Illinois Administrative Code › Title 83 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part 466 - ELECTRIC INTERCONNECTION OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION FACILITIES › Section 466.60 - General Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) When an
			 interconnection request for a DER facility includes multiple energy production
			 devices at a site for which the applicant seeks a single point of interconnection,
			 the interconnection request shall be evaluated based on the aggregate nameplate
			 capacity of the multiple devices. Where the export capacity is limited through
			 acceptable means as defined in Section 466.75, the EDC shall evaluate only the
			 aggregate export capacity for certain impacts as specified in the screening and
			 study provisions.
b) When an
			 interconnection request is for an increase in capacity for an existing DER facility,
			 the interconnection request shall be evaluated based on the incremental impact of
			 the new total nameplate capacity of the DER facility. Where the export capacity is
			 limited through acceptable means as defined in Section 466.75, the EDC shall
			 evaluate only the aggregate export capacity for certain impacts as specified in the
			 screening and study provisions.
c) EDCs
			 shall publish on their websites a dedicated email address and phone number as a
			 point of contact. The point of contact shall be able to direct applicant questions
			 concerning interconnection request submissions and the interconnection request
			 process to knowledgeable individuals within the EDC.
d) The information that the EDC makes available to
			 potential applicants can include previously existing EDC studies that help
			 applicants understand whether it is feasible to interconnect a DER facility at a
			 particular point on the EDC's electric distribution system. The EDC may require a
			 confidentiality agreement prior to release of this information. However, the EDC can
			 refuse to provide the information to the extent that providing it violates security
			 requirements or confidentiality agreements, or it is contrary to law or State or
			 federal regulations.
e) The EDC shall
			 deem an interconnection request complete when the applicant submits completed
			 forms.
f) When an applicant is not
			 currently a customer of the EDC at the proposed site, the applicant shall provide,
			 at the time of the interconnection request, proof of the applicant's legal right to
			 control the site, evidenced by the applicant's name on a property tax bill, deed,
			 lease agreement, option agreement, or other legally binding contract.
g) An interconnection request shall be processed
			 in accordance with Sections
			 466.90(b)(2),
			 466.100(b)(2),
			 466.110(a)(2),
			 and
			 466.120(b)
			 of this Part.
h) To minimize the cost to
			 interconnect multiple DER facilities, the EDC or the applicant may propose a single
			 point of interconnection for multiple DER facilities located at an interconnection
			 customer site that is on contiguous property. If the applicant rejects the EDC's
			 proposal for a single point of interconnection, the applicant shall pay any
			 additional cost to provide a separate point of interconnection for each DER
			 facility. If the EDC, without written and detailed technical explanation, rejects
			 the customer's proposal for a single point of interconnection, the EDC shall pay any
			 additional cost to provide separate points of interconnection for each DER facility.
			 Any disagreement over who bears the cost for providing separate points of
			 interconnection shall be resolved in accordance with Section
			 466.130.
i) To protect the safety of the EDC's employees or
			 the reliability of the distribution system, EDCs may require that DER facilities
			 have the capability to be isolated from the electric distribution system. For DER
			 facilities interconnecting to a primary line, the isolation shall be by means of a
			 lockable, visible-break isolation device accessible by the EDC. For DER facilities
			 interconnecting to a secondary line, the isolation shall be by means of a lockable
			 isolation device whose status is indicated and is accessible by the EDC. For DER
			 facilities interconnecting to a secondary line through a self-contained meter, the
			 EDC's removal of the self-contained electric meter may satisfy this capability. The
			 isolation device shall be installed, owned and maintained by the owner of the DER
			 facility and located electrically between the DER facility and the point of
			 interconnection. A draw-out type of circuit breaker accessible to the EDC with a
			 provision for padlocking at the drawn-out position satisfies the requirement for an
			 isolation device.
j) The interconnection
			 customer shall allow the EDC to isolate the DER facility. An interconnection
			 customer may elect to provide the EDC with access to an isolation device that is
			 contained in a building or area that may be unoccupied and locked or not otherwise
			 accessible to the EDC by installing a lockbox provided by the EDC that allows ready
			 access to the isolation device. The lockbox shall be in a location determined by the
			 EDC to be accessible by the EDC. The interconnection customer shall permit the EDC
			 to affix a placard in a location of its choosing that provides instructions to EDC
			 operating personnel for accessing the isolation device. If the EDC needs to isolate
			 the distribution generation facility, the EDC shall not be held liable for any
			 damages resulting from the actions necessary to isolate the generation
			 facility.
k) Any metering required for a
			 DER interconnection shall be installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with
			 applicable EDC tariffs and agreements. Any such metering requirements shall be
			 identified in the standard DER interconnection agreement executed between the
			 interconnection customer and the EDC.
l)
			 EDC monitoring and control of DER facilities are permitted only when the nameplate
			 capacity is greater than 2 MVA or for a DER facility with a nameplate capacity equal
			 to or less than 2 MVA when the EDC determines, and the applicant agrees, that such
			 monitoring and control could be used to mitigate impacts from the project that may
			 otherwise require an upgrade or would otherwise be useful or beneficial. Monitoring
			 and control requirements shall be consistent with the EDC's published requirements
			 and shall be clearly identified in the interconnection agreement between the
			 interconnection customer and the EDC. Transfer trip shall not be considered EDC
			 monitoring and control when required and installed to protect the electric
			 distribution system or an affected system against adverse system impacts. However,
			 transfer trip, if required, shall be clearly identified in the interconnection
			 agreement between the interconnection customer and the EDC.
m) The EDC may require a witness test after the
			 DER facility is constructed. The applicant shall provide the EDC with at least 15
			 business days' notice of the planned commissioning test for the DER facility, unless
			 otherwise agreed by the EDC and applicant. The applicant and EDC shall schedule the
			 witness test at a mutually agreeable time. If the witness test results are not
			 acceptable to the EDC, the applicant shall be granted 30 business days to address
			 and resolve any deficiencies. The time period for addressing and resolving any
			 deficiencies may be extended upon the mutual agreement of the EDC and the applicant
			 prior to the end of the 30 business days. The EDC shall not deny an initial request
			 for extension. Subsequent requests may be denied only if there are applicants later
			 in the queue that would be impacted by additional delays. If the applicant fails to
			 address and resolve the deficiencies to the EDC's satisfaction, the EDC may deem the
			 interconnection request withdrawn. Even if the EDC or an entity approved by the EDC
			 does not witness a commissioning test, the applicant remains obligated to satisfy
			 the interconnection test specifications and requirements set forth in IEEE Standard
			 1547 Clause 11. The applicant shall, if requested by the EDC, provide a copy of all
			 documentation in its possession regarding testing conducted pursuant to IEEE
			 Standard 1547.1.
n) Each EDC shall allow
			 interconnection requests to be submitted through the EDC's website or via another
			 website if a link is provided on the EDC's website.
o) Each EDC shall dedicate a page on its website
			 to interconnection procedures. The relevant website page shall include the following
			 information updated as it changes or with the frequency specifically identified in
			 this subsection:
1) the EDC's interconnection
			 procedures and attachments in an electronically searchable format;
2) the EDC's interconnection request forms in a
			 format that allows for electronic entry of data;
3) the EDC's interconnection agreements;
4) the EDC's point of contact for questions about
			 interconnection and submission of interconnection requests, including a dedicated
			 e-mail address and phone number;
5) the
			 EDC's interconnection queue;
6) the
			 EDC's hosting capacity map;
7) for EDCs
			 serving more than 500,000 customers, the EDC's hosting capacity analysis results,
			 including, at a minimum, mapping and GIS capability; and
8) an electronic form to request the technical
			 standards required by Section
			 466.140(d).