Document ID: FERC-2016-1037-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Rule
Title: Requirements for Frequency and Voltage Ride Through Capability of Small Generating Facilities
Posted Date: 2016-08-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 147 (Monday, August 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50290-50298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17843]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 35

[Docket No. RM16-8-000; Order No. 828]

Requirements for Frequency and Voltage Ride Through Capability of 
Small Generating Facilities

AGENCY:  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION:  Final rule.

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SUMMARY:  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is 
modifying the pro forma Small Generator Interconnection Agreement 
(SGIA). The pro forma SGIA establishes the terms and conditions under 
which public utilities must provide interconnection service to small 
generating facilities of no larger than 20 megawatts. The Commission is 
modifying the pro forma SGIA to require newly interconnecting small 
generating facilities to ride through abnormal frequency and voltage 
events and not disconnect during such events. The specific ride through 
settings must be consistent with Good Utility Practice and any 
standards and guidelines applied by the transmission provider to other 
generating facilities on a comparable basis. The Commission already 
requires generators interconnecting under the Large Generator 
Interconnection Agreement to meet such requirements, and it would be 
unduly discriminatory not to also impose these requirements on small 
generating facilities. The Commission concludes that newly 
interconnecting small generating facilities should have ride through 
requirements comparable to large generating facilities.

DATES:  This final rule will become effective October 5, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Monica Taba (Technical Information), Office of Electric Reliability, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, 
DC

[[Page 50291]]

20426, (202) 502-6789, Monica.Taba@ferc.gov.
Alan Rukin (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426, (202) 502-8502, Alan.Rukin@ferc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Order No. 828

Final Rule

    1. In this Final Rule, the Commission modifies the pro forma Small 
Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA) originally set forth in 
Order No. 2006 \1\ and revised in Order No. 792 \2\ to require small 
generating facilities interconnecting through the SGIA to ride through 
abnormal frequency and voltage events and not disconnect during such 
events.\3\ Pursuant to section 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), the 
Commission finds that, given the changes to conditions since the 
Commission last evaluated whether to impose ride through requirements 
on small generating facilities, the revisions to the pro forma SGIA are 
necessary to remedy undue discrimination by ensuring that small 
generating facilities have ride through requirements comparable to 
large generating facilities.\4\
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    \1\ Standardization of Small Generator Interconnection 
Agreements and Procedures, Order No. 2006, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 
31,180, order on reh'g, Order No. 2006-A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 
31,196 (2005), order granting clarification, Order No. 2006-B, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,221 (2006) (Order No. 2006).
    \2\ Small Generator Interconnection Agreements and Procedures, 
Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159 (2013), clarified, Order No. 792-A, 
146 FERC ] 61,214 (2014) (Order No. 792).
    \3\ In Order No. 2003, the Commission defined ``ride through'' 
to mean a generating facility staying connected to and synchronized 
with the transmission system during system disturbances within a 
range of over- and under-frequency conditions, in accordance with 
Good Utility Practice. Standardization of Generator Interconnection 
Agreements and Procedures, Order No. 2003, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 
31,146, at P 562 n.88 (2003), order on reh'g, Order No. 2003-A, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,160, order on reh'g, Order No. 2003-B, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,171 (2004), order on reh'g, Order No. 2003-C, 
FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,190 (2005), aff'd sub nom. Nat'l Ass'n of 
Regulatory Util. Comm'rs v. FERC, 475 F.3d 1277 (D.C. Cir. 2007), 
cert. denied, 552 U.S. 1230 (2008) (Order No. 2003). Reliability 
Standard PRC-024-1 requires bulk electric system generation to ride 
through over- and under-voltage conditions.
    \4\ 16 U.S.C. 824e.
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    2. As a result of this Final Rule, small generating facilities are 
required to not disconnect automatically or instantaneously from the 
system or equipment of the transmission provider and any affected 
systems for an under-frequency or over-frequency condition, or an 
under-voltage or over-voltage condition. Furthermore, the transmission 
provider must coordinate the small generating facility's protective 
equipment settings with any automatic load shedding program (e.g., 
under-frequency load shedding, under-voltage load shedding). The 
specific ride through settings must be consistent with Good Utility 
Practice and any standards and guidelines applied by the transmission 
provider to other generating facilities on a comparable basis. These 
requirements will apply to new interconnection customers that execute 
or request the unexecuted filing of an SGIA on or after the effective 
date of this Final Rule. These requirements will also apply to existing 
interconnection customers that, pursuant to a new interconnection 
request, execute or request the unexecuted filing of a new or modified 
SGIA on or after the effective date of this Final Rule.

I. Background

    3. The pro forma SGIA establishes the terms and conditions under 
which public utilities must provide interconnection service to small 
generating facilities of no larger than 20 megawatts (MW). Currently, 
the pro forma SGIA does not mandate that small generating facilities 
have the capability to ride through voltage or frequency disturbances.
    4. In Order No. 2006, the Commission explored whether voltage ride 
through requirements proposed for large wind generating facilities 
should apply to small generating facilities.\5\ A commenter during that 
proceeding asked the Commission to implement ride through standards for 
small generating facilities similar to those proposed for large 
generating facilities. However, other commenters responded that special 
capabilities, such as low voltage ride through, were not needed for any 
small generating facility, whether wind-powered or not. The Commission 
concluded that wind generating facilities interconnecting under Order 
No. 2006 would be small and would have minimal impact on the 
transmission provider's electric system and, therefore, need not be 
subject to ride through requirements.\6\
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    \5\ Order No. 2006, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,180 at P 24.
    \6\ Id. The penetration of small generating facilities has 
increased since the Commission analyzed the impact of small 
generating facilities in Order No. 2006. See infra P 8.
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    5. More recently, the Commission again addressed these requirements 
with regard to small generating facilities in Order No. 792.\7\ In that 
proceeding, the Commission proposed to revise section 1.5.4 of the pro 
forma SGIA to address the reliability concern related to automatic 
disconnection of small generating facilities during over- and under-
frequency events, which could become a greater concern at high 
penetrations of distributed energy resources.\8\ The proposed revisions 
to section 1.5.4 would have required the interconnection customer to 
design, install, maintain, and operate its small generating facility, 
in accordance with the latest version of the applicable standards to 
prevent automatic disconnection during over- and under-frequency 
events.\9\
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    \7\ Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159.
    \8\ Small Generator Interconnection Agreements and Procedures, 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 142 FERC ] 61,049, at P 46 (2013) 
(Order No. 792 NOPR). NERC defines distributed energy resources to 
mean resources that are distributed geographically and not 
centralized like traditional generation resources. NERC, Essential 
Reliability Services Task Force Measures Report, (Nov. 2015), http://www.nerc.com/comm/Other/essntlrlbltysrvcstskfrcDL/ERSTF%20Framework%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf.
    \9\ Id.
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    6. The Commission declined to adopt this proposed revision in Order 
No. 792.\10\ Instead, the Commission recognized that the Institute of 
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) was, at the time, in the 
process of amending IEEE Standard 1547, which is an interconnection 
standard for interconnecting distributed resources with electric power 
systems that is referenced in the Small Generator Interconnection 
Procedures.\11\ The Commission also noted that IEEE was about to begin 
a full IEEE Standard 1547 revision process in 2014, where frequency and 
voltage ride through requirements in the standard were to be evaluated. 
The Commission concluded that it would continue to monitor the IEEE 
Standard 1547 revision process and could revise the pro forma SGIA as 
it relates to IEEE Standard 1547 in the future, if necessary.\12\
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    \10\ Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159 at P 220.
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ Id.
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    7. Since the Commission issued Order No. 792, IEEE has completed a 
partial revision of IEEE Standard 1547, which is IEEE Standard 1547a. 
IEEE is now in the process of fully revising IEEE Standard 1547. The 
partially revised standard, IEEE Standard 1547a, permits generating 
facilities to have wider trip settings compared with IEEE Standard 
1547. These wider trip settings allow generating facilities to stay 
connected to the grid for greater frequency or voltage excursions 
facilitating their ability to ride through such excursions. IEEE 
Standard 1547a also permits--but does

[[Page 50292]]

not mandate--ride through requirements.\13\
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    \13\ IEEE Standard 1547a contains ``must trip'' requirements; it 
does not have ``must ride through'' requirements. By widening the 
trip settings, IEEE Standard 1547a permits generating facilities to 
trip at a later time. This change effectively allows generating 
facilities to ride through disturbances, but they are not required 
to do so.
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    8. Following the Commission's evaluation of the need for ride 
through requirements for small generating facilities in the Order Nos. 
2006 and 792 rulemaking proceedings, the impact of small generating 
facilities on the grid has changed, and the amount has increased. For 
example, as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) 
has noted in multiple reports, the mix of generation resources is 
changing and the high penetration of distributed energy resources will 
impact the reliability of the electric grid if sufficient care is not 
taken to mitigate potential adverse impacts.\14\ NERC also has found 
that a lack of coordination between small generating facilities and 
Reliability Standards can lead to events where system load imbalance 
may increase during frequency excursions or voltage deviations due to 
the disconnection of distributed energy resources, which may exacerbate 
a disturbance on the Bulk-Power System.\15\ In addition, the Commission 
has observed the growth in grid-connected solar photovoltaic generation 
since the issuance of Order No. 2006 and the growth in small generator 
interconnection requests driven by state renewable portfolio standards, 
reductions in cost for solar panels, and deployment of new 
technologies.\16\ Moreover, technology now available to newly 
interconnecting small generating facilities, such as smart inverters, 
permits the capability to ride through frequency and voltage 
disturbances.\17\
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    \14\ See NERC Special Report, Potential Bulk System Reliability 
Impacts of Distributed Resources (Aug. 2011), http://www.nerc.com/docs/pc/ivgtf/IVGTF_TF-1-8_Reliability-Impact-Distributed-Resources_Final-Draft_2011.pdf; see also NERC Integration of 
Variable Generation Task Force Draft Report, Performance of 
Distributed Energy Resources During and After System Disturbance 
(Dec. 2013), http://www.nerc.com/comm/PC/Integration%20of%20Variable%20Generation%20Task%20Force%2011/IVGTF17_PC_FinalDraft_December_clean.pdf.
    \15\ NERC Essential Reliability Services Report at 21.
    \16\ See, e.g., Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159 at P 15; Solar 
Energy Indus. Ass'n, Solar Industry Data, http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data (last visited Jul. 5, 2016).
    \17\ See Electric Power Research Institute, Recommended Settings 
for Voltage and Frequency Ride Through of Distributed Energy 
Resources, 28-29 (May 2015), http://www.epri.com/abstracts/Pages/ProductAbstract.aspx?ProductId=000000003002006203.
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II. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    9. On March 23, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking that proposed to add new section 1.5.7 to the pro forma 
SGIA,\18\ which would require small generating facilities to ride 
through defined frequency and voltage disturbances.
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    \18\ Requirements for Frequency and Voltage Ride Through 
Capability of Small Generating Facilities, 154 FERC ] 61,222 (2016) 
(NOPR).
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    10. In response to the NOPR, eleven entities submitted substantive 
comments, which generally support the Commission's proposal.\19\ These 
comments have informed our determinations in this Final Rule.
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    \19\ Appendix A lists the entities that submitted comments and 
the shortened names used throughout this Final Rule to describe 
those entities.
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III. Discussion

    11. For the reasons discussed below, we adopt the NOPR proposal and 
require small generating facilities to ride through abnormal frequency 
and voltage events comparable to large generating facilities. We find 
that, given the changes to conditions since the Commission last 
evaluated whether to impose ride through requirements on small 
generating facilities, the revisions to the pro forma SGIA are 
necessary to remedy undue discrimination by ensuring that small 
generating facilities have ride through requirements comparable to 
large generating facilities.\20\ Specifically, since the Commission's 
last consideration of this issue, IEEE has revised its standards, and 
IEEE Standard 1547a now provides wider trip settings that allow small 
generating facilities more leeway to ride through disturbances. In 
addition, distributed energy resources have had an increasing presence 
and impact on the electric system. The absence of ride through 
requirements for small generating facilities increases the risk that an 
initial voltage or frequency disturbance may cause a significant number 
of small generating facilities to trip across a particular area or 
Interconnection, further exacerbating the initial disturbance. Large 
generating facilities are already subject to ride through requirements 
to avoid these types of occurrences.\21\
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    \20\ 16 U.S.C. 824e. The Commission routinely evaluates the 
effectiveness of its regulations and policies in light of changing 
industry conditions to determine if changes in these conditions and 
policies are necessary. See, e.g., Integration of Variable Energy 
Resources, Order No. 764, FERC Stats. & Regs, ] 31,331 (2012).
    \21\ See Order No. 2003, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,146 at P 562 
n.88.
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    12. The Commission acknowledges that some areas have a greater 
penetration of distributed resources than others at this time. 
Nevertheless, the Commission believes that the proposed reforms to the 
pro forma SGIA are appropriate on an industry-wide basis now. The 
Commission continues to affirm that this Final Rule is not intended to 
interfere with state interconnection procedures or agreements in any 
way. The pro forma SGIA applies only to interconnections made subject 
to a jurisdictional open access transmission tariff (OATT) for the 
purposes of jurisdictional wholesale sales. Similar to the approach in 
Order Nos. 2006 and 792, the Commission hopes that the changes to the 
pro forma SGIA resulting from this Final Rule will be helpful to states 
when updating their own interconnection rules, but the states are under 
no obligation to adopt the provisions of the Commission's proposal.\22\
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    \22\ Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159 at P 27; Order No. 2006, 
FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,180 at P 8.
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A. Revision of the Pro Forma SGIA

1. NOPR Proposal
    13. In the NOPR, the Commission proposed to revise the pro forma 
SGIA to include proposed section 1.5.7, which would require 
interconnection customers to ensure the frequency ride through 
capability and the voltage ride through capability of small generating 
facilities that execute or request the unexecuted filing of 
interconnection agreements following the effective date of the proposed 
section 1.5.7. Proposed section 1.5.7 would also require a small 
generating facility not to disconnect automatically or instantaneously 
from the system or equipment of the transmission provider and any 
affected systems for an under-frequency or over-frequency condition, or 
an under-voltage or over-voltage condition. In addition, the 
transmission provider must coordinate the small generating facility's 
protective equipment settings with any automatic load shedding program.
2. Comments
    14. The substantive comments filed in response to the NOPR 
generally support the proposal to modify the pro forma SGIA.\23\ 
Commenters agree with the need for fair and equitable treatment between 
small and large generating

[[Page 50293]]

facilities, the need for effective protections for system operation 
while also avoiding increased costs, and the potential to improve 
system stability and reliability over the coming years by adopting the 
proposed modifications to the pro forma SGIA.\24\ Commenters 
acknowledge the proposal's benefits, stating it will simplify 
operational conditions, especially considering the rising small 
generator penetration levels on the distribution system.\25\ NERC 
states that revising the pro forma SGIA to impose ride through 
requirements would be consistent with the results of a number of NERC's 
reliability assessments.\26\ Trade Associations and PNM agree that the 
absence of ride through requirements for small generating facilities 
increases the risk that an initial voltage or frequency disturbance may 
cause a significant number of small generating facilities to trip 
offline, exacerbating the initial disturbance.\27\
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    \23\ Peak Reliability Comments at 3; Idaho Power Comments at 2; 
PNM Comments at 1; SoCal Edison Comments at 2; ISO/RTO Council 
Comments at 6; Trade Associations Comments at 4; Bonneville Comments 
at 1; EPRI Comments at 7; NERC Comments at 2; PG&E Comments at 2.
    \24\ SoCal Edison Comments at 2; Peak Reliability Comments at 3; 
EPRI Comments at 7.
    \25\ PNM Comments at 2; Trade Associations Comments at 7.
    \26\ NERC Comments at 4.
    \27\ PNM Comments at 2; Trade Associations Comments at 7.
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    15. Idaho Power claims that if more small generation facilities 
connect to its system, without the proposed changes to the pro forma 
SGIA, it would become increasingly difficult for it to comply with 
Reliability Standards PRC-006-2 (Automatic Underfrequency Load 
Shedding) and BAL-003-1.1 (Frequency Response and Frequency Bias 
Setting).\28\
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    \28\ Idaho Power Comments at 2.
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    16. The ISO/RTO Council recommends that the proposed required 
characteristics for small generating facilities should be demonstrated 
``as tested,'' and that this should be specified in the pro forma SGIA 
section 1.5.7. The ISO/RTO Council notes that demonstrating 
characteristics ``as tested'' is already required under section 24 of 
the large generator interconnection agreement (LGIA). The ISO/RTO 
Council further explains that, while the pro forma SGIA does not 
presently have such language, the ``as tested'' requirement applies to 
small generating facilities pursuant to the directives in Order No. 
2006.\29\
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    \29\ ISO/RTO Council Comments at 7 (citing Order No. 2006, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,180 at P 59).
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    17. Some commenters request that the Commission delay 
implementation of the Final Rule. While EPRI does not believe that 
additional action is required for other existing interconnected small 
generating facilities, EPRI comments that additional reliability 
studies may be required if aggregate penetration levels increase 
sufficiently before the modifications to the pro forma SGIA and revised 
IEEE Standard 1547 become effective.\30\ EPRI notes the need for timely 
revision and balloting of IEEE Standard 1547, as well as prompt 
adoption of the standard.\31\ Trade Associations suggest waiting until 
after key industry standards are approved and the safety and 
effectiveness of smart inverter technology is validated. \32\ Trade 
Associations request time to allow entities to resolve outstanding 
concerns such as personnel and asset safety, as well as the ability to 
effectively coordinate protections systems between the local utility 
and interconnecting resources.\33\ EPRI and IEEE assert that relevant 
stakeholders, including transmission owners and transmission operators, 
should engage with the IEEE Standard 1547 revision process to ensure 
that the final framework and requirements for ride through can be 
consistently applied to meet individual system needs.\34\
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    \30\ EPRI Comments at 7.
    \31\ Id. at 7-8.
    \32\ Trade Associations Comments at 7-8; EPRI Comments at 7-8.
    \33\ Trade Associations Comments at 7-8.
    \34\ EPRI Comments at 7-8.
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    18. Trade Associations claim that the new ride through capability 
requirements are only possible through smart inverter technology, but 
point out that key associated specifications contained in the reference 
standards remain unapproved. Trade Associations explain that 
distribution feeders are often designed as radial feeders that depend 
on remote generation to quickly disconnect when the utility source is 
disconnected. According to Trade Associations, failure to do so may 
result in unintentional islands which create safety hazards for 
personnel and customers, as well as liability concerns. Trade 
Associations caution that directing small generation facilities to ride 
through disturbances may create islanding conditions and relaxed 
response to fault conditions.
    19. Further, Trade Associations claim that more industry discussion 
is needed to ensure that small generators' interconnections meet the 
unique regional utility safety and reliability concerns before the 
proposed revisions to section 1.5.7 of the pro forma SGIA are adopted. 
Trade Associations suggest that the Commission include the issues in 
this proceeding in the three regional technical conferences recommended 
by Edison Electric Institute in Docket No. RM16-6-000.\35\
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    \35\ Trade Associations Comments at 13-14. In Docket No. RM16-6-
000, the Commission issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on 
the need for reforms to its rules and regulations regarding the 
provision and compensation of primary frequency response.
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    20. Trade Associations also suggest that the Commission explore how 
changes made to the pro forma SGIA often influence state regulations. 
Trade Associations note that distribution level interconnections are 
broadly supported by industry standards and company interconnection 
rules; and alignment to pro forma SGIA may be inappropriate for some 
state regulations.\36\
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    \36\ Trade Associations Comments at 14.
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3. Commission Determination
    21. As discussed above, we find the revisions to the pro forma SGIA 
adopted herein are necessary to remedy treatment that is unjust, 
unreasonable, and unduly discriminatory and preferential because there 
is no technical or economic basis to require small and large generating 
facilities to follow different requirements in regards to voltage and 
frequency ride through. Our revisions will place similar requirements 
on large generating facilities and small generating facilities for ride 
through capabilities. As discussed above, the NOPR proposal received 
widespread support from commenters. Further, the absence of ride 
through requirements for small generating facilities may have adverse 
impacts on the reliability of the electric grid. We find that the lack 
of ride through requirements for small generating facilities is unduly 
discriminatory. This is due to the increased presence and impact of 
small generating facilities, including distributed energy resources, on 
the electric system, that could create reliability issues if they do 
not have the capability to ride through voltage or frequency 
disturbances. Further, improvements in technology, such as smart 
inverters, make it economically feasible for small generating 
facilities to ride through voltage and frequency disturbances. We 
acknowledge that some areas have a greater penetration of distributed 
resources than others at this time. Nevertheless, we believe that the 
proposed reforms to the pro forma SGIA are appropriate on an industry-
wide basis now and that deferred action would not be appropriate.
    22. We recognize the work of the IEEE 1547 Working Group, but we 
determine that there is a pressing need to establish ride through 
capability requirements at this time because we expect a continuing 
increase in penetration of small generating facilities. The revisions 
to the pro forma SGIA that we now approve will require the small

[[Page 50294]]

generating facility to implement ride through settings based on a 
technical standard established by the transmission provider.
    23. While Trade Associations point out that IEEE is revising IEEE 
Standard 1547, the standard does not currently require ride through 
capability. We are acting now to ensure that all affected 
jurisdictional small generating facilities will have the ride through 
capability, as allowed by IEEE Standard 1547a.\37\
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    \37\ As we also explained in the NOPR, the Commission's proposal 
was not intended to impede the ongoing efforts of the IEEE 1547 
Working Group, and we reiterate that point here. NOPR, 154 FERC ] 
61,222 at P 8 n.19.
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    24. We are persuaded by the ISO/RTO Council's recommendation to add 
the ``as tested'' language to section 1.5.7 of the pro forma SGIA to 
harmonize the requirements between the pro forma SGIA and the pro forma 
LGIA. Pursuant to this ``as tested'' language, the interconnection 
customer must provide the successfully completed test results to the 
transmission provider in a similar manner as in section 24.4 of the pro 
forma LGIA. We believe that the addition of ``as tested'' language does 
not create an extra burden on either party to an interconnection 
agreement because the pro forma SGIA already includes testing 
requirements in section 2.1.\38\ The ``as tested'' language assures the 
transmission provider that the required ride through capability can 
actually be performed by the small generating facility.
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    \38\ Pro forma SGIA, Section 2.1 ``Equipment Test and 
Inspection.''
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    25. We hereby adopt new section 1.5.7 of the pro forma SGIA showing 
the changes made to the Commission's proposal in the NOPR as follows:

    1.5.7 The Interconnection Customer shall ensure ``frequency ride 
through'' capability and ``voltage ride through'' capability of its 
Small Generating Facility. The Interconnection Customer shall enable 
these capabilities such that its Small Generating Facility shall not 
disconnect automatically or instantaneously from the system or 
equipment of the Transmission Provider and any Affected Systems for 
a defined under-frequency or over-frequency condition, or an under-
voltage or over-voltage condition, as tested pursuant to section 2.1 
of this agreement. The defined conditions shall be in accordance 
with Good Utility Practice and consistent with any standards and 
guidelines that are applied to other generating facilities in the 
Balancing Authority Area on a comparable basis. . . .

    26. We recognize the Trade Associations' concern about potential 
tension between ride through requirements and anti-islanding 
protection. Ensuring the safety of utility lineworkers is critically 
important, and an issue the Commission takes seriously. Based on our 
consideration of the record, we believe that the ride through 
requirements adopted herein are technically and safely achievable. In 
particular, we note that this Final Rule provides significant 
flexibility for transmission providers to account for potential safety 
and islanding concerns. For example, the transmission provider can 
determine specific ride through settings needed to address those 
concerns so long as those settings are consistent with Good Utility 
Practice and any standards and guidelines applied to other generating 
facilities on a comparable basis.
    27. Furthermore, we note that islanding and personnel safety are 
not new issues resulting from this Final Rule; to the contrary, they 
will continue to be important concerns regardless of the reforms 
adopted in this Final Rule. Accordingly, we emphasize the importance of 
implementing ride through requirements through careful coordination 
between the interconnection customer and the transmission provider, as 
well as the utilization of appropriate safety procedures for utility 
personnel, particularly effective and thorough communication for 
lineworkers in the field, when performing remedial actions following a 
system disturbance. We support the continued efforts by industry to 
explore innovative ways to detect island conditions in order to 
mitigate the risk of unintentional islands.
    28. In light of our goal to prevent undue discrimination, we seek 
to provide guidelines that will be applied to generating facilities on 
a comparable basis, while allowing for justified differences on a case 
by case basis. For example, if a transmission provider believes a 
particular facility has a higher risk of unintentional islanding due to 
specific conditions on that facility, the revisions to the pro forma 
SGIA will permit the transmission provider to coordinate with the small 
generating facility to set ride through settings appropriate for those 
conditions, in accordance with Good Utility Practice and the 
appropriate technical standards. For facilities with a lower risk of 
forming an unintentional island, the transmission provider can 
implement a longer ride through requirement, in accordance with Good 
Utility Practice and the appropriate technical standards. We believe 
that the flexibility provided by section 1.5.7 allows for appropriate 
ride through requirements while recognizing the need to address any 
safety concerns.

B. Referencing Specific Technical Standards

1. NOPR Proposal
    29. In the NOPR, the Commission proposed to avoid prescriptive 
frequency and voltage ride through requirements to allow for the 
development of appropriate system- specific standards, noting that the 
standards can be based on work developed by recognized standards 
settings bodies, such as IEEE.
2. Comments
    30. Commenters request that the proposed rule contain explicit 
references to standards such as the Reliability Standards and IEEE and 
UL standards.\39\ The ISO/RTO Council states that Reliability Standards 
already provide requirements for coordination of automatic under-
frequency generator tripping with automatic under-frequency load 
shedding programs that should be incorporated in the new ride through 
requirements. The ISO/RTO Council suggests that the pro forma SGIA 
explicitly reference Reliability Standard PRC-024 (Generator Frequency 
and Voltage Protective Relay Settings) and applicable regional 
Reliability Standards as part of the definition of ``Good Utility 
Practice'' and for the coordination of automatic generator tripping 
with automatic load shedding.\40\ The ISO/RTO Council also recommends 
that the pro forma SGIA refer to the Reliability Standards and regional 
Reliability Standards for coordination of automatic generator tripping 
with automatic load shedding, and as appropriate, permit individual 
transmission providers to also reference their automatic load-shed 
program.
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    \39\ ISO/RTO Council Comments at 7.
    \40\ Id. at 6-7.
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    31. Commenters assert that specifying certain technical standards 
would be beneficial for consistent enforceability; specifically, some 
commenters suggest that the pro forma SGIA reference IEEE and UL 1741 
standards to describe ``Good Utility Practice.'' \41\ EPRI and IEEE 
comment that failure to harmonize ride through requirements with the 
proposed draft IEEE 1547 requirements may introduce confusion and 
ultimately delay testing and compliance, exposing the electric system 
to an increased reliability risk.\42\ PNM recognizes that there are 
challenges to developing specific settings applicable to all small 
generating facilities.\43\ However, PNM states that the Commission 
should still

[[Page 50295]]

consider documenting some ride through expectation similar to those 
outlined in the LGIA requirements. PNM requests that the pro forma SGIA 
revisions consider a minimum ride through duration based on fault 
clearing times and a minimum voltage. PNM also requests that the 
Commission specify the location where the frequency and voltage 
measurements are taken to comply with the requirements, such as the 
point of interconnection.
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    \41\ PNM Comments at 3; EPRI Comments at 13; IEEE Comments at 2.
    \42\ EPRI Comments at 13; IEEE Comments at 2.
    \43\ PNM Comments at 2.
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    32. SoCal Edison observes that the California Public Utilities 
Commission (CPUC) has established, through its retail Rule 21 tariff, 
smart inverter requirements for small generators interconnecting to the 
distribution systems of California's investor owned utilities, and low/
high voltage ride through and low/high frequency ride through are part 
of the new required capabilities for small generators.\44\ SoCal Edison 
explains that the CPUC ordered all investor owned utilities ``to seek 
approval as may be needed for conforming changes to harmonize their 
federal wholesale Tariffs interconnection specifications with the 
revisions to Electric Tariff Rule 21.'' \45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ SoCal Edison Comments at 3.
    \45\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Commission Determination
    33. We are not persuaded by commenters' arguments for the need to 
reference specific technical standards and decline to incorporate by 
reference any specific standard into the pro forma SGIA or to specify 
ride through duration and voltage and frequency levels. We therefore 
decline to modify the NOPR proposal in this regard.
    34. To accommodate the differences in voltage and frequency ride 
through capabilities inherent in the different generation technologies, 
we believe that requiring basic performance expectations without 
explicitly specifying the duration or voltage and frequency levels 
allows the flexibility to apply appropriate ride through settings with 
coordination and approval of the transmission operator. As EPRI and 
IEEE note, the ride through requirement framework in the draft IEEE 
Standard 1547 is being structured along ``performance categories'' that 
take into account the technological differences of various types of 
small generating facilities. Once finalized, IEEE Standard 1547 may be 
used as a technical guide to meet the requirements adopted herein. 
Until revisions to IEEE Standard 1547 are finalized, however, 
transmission providers and affected interconnection customers must 
coordinate appropriate alternative frequency and voltage ride through 
settings.
    35. Furthermore, as a pragmatic matter, by setting minimum ride 
through capability requirements that are not tied to a specific 
standard, the requirements in section 1.5.7 of the pro forma SGIA would 
remain applicable following any updates from IEEE Standard 1547 or 
other applicable standards, without having to modify the pro forma SGIA 
each time any such standard is updated.
    36. In response to PNM's clarification request, we clarify that the 
point of interconnection is the appropriate place to measure frequency 
and voltage to comply with the ride through requirements.

C. Regional Differences

1. NOPR Proposal
    37. The Commission proposed to permit RTOs and ISOs to seek 
``independent entity variations'' from the proposed revisions to the 
pro forma SGIA.
2. Comments
    38. Multiple commenters support the Commission's proposal to permit 
RTOs and ISOs to seek ``independent entity variations'' from the 
proposed revisions to the pro forma SGIA.\46\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ Trade Associations Comments at 12-13; SoCal Edison Comments 
at 4; ISO/RTO Council Comments at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    39. Trade Associations request that the Commission also affirm the 
ability of transmission providers that are not members of RTOs or ISOs 
to seek variations from the pro forma SGIA to ensure consistency with 
regional reliability requirements. Trade Associations explain that 
differences in resource penetration and configuration (such as state 
renewable portfolio standards or wind generation in remote locations) 
have led to regional reliability requirements. Trade Associations note 
that the Commission recognized in Order No. 2003 that such regional 
reliability requirements might justify variations to pro forma 
interconnection agreements and procedures.\47\ SoCal Edison believes 
that, to the extent that some regions may need additional time to 
implement the proposed ride through requirements on small generating 
facilities, the Commission should grant such time.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ Trade Associations Comments at 12-13.
    \48\ SoCal Edison Comments at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Commission Determination
    40. We adopt the NOPR proposal and permit ISOs and RTOs to seek 
``independent entity variations'' from revisions to the pro forma 
SGIA.\49\ Also, as proposed in the NOPR, if a transmission provider 
seeks a deviation from section 1.5.7 of the pro forma SGIA, it must 
demonstrate that the deviation is consistent with or superior to the 
principles set forth in this Final Rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ See Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159 at P 274 (citing Order 
No. 2003, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,146 at PP 822-827).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    41. In addition, we clarify that we will also consider requests for 
``regional reliability variations,'' provided that such requests are 
supported by references to regional Reliability Standards, explain why 
these regional Reliability Standards support the requested variation, 
and include the text of the referenced Reliability Standards.\50\ While 
some regions currently have greater penetration of small generation 
facilities than others, we are acting now to set a national minimum 
ride through capability before future increases in deployment of small 
generation facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ See id. P 273 (citing Order No. 2006, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 
31,180 at P 546).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Compliance and Implementation

    42. Section 35.28(f)(1) of the Commission's regulations requires 
every public utility with a non-discriminatory open access transmission 
tariff OATT on file to also have an SGIA on file with the 
Commission.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ 18 CFR 35.28(f)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    43. We reiterate that the requirements of this Final Rule apply to 
all newly interconnecting small generating facilities that execute or 
request the unexecuted filing of an SGIA on or after the effective date 
of this Final Rule as well as existing interconnection customers that, 
pursuant to a new interconnection request, execute or request the 
unexecuted filing of a new or modified SGIA on or after the effective 
date.
    44. We require each public utility transmission provider that has 
an SGIA within its OATT to submit a compliance filing within 65 days 
following publication in the Federal Register.\52\ The compliance 
filing must demonstrate that it meets the requirements set forth in 
this proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ For purposes of this Final Rule, a public utility is a 
utility that owns, controls, or operates facilities used for 
transmitting electric energy in interstate commerce, as defined by 
the FPA. See 16 U.S.C. 824(e). A non-public utility that seeks 
voluntary compliance with the reciprocity condition of an OATT may 
satisfy that condition by filing an OATT, which includes an SGIA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    45. The Commission recently issued Order No. 827, a final rule in 
Docket No. RM16-1-000, directing transmission providers to submit SGIA 
revisions

[[Page 50296]]

related to reactive power requirements to the Commission.\53\ Those 
compliance filings are due to the Commission on September 21, 2016. To 
facilitate administrative efficiency, we will require the compliance 
filings for this Final Rule and Order No. 827 to be filed in one 
combined filing. Once this Final Rule is published in the Federal 
Register, the Commission will provide a short extension to the 
compliance dates in both proceedings such that the compliance dates are 
the same.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ Reactive Power Requirements for Non-Synchronous Generation, 
Order No. 827, 81 FR 40,793 (Jun. 23, 2016), 155 FERC ] 61,277 
(2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    46. As discussed above, we are not requiring changes to 
interconnection agreements that were executed prior to the effective 
date of this Final Rule. Instead, the requirements of this Final Rule 
apply to newly interconnecting small generating facilities that execute 
or request the unexecuted filing of an interconnection agreement on or 
after the effective date. The requirements of this Final Rule also 
apply to existing small generating facilities that, pursuant to a new 
interconnection request, require new or modified interconnection 
agreements that are executed or requested to be filed unexecuted on or 
after the effective date.
    47. Some public utility transmission providers may have provisions 
in their existing SGIAs or other document(s) subject to the 
Commission's jurisdiction that the Commission has deemed to be 
consistent with or superior to the pro forma SGIA or are permissible 
under the independent entity variation standard or regional reliability 
standard.\54\ Where these provisions would be modified by this Final 
Rule, public utility transmission providers must either comply with 
this Final Rule or demonstrate that these previously-approved 
variations continue to be consistent with or superior to the pro forma 
SGIA as modified by this Final Rule or continue to be permissible under 
the independent entity variation standard or regional reliability 
standard.\55\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ See Order No. 792, 145 FERC ] 61,159 at P 270.
    \55\ See 18 CFR 35.28(f)(1)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    48. We find that transmission providers that are not public 
utilities must adopt the requirements of this Final Rule as a condition 
of maintaining the status of their safe harbor tariff or otherwise 
satisfying the reciprocity requirement of Order No. 888.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-
Discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities; Recovery 
of Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities, 
Order No. 888, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,036, at 31,760-63 (1996), 
order on reh'g, Order No. 888-A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,048, order 
on reh'g, Order No. 888-B, 81 FERC ] 61,248 (1997), order on reh'g, 
Order No. 888-C, 82 FERC ] 61,046 (1998), aff'd in relevant part sub 
nom. Transmission Access Policy Study Group v. FERC, 225 F.3d 667 
(D.C. Cir. 2000), aff'd sub nom. New York v. FERC, 535 U.S. 1 
(2002).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Information Collection Statement

    49. The following collection of information contained in this Final 
Rule is subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.\57\ OMB's regulations require approval of certain information 
collection requirements imposed by agency rules.\58\ Upon approval of a 
collection of information, OMB will assign an OMB control number and 
expiration date. Respondents subject to the filing requirements of this 
Final Rule will not be penalized for failing to respond to this 
collection of information unless the collection of information displays 
a valid OMB control number.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
    \58\ 5 CFR 1320.11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    50. The reforms adopted in this Final Rule revise the Commission's 
pro forma SGIA in accordance with section 35.28(f)(1) of the 
Commission's regulations.\59\ This Final Rule applies to all newly 
interconnecting small generating facilities that execute or request the 
unexecuted filing of an SGIA on or after the effective date of this 
Final Rule as well as existing interconnection customers that, pursuant 
to a new interconnection request, execute or request the unexecuted 
filing of a new or modified SGIA on or after the effective date, to 
ensure frequency ride through capability and voltage ride through 
capability in accordance with good utility practice and consistent with 
any standards and guidelines that are applied to other generating 
facilities in the balancing authority area on a comparable basis. The 
reforms adopted in this Final Rule would require filings of SGIAs with 
the Commission. The Commission anticipates the revisions required by 
this Final Rule, once implemented, will not significantly change 
existing burdens on an ongoing basis. With regard to those public 
utility transmission providers that believe that they already comply 
with the revisions adopted in this Final Rule, they can demonstrate 
their compliance in the filing required 65 days after the effective 
date of this Final Rule. The Commission will submit the proposed 
reporting requirements to OMB for its review and approval under section 
3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act.\60\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ 18 CFR 35.28(f)(1).
    \60\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    51. While the Commission expects the revisions adopted in this 
Final Rule will provide significant benefits, the Commission 
understands that implementation would entail some costs. The Commission 
solicited comments on the accuracy of provided burden and cost 
estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing the respondents' 
burdens. The Commission did not receive any comments concerning its 
burden or cost estimates. As explained above, we will require the 
compliance filings for this Final Rule and Order No. 827 to be filed in 
one combined filing. We expect that this will reduce the burden on 
public utility transmission providers at the time the Commission gives 
notice of the extension of the compliance date and requirement to 
combine compliance filings.
    Burden Estimate: The Commission believes that the burden estimates 
below are representative of the average burden on respondents. The 
estimated burden and cost for the requirements adopted in this Final 
Rule follow.\61\
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    \61\ Commission staff estimates that industry is similarly 
situated in terms of hourly cost (wages plus benefits). Based on the 
Commission 2016 average cost (wages plus benefits), $74.50/hour is 
used.

[[Page 50297]]

                                          FERC 516A Revisions in RM16-8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Annual  number                                      Total annual
                                  Number of     of  responses   Total number    Average burden    burden hrs. &
                                 respondents         per        of responses     (hrs.) & cost     total annual
                                    \62\         respondent                    ($) per response      cost ($)
                                          (1)             (2)     (1)*(2)=(3)  (4).............  (3)*(4)=(5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conforming SGIA changes to                118               1             118  7.5 hrs.;         885 hrs.;
 incorporate revisions.                                                         $558.75.          $65,932.50
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ..............  ..............             118  7.5 hrs.;         885 hrs.;
                                                                                $558.75.          $65,932.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Cost to Comply: The Commission has projected the additional cost of 
compliance as follows: \63\
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    \62\ Number of Applicable Registered Entities.
    \63\ The costs for Year 1 would consist of filing proposed 
changes to the pro forma SGIA with the Commission within 65 days of 
the effective date of the final revision plus initial 
implementation. The Commission does not expect any ongoing costs 
beyond the initial compliance in Year 1.

 Year 1: $65,932.50 for all affected entities ($558.75/utility)
 Year 2 and subsequent years: $0

After implementation in Year 1, the reforms proposed in this Final Rule 
would be complete.
    Title: FERC-516A, Standardization of Small Generator 
Interconnection Agreements and Procedures.
    Action: Revision of currently approved collection of information.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0203.
    Respondents for This Rulemaking: Businesses or other for profit 
and/or not-for-profit institutions.
    Frequency of Information: One-time during Year 1.
    Necessity of Information: The Commission adopts changes to the pro 
forma SGIA in order to more efficiently and cost-effectively 
interconnect generating facilities no larger than 20 MW (small 
generating facilities) to Commission-jurisdictional transmission 
systems. The purpose of this Final Rule is to revise the pro forma SGIA 
so small generating facilities can be reliably and efficiently 
integrated into the electric grid and to ensure that Commission-
jurisdictional services are provided at rates, terms and conditions 
that are just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or 
preferential. This Final Rule seeks to achieve this goal by amending 
the pro forma SGIA to include new section 1.5.7.
    Internal Review: The Commission has reviewed the changes and has 
determined that the changes are necessary. These requirements conform 
to the Commission's need for efficient information collection, 
communication, and management within the energy industry. The 
Commission has assured itself, by means of internal review, that there 
is specific, objective support for the burden estimates associated with 
the information collection requirements.
    52. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting 
requirements by contacting the following: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426 [Attention: 
Ellen Brown, Office of the Executive Director], email: 
DataClearance@ferc.gov, Phone: (202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873.
    53. Comments on the collection of information and the associated 
burden estimate in the Final Rule should be sent to the Commission in 
this docket and may also be sent to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20503 [Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission], at the following email address: 
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Please reference OMB Control No. 1902-0203 
and the docket number of this rulemaking in your submission.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    54. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \64\ generally 
requires a description and analysis of rules that will have significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The RFA does 
not mandate any particular outcome in a rulemaking. It only requires 
consideration of alternatives that are less burdensome to small 
entities and an agency explanation of why alternatives were rejected.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    55. The Small Business Administration (SBA) revised its size 
standards (effective January 22, 2014) for electric utilities from a 
standard based on megawatt hours to a standard based on the number of 
employees, including affiliates. Under SBA's standards, some 
transmission owners will fall under the following category and 
associated size threshold: Electric bulk power transmission and 
control, at 500 employees.\65\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ 13 CFR 121.201, Sector 22 (Utilities), NAICS code 221121 
(Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    56. The Commission estimates that the total number of public 
utility transmission providers that would have to modify the SGIAs 
within their currently effective OATTs is 118. Of these, the Commission 
estimates that approximately 43% are small entities. The Commission 
estimates the average cost to each of these entities will be minimal, 
requiring on average 7.5 hours or $558.75. According to SBA guidance, 
the determination of significance of impact ``should be seen as 
relative to the size of the business, the size of the competitor's 
business, and the impact the regulation has on larger competitors.'' 
\66\ The Commission does not consider the estimated burden to be a 
significant economic impact. As a result, the Commission certifies that 
the reforms adopted in this Final Rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ U.S. Small Business Administration, A Guide for Government 
Agencies How to Comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, at 18 
(May 2012), https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/rfaguide_0512_0.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. Environmental Analysis

    57. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may 
have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.\67\ As we 
stated in the NOPR, the Commission concludes that neither an 
Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is 
required for the revisions adopted in this Final Rule under section 
380.4(a)(15) of the Commission's regulations, which provides a 
categorical exemption for approval of actions under sections 205 and 
206 of the FPA relating to the filing of schedules containing all rates 
and

[[Page 50298]]

charges for the transmission or sale of electric energy subject to the 
Commission's jurisdiction, plus the classification, practices, 
contracts and regulations that affect rates, charges, classifications, 
and services.\68\ The revisions adopted in this Final Rule would update 
and clarify the application of the Commission's standard 
interconnection requirements to small generating facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ Regulations Implementing National Environmental Policy Act, 
Order No. 486, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 30,783 (1987).
    \68\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(15).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    58. Therefore, this Final Rule falls within the categorical 
exemptions provided in the Commission's regulations, and as a result 
neither an Environmental Impact Statement nor an Environmental 
Assessment is required.

VIII. Document Availability

    59. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
Internet through the Commission's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov) and 
in the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    60. From the Commission's Home Page on the Internet, this 
information is available on eLibrary. The full text of this document is 
available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, 
printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type 
the docket number of this document, excluding the last three digits, in 
the docket number field.
    61. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's 
Web site during normal business hours from the Commission's Online 
Support at (202) 502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) or email at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-
8371, TTY (202) 502-8659. Email the Public Reference Room at 
public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.

IX. Effective Date and Congressional Notification

    62. The Final Rule is effective October 5, 2016. However, as noted 
above, the requirements of this Final Rule will apply only to all newly 
interconnecting small generating facilities that execute or request the 
unexecuted filing of an SGIA on or after the effective date of this 
Final Rule as well as existing interconnection customers that, pursuant 
to a new interconnection request, execute or request the unexecuted 
filing of a new or modified SGIA on or after the effective date. The 
Commission has determined, with the concurrence of the Administrator of 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, that this 
Final Rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined in section 351 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This Final 
Rule is being submitted to the Senate, House, Government Accountability 
Office, and Small Business Administration.

    By the Commission.

    Issued: July 21, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.

    Note:  The following Attachment will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

Appendix A--List of Substantive Commenters (RM16-8-000)

Bonneville Bonneville Power Administration
Trade Associations Edison Electric Institute/American Public Power 
Association/Large Public Power Council/National Rural Electric 
Cooperative Association
EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
Idaho Power Idaho Power Company
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
ISO/RTO Council ISO/RTO Council
NERC North American Electric Reliability Corporation
PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Peak Reliability Peak Reliability
PNM Public Service Company of New Mexico
SoCal Edison Southern California Edison Company

    In addition, Entergy Services, Inc. submitted non-substantive 
comments.

[FR Doc. 2016-17843 Filed 7-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P