Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
(a) Interconnection customers desiring to
interconnect a small generator facility that does not qualify for a Level 1 or
Level 2 review may request to be evaluated under Level 4 procedures.
(b) When an interconnection request is
complete, the EDC shall assign a queue position. The queue position of each
interconnection request will be used to determine the potential adverse system
impact of the small generator facility based on the relevant screening
criteria. The EDC shall schedule a scoping meeting to notify the
interconnection customer about other higher-queued interconnection customers on
the same substation bus or area network to which the interconnection customer
seeks interconnection.
(c) When an
interconnection customer submits an interconnection request to be
interconnected to the load side of an area network, the EDC, notwithstanding
any conflicting requirements in IEEE Standard 1547, shall use the following
procedures:
(1) When a small generator
facility is less than or equal to 10 kW, the EDC shall use the review
procedures for a Level 4 review, when the small generator facility meets the
following criteria:
(i) The electric
nameplate capacity of the small generator facility is equal to or less than 10
kW.
(ii) The proposed small
generator facility utilizes a certified inverter-based equipment package for
interconnection.
(iii) The
customer-generator installs reverse power relays or other protection functions,
or both, that prevent power flow beyond the point of interconnection.
(iv) The aggregated other generation on the
area network does not exceed 5% of an area network's maximum load.
(2) Construction of facilities by
the EDC on its own system is not required to accommodate the small generator
facility.
(3) The proposed small
generator facility meeting the criteria under paragraph (1) shall be presumed
appropriate for interconnecting to an area network and shall be further
evaluated by the EDC based on the following procedures:
(i) The EDC shall evaluate an interconnection
request under Level 1 interconnection review procedures. The EDC shall have 20
business days to conduct an area network impact study to determine potential
adverse impacts of interconnecting to the EDC's area network.
(ii) When an area network impact study
identifies potential adverse system impacts, the EDC may determine that it is
inappropriate for the small generator facility to interconnect to the area
network and the interconnection request shall be denied. The interconnection
customer may elect to submit a new interconnection request for consideration
under Level 3 procedures. The queue position assigned to the Level 4
interconnection request shall be retained.
(iii) An EDC shall conduct the area network
impact study at its own expense.
(4) When an EDC denies an interconnection
request, the EDC shall provide the interconnection customer with a copy of the
area network impact study and a written justification for denying the
interconnection request.
(5) When a
small generator facility is greater than 10 kW and equal to or less than 50 kW,
an EDC shall use the review procedures set forth for a Level 4 application to
interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following criteria:
(i) The electric nameplate capacity of the
small generator facility is greater than 10 kW and equal to or less than 50
kW.
(ii) The proposed small
generator facility utilizes a certified inverter-based equipment package for
interconnection.
(iii) The
customer-generator installs reverse power relays or other protection functions
that prevent power flow beyond the point of interconnection.
(iv) The aggregated other generation on the
area network does not exceed 5% of an area network's maximum load.
(6) Construction of facilities by
the EDC on its own system is not required to accommodate the small generator
facility.
(7) The proposed small
generator facility meeting the criteria under paragraph (5) shall be presumed
to be appropriate for interconnecting to an area network and shall be further
evaluated by an EDC using the following procedures:
(i) An EDC shall evaluate the interconnection
request under Level 2 interconnection review procedures. The EDC shall have 25
calendar days to conduct an area network impact study to determine any
potential adverse impacts of interconnecting to the EDC's area
network.
(ii) When an area network
impact study identifies potential adverse system impacts, an EDC may determine
that it is inappropriate for the small generator facility to interconnect to
the area network and the interconnection request shall be denied. The
interconnection customer may elect to submit a new interconnection request for
consideration under Level 3 procedures. The queue position assigned to the
Level 4 interconnection request shall be retained.
(iii) An EDC shall conduct the area network
impact study at its own expense.
(iv) When an EDC denies an interconnection
request, the EDC shall provide the interconnection customer with a copy of its
area network impact study and a written justification for denying the
interconnection request.
(d) When interconnection to circuits that are
not networked is requested, upon the mutual agreement of the EDC and the
interconnection customer, the EDC may use the Level 4 review procedure for an
interconnection request to interconnect a small generator facility that meets
the following criteria:
(1) The small
generator facility has an electric nameplate capacity of 5 MW or
less.
(2) The aggregated total of
the electric nameplate capacity of all of the generators on the circuit,
including the proposed small generator facility, is 5 MW or less.
(3) The small generator facility uses reverse
power relays or other protection functions that prevent power flow onto the
utility grid.
(4) The small
generator facility will be interconnected with a radial distribution
circuit.
(5) The small generator
facility is not served by a shared transformer.
(6) Construction of facilities by the EDC on
its own system is not required to accommodate the small generator
facility.
(e) When a
small generator facility meets the criteria under subsection (d), an EDC shall
interconnect under the Level 4 review if it meets the following requirements:
(1) A proposed small generator facility, in
aggregation with other generation 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 distribution line nearest the point of common
coupling.
(2) The aggregate
generation capacity on the distribution circuit to which the small generator
facility shall interconnect, including its capacity, may not cause any
distribution protective equipment, or customer equipment on the distribution
system, to exceed 85% of the short-circuit interrupting capability of the
equipment. A small generator facility may not be connected to a circuit that
already exceeds 85% of the short circuit interrupting capability.
(3) When there are known or posted transient
stability limits to generating units located in the general electrical vicinity
of the proposed point of common coupling, the proposed customer-generator shall
be subject to a Level 3 review.
(4)
When a customer-generator facility is to be connected to 3-phase, 3 wire
primary EDC distribution lines, a 3-phase or single-phase generator shall be
connected phase-to-phase. When a customer-generator facility is to be connected
to 3-phase, 4 wire primary EDC distribution lines, a 3-phase or single phase
generator shall be connected line-to-neutral and shall be effectively grounded.
This review must include examination of the type of electrical service provided
to the interconnection customer, including line configuration and the
transformer connection, to limit the potential for over voltages on the EDC's
electric distribution system due to a loss of ground during the operating time
of any anti-islanding function.
(f) When a small generator facility fails to
meet the criteria under subsection (e), an EDC shall use the Level 3
interconnection procedures. The queue position assigned to the Level 4
interconnection request shall be retained.
(g) When a small generator facility satisfies
the criteria under subsection (e), an EDC may, upon providing reasonable
notice, within 10 business days after receipt of the Certificate of Completion,
conduct a witness test at a mutually convenient time. If the EDC does not
conduct the witness test within 10 business days or within the time otherwise
mutually agreed to by the parties, the witness test is deemed waived.
(h) When a small generator facility satisfies
the criteria for a Level 4 Interconnection, an EDC shall approve the
interconnection request and provide a standard interconnection agreement to the
interconnection customer for signature.
(i) The interconnection customer shall have
30 business days, or another mutually agreeable time frame after receipt of the
standard small generator interconnection agreement to sign and return the
agreement. If the interconnection customer does not sign the agreement within
30 business days, the interconnection request shall be deemed withdrawn unless
the parties mutually agree to extend the time period for executing the
agreement. After the agreement is signed by the parties, interconnection of the
small generator facility will proceed according to milestones agreed to by the
parties in the agreement. The agreement may not be final until:
(1) The milestones agreed to in the standard
small generator interconnection agreement are satisfied.
(2) The small generator facility is approved
by electric code officials with jurisdiction over the
interconnection.
(3) The
interconnection customer provides a certificate of completion to the EDC.
Completion of local inspections may be designated on inspection forms used by
local inspecting authorities.
(4)
There is a successful completion of the witness test, unless waived.
The provisions of this § 75.40 amended under
66 Pa.C.S. §
§
501,
1501 and
2807(e); and sections
1648.7(a) and 1648.3(e)(2) of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of
2004 (73 P.S. §
§
1648.7(a) and
1648.3(e)(2)).
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §
69.2101 (relating to statement of
scope); 52 Pa. Code §
69.2102 (relating to statement of
purpose); 52 Pa. Code §
69.2103 (relating to definitions);
and 52 Pa. Code §
69.2104 (relating to
interconnection application fees).
