Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 324 - SMALL GENERATOR INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURES › Section 407-324-9 - LEVEL 1 SCREENING CRITERIA AND PROCESS: INVERTER-BASED GENERATORS NOT GREATER THAN 25 KW

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Interconnection Application.
An Applicant shall submit an
				Interconnection application indicating which certified interconnection
				equipment the Applicant intends to use. Within five (5) Business Days after
				receipt, the T&D Utility shall acknowledge to the Applicant receipt of the
				application and notify the Applicant whether the Interconnection Application is
				complete, and, if it is not, the T&D Utility shall provide to the Applicant
				a written list detailing all information that must be provided to complete the
				application. Within five (5) Business Days after receipt, the T&D Utility
				shall acknowledge to the Applicant receipt of the application and notify the
				Applicant that the application is complete or incomplete. If the application is
				incomplete, the T&D Utility shall provide notice to the Applicant that the
				application is incomplete and a written list detailing all information that
				must be provided to complete the application. The Applicant will have ten (10)
				Business Days after receipt of the list to submit the required information, or
				to request an extension of time to provide such information. If the Applicant
				does not comply with this deadline, the application will be deemed withdrawn.
				An Applicant may include with its application an executed Standard Form Level 1
				Interconnection Agreement.
B.
Applicable Screens.
A facility must pass screens §§
									7(A),
				7(E), and
				7(I). For
				interconnections to distribution networks, proposed facilities must also pass
				screen §
									8(A).
C.
Time to Process Under
				Screens.
Within ten (10) Business Days after the T&D Utility sends
				notice to the Applicant that the application is complete, the T&D notify
				the Applicant whether the ICGF meets all the applicable screens above.
D.
Screens Failure.
If the ICGF fails one or more of the applicable screens, then the T&D
				Utility shall provide the Applicant with (1) detailed information on the reason
				or reasons for failure; (2) the utility's definition of the line section and
				identification of the automatic sectionalizing device that bounds the line
				section; (3) aggregated generation on the line section; and (4) a good faith
				estimate of the costs of additional review in accordance with §9(H).
				Within five (5) days of such notification, the Applicant may request the
				application continue to be processed under additional review under Level 2,
				Level 3, or Level 4..
Notwithstanding a failure of one or more screens, including
				  such failures with or without any Minor System Modifications, the utility, at
				  its sole option, may approve the interconnection provided such approval is
				  consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality, and provided that the
				  Applicant pays all interconnection costs.
E.
Approval.
The T&D Utility
				shall send an executable Interconnection Agreement within five (5) Business
				Days after notifying the Applicant that all the applicable screens have been
				met.
F.
Execution of
				Agreement.
An Applicant that receives an Interconnection Agreement
				pursuant to this Section shall execute the agreement and return it to the
				T&D Utility no later than thirty (30) Business days from receiving the
				Interconnection Agreement (unless the T&D Utility waives this requirement).
				The Applicant shall indicate the anticipated start date for operation of the
				ICGF. The Applicant shall not delay the return of an executed Interconnection
				Agreement more than ninety (90) days beyond the date shown in the original
				applicant for initial operations except by mutual agreement between the T&D
				Utility and the Applicant.
G.
Default Approval.
If a T&D Utility does not notify a Level 1
				Applicant in writing or by e-mail whether the interconnection is approved or
				denied within twenty (20) Business Days after the receipt of an application,
				the interconnection shall be deemed approved. The twenty (20) Business Days
				shall begin on the date that the T&D Utility sends the written notice that
				the application is received.
H.
Additional Review.
If an ICGF has failed to meet one or more of
				the Level 1 screens, but additional review may enable the T&D Utility to
				determine that, with Minor System Modifications, the ICGF can be interconnected
				consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality pursuant to §9(D),
				the T&D Utility shall offer to perform additional review to determine
				whether Minor System Modifications would enable the interconnection to be made
				consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality. The T&D Utility
				shall undertake the additional review only after the Applicant pays for the
				additional study. Within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of payment for the
				additional study, the T&D Utility shall provide to the Applicant a
				non-binding, good faith estimate of the costs of the upgrades.
I.
Application Fee.
The fee for
				Level 1 Interconnection applications is $100.