Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1)
Distribution Company Procedures for Interconnection, Metering, and Payment.
Each Distribution Company shall file with the Department written procedures
addressing provisions 220 CMR 8.04(2) through (9), within 60 days of the
effective date of
220 CMR 8.00.
(2)
Inspection. At
the request of a Qualifying Facility or an On-site Generating Facility, a
Distribution Company shall conduct an initial site inspection of the proposed
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility to determine the equipment
necessary for protecting the Distribution Company's system, and, where
necessary to estimate the cost of additional engineering studies that will be
used to provide a more accurate assessment of interconnection costs. Such
initial inspection shall be made within 45 days of the request by the
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility at the Distribution
Company's expense.
(3)
Interconnection Cost Estimate. If a thorough estimate
of interconnection costs cannot be determined after the initial site
inspection, the Distribution Company shall provide a complete estimate of
interconnection costs upon request by the Qualifying Facility or On-site
Generating Facility. The cost of providing this estimate, including engineering
studies where necessary, shall be paid by the Qualifying Facility or On-site
Generating Facility to the Distribution Company. Each Distribution Company
shall develop, for public review, written procedures for estimating
interconnection costs. If the parties cannot reach an agreement on
interconnection costs within 90 days of the Qualifying Facility's or the
On-site Generating Facility's request for an estimate, the parties may petition
the Department to review the reasonableness of the Distribution Company's
interconnection cost estimate.
(4)
Standards for Interconnection.
(a) All Qualifying Facility and On-site
Generating Facility interconnections shall provide protection against the
following:
1. Inadvertent and unwanted
reenergization of a Distribution Company dead line or bus;
2. Interconnection while out of
synchronization;
3. Ground faults
and phase fault;
4. Frequency
outside permissible limits; and
5.
Voltage generated outside permissible limits.
(b) Protections proposed for implementation,
in addition to those listed in 220 CMR 8.04(4)(a), require a thorough
explanation, particularly if applicable to On-site Generating
Facilities.
(c) The Qualifying
Facility or On-site Generating Facility equipment must be compatible with the
character of service supplied by the Distribution Company at the location of
the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility.
(d) Prior to delivering power to a
Distribution Company, the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility
shall provide the Distribution Company with written certification by qualified
personnel or from a qualified testing agency that protective devices and
related equipment are installed and have been successfully tested.
(5)
Distribution
Company Right to Inspect. The Distribution Company has the right
to periodically inspect, test, and certify in writing the accuracy of any
metering equipment owned by the Qualifying Facility or the On-site Generating
Facility. The Distribution Company has the right to periodically inspect, test,
and certify in writing the Qualifying Facility's or the On-site Generating
Facility's compliance with the protection standards described in 220 CMR
8.04(4)(a). The Distribution Company has the right to inspect and test the
electrical interface at any time to certify its proper operation. There will be
no charge to the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility for such
inspections, tests, or certifications by the Distribution Company.
(6)
Conditions for
Interconnection.
(a)
Distribution Company's Obligation to Interconnect. A
Distribution Company is not required to interconnect with a Qualifying Facility
or On-site Generating Facility until 90 days after the Qualifying Facility or
On-Site Generating Facility has notified the Distribution Company in writing
that it intends to interconnect with the Distribution Company's system. Upon
notice to the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility and the
Department, the Distribution Company may petition the Department for additional
time when extensive modifications or additions to the Distribution Company
transmission or distribution system are required to accommodate an
interconnection. Additional time may also be granted by the Department if a
petition under
220 CMR 8.03(1)(c)
or 220 CMR 8.04(3) is before the Department.
The Department, upon a petition by a Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating
Facility, or on its own motion, may, after notice and public hearing, order a
Distribution Company to interconnect with a Qualifying Facility or On-site
Generating Facility in a timely manner.
(b)
Notice of Intent to
Interconnect. A Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility
shall provide the following information, in writing, to the Distribution
Company at the time it files its notice of intent to interconnect:
1. The name and address of the applicant and
location of the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility;
2. A brief description of the type of
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility, including a statement
indicating whether such Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility is a
small power production facility or a cogeneration facility;
3. The primary energy source used or to be
used by the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility;
4. The power production capacity of the
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility and the maximum net energy
that may be delivered to the Distribution Company's system;
5. The owners of the Qualifying Facility or
On-site Generating Facility, including the percentage ownership by any electric
utility or by any public utility holding company, or by any entity owned by
either;
6. The expected date of
installation and the anticipated on-line date;
7. The anticipated purchase and sale of power
to the Distribution Company (simultaneous purchase and sale, net purchase and
sale, net metering, or other method);
8. A description of any power conditioning
equipment to be located between the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating
Facility and the Distribution Company's system; and
9. A description of the type of generator
used in the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility installation
(synchronous, induction, photovoltaic, or other).
(7)
Interconnection
Costs. The Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility
shall reimburse the Distribution Company for the incremental cost, i.e., the
costs resulting solely from interconnecting the power production equipment with
the Distribution Company's system, including meter installation where
applicable. Such costs are to be calculated as follows:
(a) The incremental cost of interconnection
shall be the sum of all costs incurred by the Distribution Company that are a
direct result of connecting the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating
Facility power production equipment to the Distribution Company's system. This
sum includes the costs of installation, the operations and maintenance expense,
property taxes, and all incremental modifications to the distribution and
transmission system to the extent that such incremental modifications are for
the sole benefit of the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility and
are necessary to incorporate its generation into the Distribution Company's
system. Costs of system improvements and equipment installed to provide retail
service to the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility consistent
with each Distribution Company's. Terms and Conditions for Distribution Service
shall be excluded from the incremental cost of interconnection.
(b) In the case where, during the term of a
contract, a Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility will purchase
electricity from the interconnecting Distribution Company under a standard rate
tariff or special contract that includes interconnection costs, the incremental
costs of interconnection shall be the difference between the interconnection
cost of the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility and the customer
interconnection costs recovered through the tariff or special
contract.
(c) For Qualifying
Facilities selling electricity to the Distribution Company under Short-run
Rates pursuant to
220
CMR 8.05, interconnection costs may be
amortized over a period of up to three years, with the period of amortization
chosen by the Qualifying Facility. If the charges are amortized, the Qualifying
Facility will pay a monthly charge designed to recover the interconnection
costs plus interest computed at the Distribution Company's average weighted
cost of capital. The Qualifying Facility may instead elect to pay all
interconnection costs at the time of interconnection.
(8)
Metering. The
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility shall furnish and install
the necessary meter socket and wiring in accordance with accepted electrical
standards. The Distribution Company shall furnish, read, and maintain the
metering equipment.
(a) Qualifying Facilities
with a design capacity of one megawatt (MW) or greater shall use bidirectional,
interval recording metering with remote access capability. Such remote access
capability may include telemetering to the extent required by NEPOOL standards.
Such meter shall be in compliance with NEPOOL standards and requirements for
meters on generation resources. The interval recording metering will be
controlled, tested, maintained, and read by the Distribution Company.
(b) Qualifying Facilities with a design
capacity greater than 60 KW but less than one MW shall use a metering system
that can record sales to the Distribution Company.
(c) Qualifying Facilities with a design
capacity of 60 KW or less shall use a metering system that can record sales to
the Distribution Company.
(d)
On-site Generating Facilities with a design capacity of 60 KW or less that net
meter shall use a standard service meter capable of running
backwards.
(e) Where the.
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility chooses to own the meter,
the Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility shall pay to the
Distribution Company a monthly charge to cover meter maintenance and
incremental reading and billing costs.
(f) Where the Qualifying Facility or On-site
Generating Facility chooses to have the Distribution Company own the meter, the
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility shall pay to the
Distribution Company a monthly charge which covers taxes, meter maintenance,
incremental reading and billing costs, the allowable return on the invoice cost
of the meter, and the depreciation of the meter.
(9)
Payment.
(a) A Qualifying Facility or On-site
Generating Facility selling power to a Distribution Company may choose to
receive a check from the Distribution Company as payment for power supplied or
may have payment credited towards its bill from the Distribution
Company.
(b) Costs charged to a
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility for interconnection
equipment, meters, and meter reading shall be the standard charges approved by
the Department in a tariff filed by the Distribution Company. Where standard
charges are not applicable, the Distribution Company shall charge the
Qualifying Facility or On-site Generating Facility the Distribution Company's
invoice cost of such equipment. Interconnection costs which are not
standardized or invoiced shall be estimated on a case-by-case basis.
