Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A.
Application: An interconnection customer must submit an
interconnection application, pursuant to Subsection B of
17.9.568.13 NMAC, using the
standard interconnection application form provided in Appendix 1B, which may be
sent electronically to a recipient designated by the utility. The application
fee specified in Subsection A of
17.9.568.23 NMAC shall be
submitted along with the interconnection application.
B.
Fast track screening: The
utility shall evaluate the interconnection application using the following fast
track initial review screens.
(1)
Screen
1: For interconnection of a proposed generating facility to the load
side of network protectors, the proposed generating facility must utilize a
certified inverter-based equipment package and its nameplate rating, together
with the nameplate rating of the aggregated other inverter-based generation,
shall not exceed fifty percent of the secondary network's relevant minimum
load.
(2)
Screen 2:
Until December 31, 2023, for interconnection of a proposed generating facility
to a radial distribution circuit, the aggregate export capacity of the
generating facilities connected to the distribution circuit, including the
proposed generating facility, may not exceed one hundred percent of the
relevant minimum load (or fifteen percent of maximum load if minimum load data
is unavailable) normally supplied by the distribution circuit. After December
31, 2023, for interconnection of a proposed generating facility to a radial
distribution circuit, the aggregate export capacity of the generating
facilities connected to the distribution circuit, including the proposed
generating facility, may not exceed one hundred percent of the relevant minimum
load normally supplied by the distribution circuit.
(3)
Screen 3: For
interconnection of a proposed generating facility that can introduce
inadvertent export, where the nameplate rating minus the export capacity is
greater than 250 kW, the following inadvertent export screen limit is required.
With a power change equal to the nameplate rating minus the export capacity,
the change in voltage at the point on the medium voltage (primary) level
nearest the point of interconnection does not exceed three percent. Voltage
change will be estimated applying the following formula:
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(4)
Screen 4: If the proposed generating facility is to be
interconnected on a single-phase shared secondary, the aggregate export
capacity on the shared secondary, including the proposed generating facility,
shall not exceed sixty-five percent of the transformer nameplate power
rating.
(5)
Screen 5:
If the proposed generating facility is single-phase and is to be interconnected
on a center tap neutral of a 120/240 volt service, its addition shall not
create an imbalance between the two sides of the 240 volt service of more than
twenty percent of the nameplate rating of the service transformer.
(6)
Screen 6: The starting
voltage dip shall be less than five percent and the flicker requirements of
IEEE 1547TT-2018 must be met. This screen only applies to generating facilities
that start by motoring the generator(s).
(7)
Screen 7: When measured at
the primary side (high side) of a dedicated distribution transformer serving a
generating facility, the sum of the short circuit current contribution ratios
of all generating facilities connected to utility's distribution system circuit
that serves the generating facility must be less than or equal to
0.1.
(8)
Screen 8: The
generating facility, aggregated with other generation on the distribution
circuit, will not cause any distribution protective devices and equipment
(including but not limited to substation breakers, fuse cutouts, and line
reclosers), or utility customer equipment on the system, to exceed ninety
percent of the short circuit interrupting capability; nor is the
interconnection proposed for a circuit that already exceeds ninety percent of
the short circuit interrupting capability.
(9)
Screen 9: The generating
facility complies with the applicable type of interconnection, based on the
table below. This screen includes a review of the type of electrical service
provided to the interconnecting customer, including line configuration and the
transformer connection to limit the potential for creating over-voltages on the
utility's electric power 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/Criteria |
|
Three-phase, three-wire |
If ungrounded on primary or any type on
secondary |
Pass screen |
|
Three-phase, four-wire |
Single-phase line-to-neutral |
Pass screen |
|
Three-phase, four-wire or mixed three-wire and
four-wire |
All others |
Pass screen for inverter-based generation if the
aggregate nameplate rating, including the nameplate rating of the proposed
project, is
[LESS THAN EQUAL TOO] 100% feeder or line section
minimum load, or
* if minimum load data is not available: [LESS THAN
EQUAL TOO] 30% feeder or line section peak load.
Pass screen for rotating generation if the
aggregate nameplate rating, including the nameplate rating of the proposed
project, is:
[LESS THAN EQUAL TOO] 33% of feeder or line section
minimum load, or
* if minimum load data isn't available: [LESS THAN
EQUAL TOO] 10% of feeder or line section peak load. |
(10)
Screen 10: If the generating facility's point of interconnection
is behind a line voltage regulator, the generating facility's export capacity
is less than 250 kW.
C.
Fast track screening results: Within 15 business days after the
utility notifies the applicant that the interconnection application is
complete, the utility shall notify the applicant of the initial review results
and include with the notification copies of the analysis and data underlying
the utility's determinations under the screens. If one or more screens are not
passed, the utility shall provide, in writing, the specific screens that the
interconnection application failed, including the technical reason for failure.
The utility shall provide information and detail about the specific system
threshold or limitation causing the interconnection application to fail the
screen.
D.
Approval:
For all interconnection applications that pass initial review and do not
require interconnection facilities or distribution upgrades, utility shall
provide applicant with an interconnection agreement no later than 15 business
days of providing notice of initial review results, except where a utility is
required to provide notice to the transmission provider as outlined in
Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of
17.9.568.16 NMAC. Despite the
failure of one or more screens, the utility, at its sole option, may approve
the interconnection provided such approval is consistent with safety and
reliability. For interconnection applications that fail initial review but the
utility determines the interconnection application can be approved with minor
modifications, the utility shall provide the applicant with a non-binding cost
estimate of the minor modifications and an interconnection agreement within 5
business days of providing notice of initial review results.
(1) If a utility's transmission service
agreement requires that it notify the transmission provider of interconnections
(of any size or beyond a specific threshold as specified in the transmission
service agreement), the utility shall provide the notice to the transmission
provider immediately after it has applied the fast track screens. If the
transmission provider determines that it does not need to conduct a further
analysis of transmission system impacts, the utility shall provide the
interconnection agreement to the customer within three business days of
receiving the transmission provider's determination. If the transmission
provider does require further analysis, the utility shall coordinate with the
interconnection applicant and the transmission provider to ensure such analysis
is conducted in a timely manner.
(2) If the transmission provider determines
that there are impacts that require upgrades, the utility shall follow the
detailed study process in
17.9.568.18 NMAC for providing the
customer with an interconnection agreement.
E.
Failed screens: For
interconnection applications that fail initial review, at the time it provides
the screen results, the utility shall provide the applicant the option to
either attend a customer options meeting or proceed directly to supplemental
review. The applicant must notify the utility of its selection within 10
business days or the interconnection application will be deemed
withdrawn.
F. The utility shall use
the screens identified above to evaluate the interconnection application and
shall not impose arbitrary limitations on interconnection (i.e., limiting
interconnection to projects less than fifty percent of the circuit's rated
capacity) without a valid technical reason. that is provided to the applicant
in writing with an explanation. In providing detail about the specific system
threshold or limitation causing the interconnection applicant to fail the
screen, the utility shall provide an estimate of the cost of and expected
timeline for conducting necessary upgrades to accommodate the interconnection
application.
G. Reference point of
applicability review:
(1) The following
process will occur concurrently with the fast track screening process in
Subsection C of
17.9.568.16 NMAC. Within five
business days after the utility notifies the applicant that the interconnection
application is complete, the utility shall review the reference point of
applicability denoted by the applicant and determine if it is
appropriate.
(2) If it is
determined that the reference point of applicability is appropriate, the
utility will notify the applicant when it provides the fast track screen
results and proceed according to Subsections C through F of
17.9.568.16.
(3) If the utility determines the reference
point of applicability is inappropriate, the utility will notify the applicant
in writing, including an explanation as to why it requires correction.
Applicant shall provide the utility with a corrected interconnection
application with the proper reference point of applicability within five
business days of notification. During this time the utility will proceed with
applying the fast track screens. The utility shall review the revised
interconnection request within five business days of receipt to determine if
the revised reference point of applicability has been appropriately denoted. If
correct, the utility will proceed according to Subsections C through F of
17.9.568.16 NMAC. If the applicant does not provide the appropriate reference
point of applicability or a request for an extension of time within the
deadline, the interconnection application will be deemed withdrawn.
H.
Customer options
meeting: Within 10 business days of the utility's completion of its
initial review, the utility shall offer to convene a customer options meeting
with the applicant to review possible interconnection customer facility
modifications or the screen analysis and related results to determine what
further steps are needed to permit the generating facility to be connected
safely and reliably. At the time of notification of the utility's
determination, or at the customer options meeting, the utility shall:
(1) Offer to perform facility modifications
or minor modifications to the utility's electric system (e.g., changing meters,
fuses, relay settings) and provide a non-binding good faith estimate of the
limited cost to make such modifications to the utility's electric system and
offer to continue the screening process; or
(2) Offer to perform a supplemental review if
the utility concludes that the supplemental review might determine that the
generating facility could continue to qualify for interconnection pursuant to
the fast track process, and provide a non-binding good faith estimate of the
costs and time of such review; or
(3) Offer to continue evaluating the
interconnection application under the full interconnection study
process.
