Current through Vol. 24-16, September 15, 2024
Rule 46.
(1) An
electric utility shall list in its interconnection procedures the initial
review screens specified in subrule (5) of this rule. An electric utility may
add additional details to each of these screens in the interconnection
procedures.
(2) An electric utility
may include additional initial review screens in its interconnection
procedures. In its application requesting approval of interconnection
procedures, an electric utility shall provide a detailed technical rationale
for including each additional screen. If an additional screen conflicts with or
undermines any of the initial review screens specified in subrule (5) of this
rule, the rationale must include an explanation of how it does so.
(3) The electric utility may waive
application of 1, some, or all of the initial review screens.
(4) Within 10 business days after an electric
utility receives a complete and conforming level 1 or level 2 application and
associated payment, or within 20 business days after an electric utility
receives a complete and conforming level 3, level 4, or level 5 application and
associated payment, the electric utility shall perform an initial review and
notify the applicant of the results. The initial review must consist of
applying the initial review screens selected by the electric utility pursuant
to subrule (3) of this rule to the proposed DER. The electric utility shall not
require a supplemental review or a system impact study if the DER passes the
applied initial review screens.
(5)
The initial review screens are all of the following:
(a) The entire proposed DER, including all
aggregated site generation and point or points of interconnection, must be
located within the electric utility's service territory.
(b) For interconnection of a proposed DER to
a radial distribution circuit, the aggregated generation, including the
proposed DER, on the circuit may not exceed 15% of the line section annual peak
load as most recently measured or calculated if measured data is not available.
A line section is that portion of an electric utility's distribution system
connected to a customer bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices or the end
of the distribution line. The electric utility shall consider 100% of
applicable loading, if available, instead of 15% of line section peak load for
level 1 and level 2 DER. In the event daytime loading data is not available,
the data must be collected by a date specified in interconnection procedures
approved by the commission, and is not considered as part of the aggregate
generation, for purposes of this screen, DER capacity known to be already
reflected in the minimum load data. This screen does not apply to level 1 and
level 2 non-export DER applications.
(c) For interconnection of a proposed DER to
the load side of network protectors, the proposed DER must utilize an
inverter-based equipment package and, together with the aggregated other
inverter-based DERs, may not exceed the smaller of 5% of a network's maximum
load or 50 kWac.
(d) The proposed
DER, in aggregation with other DERs on the distribution circuit, may not
contribute more than 10% to the distribution circuit's maximum fault current at
the point on the primary voltage nearest the proposed point of common coupling.
This screen does not apply to level 1 applications.
(e) The proposed DER, in aggregate with other
DERs on the distribution circuit, may not cause any distribution protective
devices and equipment or interconnection customer equipment on the system to
exceed 87.5% of the short circuit interrupting capability. An interconnection
may not be proposed for a circuit that already exceeds 87.5% of the short
circuit interrupting capability. Distribution protective devices and equipment
include, but are not limited to, substation breakers, fuse cutouts, and line
reclosers. This screen does not apply to level 1 applications.
(f) The initial review screen determines the
type of interconnection to a primary distribution line for the proposed DER,
according to the requirements specified in the table in this subdivision. This
screen includes a review of the type of electrical service provided to the
applicant, including line configuration and the transformer connection to limit
the potential for creating over-voltages on the electric utility's distribution
system due to a loss of ground during the operating time of any anti-islanding
function.
|
Primary Distribution Line Type
|
Type of Interconnection to Primary Distribution
Line
|
Result
|
|
3-phase, 3 wire
|
3-phase or single phase, phase-to-phase
|
Pass screen
|
|
3-phase, 4 wire
|
Effectively-grounded 3-phase or single-phase,
line-to-neutral
|
Pass screen
|
(g)
If the proposed DER is to be interconnected on single-phase shared secondary,
the aggregate generation capacity on the shared secondary, including the
proposed DER export capacity, may not exceed 20 kWac or 65% of the transformer
nameplate rating.
(h) If the
proposed DER is single-phase and is to be interconnected on a center tap
neutral of a 240 volt service, its addition may not create an imbalance between
the 2 sides of the 240 volt service of more than 20% of the nameplate rating of
the service transformer.
(i) If the
proposed DER is single-phase and is to be interconnected to a 3-phase service,
its nameplate rating may not exceed 10% of the service transformer nameplate
rating.
(j) If the proposed DER's
point of common coupling is behind a line voltage regulator, the DER's
nameplate rating must be less than 250 kWac. This screen does not include
substation voltage regulators.
(6) If the proposed interconnection passes
the initial review screens, or if the proposed interconnection fails the
screens but the electric utility determines that the DER may be interconnected
consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality standards, the electric
utility shall notify the applicant. If a facilities study is not required, the
interconnection application must proceed under
R 460.964 to an interconnection
agreement. If a facilities study is required, the interconnection application
must proceed under R
460.962.
(7) If the proposed interconnection fails any
of the initial review screens, and the electric utility does not or cannot
determine that the DER may be interconnected consistent with safety,
reliability, and power quality standards, the electric utility shall notify the
applicant, provide the applicant with the results of the application of the
initial review screens, and offer all of the following options:
(a) Attend a customer options meeting, as
described in R
460.948.
(b) Proceed to supplemental review under
R 460.950.
(c) Submit within 60 business days from the
date of the electric utility notification, with up to 2 submissions during this
time period, a complete and conforming revised interconnection application that
includes application modifications offered or required by the electric utility.
The application modifications must mitigate or eliminate the factors that
caused the interconnection application to fail 1 or more of the initial review
screens. After each submission of information, the electric utility has 10
business days to notify the applicant that the interconnection application is
either accepted or rejected due to continuing deficiencies. If the applicant
does not meet the timelines required by this subrule, the electric utility may
withdraw the application. After the electric utility determines the application
is accepted, the revised interconnection application must proceed under subrule
(4) of this rule.
(d) Withdraw the
interconnection application.
(8) If the applicant does not select a course
of action under subrule (7) of this rule within 10 business days of notice from
the electric utility, the electric utility shall withdraw the interconnection
application.
