Current through Vol. 24-16, September 15, 2024
Rule 50.
(1) An
electric utility shall list in its interconnection procedures the supplemental
review screens specified in subrule (6) 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 supplemental review screens in its interconnection
procedures. In its application requesting approval of interconnection
procedures, the electric utility shall provide a detailed technical rationale
for the inclusion of each supplemental review screen. If an additional screen
negates or undermines any of the supplemental review screens specified in
subrule (6) of this rule, the rationale must include an explanation of the
technical justification for the additional screen.
(3) An electric utility may waive application
of 1, some, or all of the supplemental review screens.
(4) To receive a supplemental review, an
applicant shall submit payment of the supplemental review fee within 20
business days of agreeing to a supplemental review. If payment of the fee has
not been received by the electric utility within 25 business days, the electric
utility shall withdraw the interconnection application.
(5) Within 30 business days after the
applicant pays the applicable supplemental review fee or fees, and provides
reasonable requested data, an electric utility shall perform a supplemental
review and notify the applicant of the results. The supplemental review must
consist of applying the supplemental 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 system impact study if the DER passes the applied
supplemental review screens.
(6)
The supplemental review screens must include all of the following:
(a) Minimum load screen. Where 12 months of
line section minimum load data, including onsite load but not station service
load served by the proposed DER, are available, can be calculated, can be
estimated from existing data, or can be determined from a power flow model, the
aggregate DER capacity on the line section must be less than 100% of the
minimum load for all line sections bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices
upstream of the proposed DER. If minimum load data are not available, or cannot
be calculated, estimated, or determined, an electric utility shall include the
reason or reasons that it is unable to calculate, estimate, or determine
minimum load in its supplemental review results notification under subrules (7)
and (8) of this rule. All of the following must be applied by the electric
utility:
(i) The type of generation used by
the proposed DER will be considered when calculating, estimating, or
determining circuit or line section minimum load relevant for the application
of the minimum load screen specified in this subrule. Solar photovoltaic
generation systems with no battery storage must use daytime minimum load. All
other generation must use absolute minimum load unless an operating schedule is
provided.
(ii) When this screen is
being applied to a DER that serves some station service load, only the net
injection of electric energy into the electric utility's distribution system
may be considered as part of the aggregate generation.
(iii) The electric utility shall not consider
as part of the aggregate generation, for purposes of this supplemental screen,
DER capacity known to be already reflected in the minimum load data.
(b) Voltage and power quality
screen. In aggregate with existing generation on the line section, all of the
following conditions must be met:
(i) The
voltage regulation on the line section can be maintained in compliance with
relevant requirements under all system conditions.
(ii) The voltage fluctuation is within
acceptable limits as defined by the IEEE Standard 1453-2015, IEEE Recommended
Practice for the Analysis of Fluctuating Installations on Power
Systems.
(c) Safety and
reliability screen. The location of the proposed DER and the aggregate
generation capacity on the line section may not create impacts to safety or
reliability that require application of the study track to address. An electric
utility shall consider all of the following when determining potential impacts
to safety and reliability in applying this screen:
(i) Whether the line section has significant
minimum loading levels dominated by a small number of customers, such as
several large commercial customers.
(ii) Whether the loading along the line
section is uniform.
(iii) Whether
the proposed DER is located less than 0.5 electrical circuit miles for less
than 5 kV or less than 2.5 electrical circuit miles for greater than 5 kV from
the substation. In addition, whether the line section from the substation to
the point of common coupling is a mainline rated for normal and emergency
ampacity.
(iv) Whether the proposed
DER incorporates a time delay function to prevent reconnection of the DER to
the distribution system until distribution system voltage and frequency are
within normal limits for a prescribed time.
(v) Whether operational flexibility is
reduced by the proposed DER, such that transfer of the line section or sections
of the DER to a neighboring distribution circuit or substation may trigger
overloads, power quality issues, or voltage issues.
(vi) Whether the proposed DER employs
equipment or systems certified by a recognized standards organization to
address technical issues including, but not limited to, islanding, reverse
power flow, or voltage quality.
(7) If the proposed interconnection passes
the supplemental review, or if the proposed interconnection fails the review
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 and the interconnection application must
proceed pursuant to both of the following:
(a)
If the proposed interconnection requires a facilities study, the
interconnection application must proceed under
R 460.962.
(b) If the proposed interconnection does not
require further study, the interconnection application must proceed under
R 460.964 to an interconnection
agreement.
(8) If the
proposed interconnection fails any of the supplemental review screens or the
electrical utility is unable to perform a supplemental review screen, 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 supplemental review
screens, and offer both of the following options:
(a) Stop the supplemental review and continue
evaluating the proposed interconnection under the study track under
R 460.952.
(b) Withdraw the interconnection
application.
(9) For
subrules (7) and (8) of this rule, if an applicant does not select a course of
action within 10 business days of notice from the electric utility, the
electric utility shall withdraw the interconnection application.
