Interconnection Process
(Afternoon Detailed Session)
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Topics to Cover
• Interconnection Process Overview
• Application Timing and Completeness
• Technical Scoping Meeting
• Study Process
• Interconnection Agreement
• Project Implementation
• Deliverability
• References
1
Overview of Wholesale Generation Interconnection Process
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
Transmission Interconnections
–
Governed by California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) Tariff
•
PG&E’s transmission interconnections are for 60 kV and higher
•
All applications must be submitted to the CAISO
•
These slides are per CAISO Tariff which is subject to the CAISO
Distribution Interconnections
–
Governed by PG&E’s Wholesale Distribution Tariff (WDT)
•
PG&E’s distribution voltage level is defined as facilities operating below 60 kV
•
All applications must be submitted to PG&E
•
These slides assume FERC approval of the proposed WDT to be filed in
February 2011
2
Application Processing Timeline
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
Application Process Milestone
Duration
Responsible Party
Application Submission
Clock Start
Customer
Application Deemed Complete or Notice of
Outstanding Items
10 Business
Days (BD)
PG&E or CAISO*
Customer to provide outstanding items or
request extension
10 BD
Customer
Customer to provide outstanding items if
extension requested
20 BD**
Customer
Application Deemed Complete
PG&E or CAISO*
* Subject to CAISO ** PG&E Extension Business Rule
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What is in a complete application?
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Transmission Interconnections
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
Distribution Interconnections
– Completed Application
– Completed Application
– Site Plan Diagram
– Site Plan Diagram
– Single Line Diagram
– Single Line Diagram
– Application Fee
– Application Fee
– Site Control or
– Site Control
In-Lieu Financial Security
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PG&E Application
Note this
application is a
DRAFT form
5
PG&E Application
Note this
application is a
DRAFT form
The Application must be
completed in its entirety
–
Point of Interconnection
must be identified
–
Commercial Operation
Date must be identified
6
PG&E Application
Note this
application is a
DRAFT form
Site Control
Requirements must be
met
7
Attachment A Generating Facility Data
Section
Content
Applies to
1
General Directions
All
2
Generating Facility Information
All
3
Synchronous Generator – General Information
Synchronous
4
Excitation System Information
Non-Inverter
5
Power System Stabilizer Information
Synchronous
>30MVA
6
Turbine-Governor Information
Turbine
7
Induction Generator Data
Induction
8
Generator Short Circuit Data
Non-Inverter
9
Step-Up Transformer Data
All
10
Interconnection Facilities Line Data
All
11
Wind Generators
Wind
12
Load Flow and Dynamic Models
All*
* Typically applies to Transmission
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Scoping Meeting Purpose
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
Scoping Meeting is designed to provide the Interconnection Customer:
• Ensure common understanding of Interconnection Customer’s project
• Ensure understanding of Generator Interconnection Procedure
• Come to agreement on Point of Interconnection and generator size
• PG&E will provide technical system details, limitations, and queued ahead projects
• PG&E will advise regarding which process Interconnection Customer qualifies for and
study to be conducted
• Next Steps
5 Business Days after Scoping Meeting, the Developer must:
• Provide confirmation on the Point of Interconnection
• Provide confirmation on Generator Size
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Scope of Studies
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
Technical Studies are intended to provide:
• Impact of generation on PG&E’s electric system
• Scope of Capital Improvements to PG&E’s electric system to ensure the safety, reliability,
and integrity of the grid:
-Interconnection Facilities
Generator Specific facilities required for interconnection
-Distribution Upgrades
Upgrades to the Distribution System triggered by Generator or Cluster
-Network Upgrades
Upgrades to the Network (CAISO Controlled Grid) triggered by Generator or
Cluster
• Cost Estimate for Scope of Capital Improvements Required and Schedule
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Study Results
+
Cost
Estimate
Accuracy
Supplemental
Review
Initial Review
System
Impact Study
Facilities Study
Construction
Phase 2 Study
Phase 1
Study
•Provides the
Customer +/- 50%
Accuracy
-
Project
Implementation
Contract
Technical Studies
•Determines
acceptance of Fast
Track Process
•Provides a Rough
Scope of Work
•Provides the
Customer +/- 25%
Accuracy
•Provides a Scope of
Work.
Project
In-Service
•Designs the job and
estimates the job with
a +/- 10% Accuracy
•Provides a detailed
Scope of Work.
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Interconnection Study Processes
Initial and
Supplemental
Review
Fast Track
• 2 MW on 12kV and 3 MW on 21 kV and 5 MW on
higher voltages
• Fast Track Screens
• Electrical Independence Screens
System Impact
and Facilities
Study
Independent Study
Process
• Commercial Operation Date Screen
(CAISO)
• No MW limit
• Financial security requirements
• Default process, no MW limit
Phase I and II
Studies
Cluster Study
• One annual study
• Financial security requirements
• All processes may apply for full capacity. Deliverability assessment will be
conducted by CAISO in CAISO’s cluster process.
• PG&E plans on filing a reformed Wholesale Distribution Tariff at the end of Feb
seeking approval for a March 1 effective date. These slides assume acceptance
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by FERC.
Fast Track
Distribution
Transmission
Tariff
Section 2
Section 5
Applicability
Must Pass Screens
Must Pass Screens
MW Limit
5MW, Rule of Thumb 3MW on 21kV
2MW on 12kV
5MW
Application Fee
$1000 (includes Initial Review)
$500
Study
Distribution Distribution
Timing
Fee
Transmission
Timing
Transmission
Fee
Initial Review
10 BD
Included
15 BD
$1000
Supplemental
Review
20 BD
Estimated Fee
10 BD
Estimated Fee
BD – Business Day
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Independent Study Process
Distribution
Transmission
Tariff
Section 3
Section 4
Applicability
Electrical Independence
Test
Electrical Independence Test &
Commercial Operation Date Test
MW Limit
No Limit (corrected from Conference No Limit (corrected from Conference handouts)
handouts)
Application Fee $2000
$50k plus $1k/MW (max $250k)
Study
Distribution Distribution
Timing
Fee
Transmission
Timing
Transmission
Fee
System Impact
Study
60 BD
Estimated Fee
90 BD
Included
Facilities Study 60 BD
Estimated Fee
90 BD
Included
Facilities Study begins when Initial Posting is made
BD – Business Day, CD – Calendar Day
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Cluster Study Process
Distribution
Transmission
Tariff
Section 4
Section 6 & 7
Applicability
Default
Default
Cluster Window
March 1-31
March 1-31
Application Fee
$50k plus $1k/MW
(max $250k)
$50k plus $1k/MW
(max $250k)
Study
Distribution
Timing
Distribution Transmission Transmission Study
Fee
Timing
Fee
Start
Phase I
134 CD
Included
134 CD
Included
Jun 1
Phase II
196 CD
Included
196 CD
Included
Jan 1
BD – Business Day, CD – Calendar Day
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Financial Security Postings
Posting
Number
Posting Type
Posting Amount
Timing
Phase
Initial
Interconnection
Facilities and
Distribution Upgrades
20%
30 CD WDT
60 CD CAISO
After System
Impact Study
(SIS)
Network Upgrades
15% or $20k/MW or
$7.5M (>20MW)
90 CD
After Phase I
Interconnection
Facilities and
Distribution Upgrades
30%
120 CD
After Facilities
Study
Network Upgrades
30% or $1M (<20MW)
or $15M (>20MW)
180 CD
After Phase II
Interconnection
Facilities and
Distribution Upgrades
100%
On or before
the start of
construction
After IA
(acquisition of
permits)
Network Upgrades
100%
Second
Third
BD – Business Day, CD – Calendar Day
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Interconnection Agreement (IA)
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
Small Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA) – 20MW or less
Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) – greater than 20 MW
CAISO GIA is a three-party Agreement between CAISO, PG&E, and Interconnection Customer
IA Process Milestone
Duration
Responsible Party
Tender IA after Phase II or Facilities Study*
30 CD
PG&E or CAISO**
Tender IA after Initial or Supplemental
Review (Fast Track)
15 BD
PG&E or CAISO**
Respond to Draft
30 CD
All parties
PG&E or CAISO to issue executable IA
All parties
IA execution
All parties
* Tariff timing regarding tendering an Interconnection Agreement
post Facilities Study not identified
** Subject to CAISO
BD – Business Day, CD – Calendar Day
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Project Implementation
Application
Processing
Technical
Scoping
Meeting
Technical
Studies
Interconnection
Agreement
Project
Implementation
•
Post Interconnection Agreement, PG&E and Interconnection
Customer should be engineering and designing, procuring, and
constructing the electrical interconnection
• PG&E will be engineering the Capital Improvements as agreed
upon in the Interconnection Agreement
• Interconnection Customer will be engineering the electrical
system on the Interconnection Customer’s side of the meter
and any upgrades that will be applicant built and deeded
•
Post EPC, PG&E, CAISO (if applicable), Interconnection Customer
will coordinate a pre-parallel inspection and commissioning to
achieve Commercial Operation.
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Deliverability
•
RA deliverability? What is it?
•
How do you get it?
•
Timing?
•
Participants are required to apply for CAISO deliverability studies to qualify
for providing Resource Adequacy
PG&E and Socal Edison and CAISO are
currently developing the process to allow
WDT projects to obtain Resource Adequacy.
PG&E will provide guidance prior to the
upcoming Cluster.
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Interconnection Resources
PG&E Wholesale Generator Interconnections Website:
http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/customerservice/nonpgeutility/generateownpower/w
holesalegeneratorinterconnection/#thesmallgeneratorinterconnectionproceduresfortra
nsmissionsysteminterconnectionstransmissionsgip
Email for Interconnection Website: gen@pge.com
Please check PG&E’s Wholesale Generator Interconnection Website March 1
for new application forms and filed tariff.
CAISO: http://www.caiso.com/docs/2002/06/11/2002061110300427214.html
Or via www.pge.com/rfo, select “Solar PV PPA Program RFO”.
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Appendix: Distribution Schedule
These diagrams are for estimating purposes. It assumes immediate response from Customer.
Summary
Fast Track Process
Independent Study Process
Cluster Process
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Appendix: Transmission Schedule
These diagrams are for estimating purposes. It assumes immediate response from Customer.
Summary
Fast Track Process
Independent Study Process
Cluster Process
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