties may conduct a customer options meeting to discuss how to proceed. In that meeting, the TP must offer to perform a supplemental review of the proposed interconnection, paid for by the IC, to identify Upgrades needed to accommodate the interconnection. Once the IC agrees to pay for any Upgrades called for in the supplemental review, the Parties execute an SGIA. If, after the supplemental review, the TP still is unsure whether the proposed interconnection will degrade the safety and reliability of the its electric system, the IR is evaluated using the Study Process described above; i.e., scoping meeting, feasibility, system impact, and facilities studies, followed by the execution of an SGIA.
Finally, the 10 kW Inverter Process is available for the interconnection of certified inverter-based generators no larger than 10 kW. The all-in-one 10 kW Inverter Process document includes a simplified application form, interconnection procedures, and a brief set of terms and conditions (akin to an interconnection agreement). The 10 kW Inverter Process uses the same technical screens to evaluate the safety and reliability of the proposed interconnection as the Fast Track Process. Unless the TP demonstrates that the Small Generating Facility cannot be interconnected safely and reliably based on the results of an analysis using the screens, the TP approves the application. Once the IC certifies that equipment installation is complete and upon a satisfactory inspection by the TP, the TP authorizes the interconnection. To further simplify the interconnection process, what would normally be considered a separate interconnection agreement has been distilled into a terms and conditions document that the IC agrees to at time the IR is submitted to the TP. The all-in-one 10 kW Process document is included in Attachment 5 to the SGIP.
