New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 14 - PUBLIC UTILITIES
Chapter 8 - RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Subchapter 5 - INTERCONNECTION OF CLASS I RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Section 14:8-5.6 - Level 3 interconnection review

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 14:8-5.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) Each EDC shall adopt a level 3 interconnection review procedure. The EDC shall use the level 3 review procedure for an application to interconnect a customer-generator facility that does not qualify for the level 1 or level 2 interconnection review procedures set forth at 14:8-5.4 and 5.5.

(b) The EDC shall conduct an initial review of the application and shall offer the applicant an opportunity to meet with EDC staff to discuss the application. At the meeting, the EDC shall provide pertinent information to the applicant, such as the available fault current at the proposed interconnection location, the existing peak loading on the lines in the general vicinity of the customer-generator facility, and the configuration of the distribution lines at the proposed point of common coupling.

(c) The EDC shall provide an impact study agreement to the applicant, which shall include a good faith cost estimate for an impact study to be performed by the EDC. An impact study is an engineering analysis of the probable impact of a customer-generator facility on the safety and reliability of the EDC's electric distribution system. An impact study shall be conducted in accordance with good utility practice, as defined at 14:8-5.1 and shall:

1. Detail the impacts to the electric distribution system that would result if the customer-generator facility were interconnected without modifications to either the customer-generator facility or to the electric distribution system;

2. Identify any modifications to the EDC's electric distribution system that would be necessary to accommodate the proposed interconnection; and

3. Focus on power flows and utility protective devices, including control requirements.

(d) If the proposed interconnection may affect electric transmission or delivery systems, other than that controlled by the EDC, operators of these other systems may require additional studies to determine the potential impact of the interconnection on these systems. If such additional studies are required, the EDC shall coordinate the studies, but shall not be responsible for their timing. The applicant shall be responsible for the costs of any such additional studies required by another affected system. Such studies shall be conducted only after the applicant has provided written authorization.

(e) After the applicant has executed the impact study agreement and has paid the EDC the amount of the good faith estimate required under (c) above, the EDC shall conduct the impact study and shall notify the applicant of the results as follows:

1. If the impact study indicates that only insubstantial modifications to the EDC's electric distribution system are necessary to accommodate the proposed interconnection, the EDC shall send the applicant an interconnection agreement that details the scope of the necessary modifications and an estimate of their cost; or

2. If the impact study indicates that substantial modifications to the EDC's electric distribution system are necessary to accommodate the proposed interconnection, the EDC shall provide an estimate of the cost of the modifications, which shall be accurate to within plus or minus 25 percent. In addition, the EDC shall offer to conduct a facilities study at the applicant's expense, which will identify the types and cost of equipment needed to safely interconnect the applicant's customer-generator facility.

(f) If an applicant requests a facilities study under (e)2 above, the EDC shall provide a facilities study agreement. The facilities study agreement shall describe the work to be undertaken in the facilities study and shall include a good faith estimate of the cost to the applicant for completion of the study. Upon the execution by the applicant of the facilities study agreement, the EDC shall conduct a facilities study, which shall identify the facilities necessary to safely interconnect the customer-generator facility with the EDC's electric distribution system, the cost of those facilities, and the time required to build and install those facilities.

(g) Upon completion of a facilities study, the EDC shall provide the applicant with the results of the study and an executable interconnection agreement. The agreement shall list the conditions and facilities necessary for the customer-generator facility to safely interconnect with the EDC's electric distribution system, the cost of those facilities, and the estimated time required to build and install those facilities.

(h) If the applicant wishes to interconnect, it shall execute the interconnection agreement, provide a deposit of not more than 50 percent of the cost of the facilities identified in the facilities study, complete installation of the customer-generator facility, and agree to pay the EDC the amount required for the facilities needed to interconnect as identified in the facilities study.

(i) Within 15 business days after notice from the applicant that the customer-generator facility has been installed, the EDC shall inspect the customer-generator facility and shall arrange to witness any commissioning tests required under IEEE Standard 1547. The EDC and the applicant shall select a date by mutual agreement for the EDC to witness commissioning tests.

(j) Provided that the customer-generator facility passes any required commissioning tests satisfactorily, the EDC shall notify the applicant in writing, within three business days after the tests, of one of the following:

1. The interconnection is approved and the customer-generator facility may begin operation; or

2. The facilities study identified necessary construction that has not been completed, the date upon which the construction will be completed and the date when the customer-generator facility may begin operation.

(k) If the commissioning tests are not satisfactory, the customer-generator shall repair or replace the unsatisfactory equipment and reschedule a commissioning test pursuant to (i) above.

(l) Each EDC shall include in any tariff or published procedures for level 3 interconnection review each element of an impact study, including a description of the review the EDC will undertake for each element. An impact study shall include the following elements, as applicable:

1. A load flow study;

2. A short-circuit study;

3. A circuit protection and coordination study;

4. The impact on the operation of the electric distribution system;

5. A stability study (and the conditions that would justify including this element in the impact study);

6. A voltage collapse study (and the conditions that would justify including this element in the impact study); and

7. Additional elements, if approved in writing by Board staff prior to the impact study.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Jersey may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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