§ 75.40. Level 4 interconnection review.
(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.
Authority 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)).
Source The provisions of this § 75.40 amended November 18, 2016, effective November 19, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 7277, 7448. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (342505) to (342509).
Cross References 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).
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