Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 38 - PUBLIC SERVICE REGULATION
Chapter 38.5 - UTILITY DIVISION
Subchapter 38.5.84 - Small Generator Interconnection
Rule 38.5.8409 - LEVEL 1 EXPEDITED REVIEW
Universal Citation: MT Admin Rules 38.5.8409
Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) An EDC shall use the Level 1 interconnection review procedure for an interconnection request that meets the criteria in 38.5.8406(1)(a). An EDC shall not impose additional requirements for Level 1 reviews not specifically authorized under this rule unless the EDC and the applicant mutually agree to do so.
(2) The EDC shall evaluate the potential for adverse system impacts using the following screens which must be satisfied:
(a) For
interconnection of a proposed small generator facility to a radial distribution
line section, the aggregated generation on the line section, including the
proposed small generator facility, may not exceed:
(i) 15% of the line section annual peak load
as most recently measured at the substation; or
(ii) the annual minimum load of the line
section.
(b) For
interconnection of a proposed small generator facility to a spot network
circuit where the generator or aggregate of total generation exceeds 5% of the
spot network's maximum load, the generator must utilize a protective scheme
that will ensure that its current flow will not affect the network protective
devices, including reverse power relays or a comparable function;
(c) When a proposed small generator facility
is to be interconnected on a single-phase shared secondary line section, the
aggregate generation capacity on the shared secondary line, including the
proposed small generator facility, may not exceed 20 kilovolt-amps
(kVA);
(d) When a proposed small
generator facility 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 two sides of the 240 volt service of more than 20% of the nameplate rating
of the service transformer;
(e) The
generator cannot exceed the capacity of the customer's existing electrical
service; and
(f) Construction of
facilities by the EDC on its own system is not required to accommodate the
small generator facility.
(3) The Level 1 interconnection review must be conducted in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) An EDC shall, within ten business days
after receipt of the interconnection request, inform the applicant that the
interconnection request is complete or incomplete and what materials are
missing;
(b) When an
interconnection request is complete, the EDC shall assign a line section queue
position if there is more than one interconnection request pending for the same
line section. The line section queue position of the interconnection request
shall be used to determine the potential adverse system impact of the small
generator facility based on the relevant screening criteria. The EDC shall
notify the applicant about other higher line section queued applicants on the
same line section or spot network for which interconnection is sought. Line
section queue position shall not be forfeited or otherwise impacted by any
pending dispute submitted under the provisions of ARM
38.5.8413;
(c) The EDC shall, within 15 business days
after the end of the ten business days noted in (3)(a), verify that the small
generator facility equipment can be interconnected safely and reliably using
Level 1 screens;
(d) Unless the EDC
determines and demonstrates that a small generator facility cannot be
interconnected safely or reliably to its system and provides a letter to the
applicant explaining its reasons for denying an interconnection request, the
EDC shall provide the applicant with a small generator interconnection
agreement within five business days and approve the interconnection request
subject to the following conditions:
(i) The
small generator facility has been approved by local or municipal electric code
officials with jurisdiction over the interconnection;
(ii) A certificate of completion has been
returned to the EDC. Completion of local inspections may be designated on
inspection forms used by local inspecting authorities;
(iii) The witness test has been successfully
completed or waived; and
(iv) The
applicant has signed a standard small generator interconnection agreement. When
an applicant does not sign the agreement within 30 business days after receipt
from the EDC, the interconnection request shall be deemed withdrawn.
(e) If the small generator
facility is not approved under a Level 1 review, the EDC shall provide the
applicant a letter explaining its reasons for denying the interconnection
request. The applicant may submit a new interconnection request for
consideration under a Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 interconnection review;
however, the line section queue position assigned to the Level 1
interconnection request shall be retained provided the request is made within
15 business days after notification that the current interconnection request
has not been approved.
69-3-103, MCA; IMP, 69-3-102, MCA;
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