Source: http://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=6577
Timestamp: 2019-08-26 03:47:38
Document Index: 285949550

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56', '§ 56']

Vol. 34 Iss. 2 (Proposed Regulation) 20VAC5-315, Regulations Governing Net Energy Metering September 18, 2017
Title of Regulation: 20VAC5-315. Regulations Governing Net Energy Metering (amending 20VAC5-315-10 through 20VAC5-315-40; adding 20VAC5-315-75).
Public Comment Deadline: October 31, 2017.
Agency Contact: Armando deLeon, Utilities Engineer, Division of Public Utility Regulation, State Corporation Commission, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-9392, FAX (804) 371-9350, or email armando.deleon@scc.virginia.gov.
Pursuant to Chapters 565 and 581 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly, the proposed amendments (i) add a definition of small agricultural generator and provide for the interconnection of small agricultural generators to utilities because, as of July 1, 2019, agricultural customer-generators may no longer interconnect with electric cooperatives but must do so as small agricultural generators under § 56-594.2 of the Code of Virginia.
AT RICHMOND, AUGUST 25, 2017
CASE NO. PUR-2017-00099
The Regulations Governing Net Energy Metering, 20VAC5-315-10 et seq. ("Net Energy Metering Rules"), adopted by the State Corporation Commission ("Commission") pursuant to § 56-594 of the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act, Chapter 23 (§ 56-576 et seq.) of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia ("Code"), establish the requirements for participation by an eligible customer-generator in net energy metering in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Net Energy Metering Rules include conditions for interconnection and metering, billing, and contract requirements between net metering customers, electric distribution companies, and energy service providers.
Chapters 565 and 581 of the 2017 Acts of Assembly ("Chapters 565 and 581") amended § 56-594 of the Code by adding a new § 56-594.2 to add a definition of "small agricultural generator" and to provide for the interconnection of such generator to utilities. In addition, Chapters 565 and 581 provide that on and after July 1, 2019, interconnection of eligible agricultural customer-generators under § 56-594 shall cease for electric cooperatives only, and such facilities shall interconnect solely as small agricultural generators under § 56-594.2. The current Net Energy Metering Rules thus must be revised to reflect the changes set forth in Chapters 565 and 581.
NOW THE COMMISSION, upon consideration of the matter, is of the opinion and finds that a proceeding should be established to amend the Net Energy Metering Rules to provide for the interconnection of small agricultural generators, as defined in the Code.
To initiate this proceeding, the Commission Staff has prepared proposed rules ("Proposed Rules") which are appended to this Order. We will direct that notice of the Proposed Rules be given to the public and that interested persons be provided an opportunity to file written comments on, propose modifications or supplements to, or request a hearing on the Proposed Rules. We will further direct that each Virginia electric distribution company within the meaning of 20VAC5-315-20 serve a copy of this Order upon each of their respective net metering customers and file a certificate of service. Individuals should be specific in their comments, proposals, or supplements to the Proposed Rules and address only those issues pertaining to the amendment of § 56-594 of the Code of Virginia pursuant to Chapters 565 and 581. Issues outside the scope of implementing these amendments will not be open for consideration.
(1) This case is docketed and assigned Case No. PUR-2017-00099.
(2) The Commission's Division of Information Resources shall forward a copy of this Order to the Registrar of Regulations for publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations.
(3) On or before September 19, 2017, each Virginia electric distribution company shall serve a copy of this Order upon each of their respective net metering customers and file with the Commission a certificate of service no later than October 3, 2017, consistent with the findings above.
(4) On or before October 31, 2017, any interested person may comment on, propose modifications or supplements to, or request a hearing on the Proposed Rules by filing an original and fifteen (15) copies of such comments or requests with Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218. Interested persons desiring to submit comments or hearing requests electronically may do so by following the instructions available at the Commission's website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case. Individuals shall be specific in their comments, proposals, or supplements to the Proposed Rules and shall address only those issues pertaining to the amendment of § 56-594 of the Code of Virginia pursuant to Chapters 565 and 581. Issues outside the scope of implementing this amendment will not be open for consideration. Any request for hearing shall state with specificity why the issues raised in the request for hearing cannot be adequately addressed in written comments. If a sufficient request for hearing is not received, the Commission may consider the matter and enter an order based upon the papers filed herein. Interested parties shall refer in their comments or requests to Case No. PUR-2017-00099.
(5) This matter is continued.
The amendments regarding agricultural net metering apply to customers of investor-owned electric utilities on July 1, 2014, and apply to customers of electric cooperatives on July 1, 2015, as provided in the State Corporation Commission's Order Adopting Regulations, Case No. PUE-2014-00003, dated June 23, 2014, and published in the Virginia Register of Regulations, Volume 30, Issue 23, July 14, 2014.
"Electric distribution company" means the entity that owns and/or or operates the distribution facilities delivering electricity to the premises of an agricultural net metering customer or a net metering customer.
B. Thirty-one days after the date of notification for a residential customer, and 61 days after the date of notification for a nonresidential customer, the prospective customer may interconnect and begin operation of the generating facility unless the electric distribution company or the energy service provider requests a waiver of this requirement under the provisions of 20VAC5-315-80 prior to the 31st or 61st day, respectively. In cases where the electric distribution company or energy service provider requests a waiver, a copy of the request for waiver must be mailed simultaneously by the requesting party to the prospective customer and to the commission's Division of Energy Public Utility Regulation.
C. The electric distribution company shall file with the commission's Division of Energy Public Utility Regulation a copy of each completed notification form within 30 days of final interconnection.
4. The vendor certifies, by signing the commission-approved notification form, that the generator or generators being installed are in compliance with the requirements established by Underwriters Laboratories or other national testing laboratories in accordance with IEEE Standard 1547, Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems, July 2003.
B. A prospective customer shall not be allowed to interconnect a generator if doing so will cause the total rated generating alternating current capacity of all interconnected net metered generators, as defined in 20VAC5-315-20, within that customer's electric distribution company's Virginia service territory to exceed 1.0% of that company's Virginia peak-load forecast for the previous year. In any case where a prospective customer has submitted a notification form required by 20VAC5-315-30 and that customer's interconnection would cause the total rated generating alternating current capacity of all interconnected net metered generators, as defined in 20VAC5-315-20, within that electric distribution company's service territory to exceed 1.0% of that company's Virginia peak-load forecast for the previous year, the electric distribution company shall, at the time it becomes aware of the fact, send written notification to the prospective customer and to the commission's Division of Energy Public Utility Regulation that the interconnection is not allowed. In addition, upon request from any customer, the electric distribution company shall provide to the customer the amount of capacity still available for interconnection pursuant to § 56-594 D of the Code of Virginia.
Small agricultural generators electing to interconnect pursuant to this section shall enter into a power purchase agreement with its supplier to sell all of the electricity generated from its small agricultural generating facility. The customer's supplier shall be obligated by the power purchase agreement to purchase the excess generation at a price equal to a rate agreed upon by the parties that is not less than the utility's commission-approved avoided cost tariff for energy and capacity.
Rider G, Renewable Energy Program, Virginia Electric and Power Company, January 1, 2009.
VA.R. Doc. No. R18-5222; Filed August 25, 2017, 12:31 p.m.