Pennsylvania Code › Title 52 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part I - Public Utility Commission › Subpart C - Fixed Service Utilities › Chapter 75 - ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS › Subchapter C - INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS › GENERAL › Section 75.22 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this
						  subchapter, have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates
						  otherwise:
Adverse system impact
-A negative
						  effect, due to technical or operational limits on conductors or equipment being
						  exceeded, that compromises the safety and reliability of the electric
						  distribution system.
Anti-islanding
-The protective function
						  which prevents electrical generating equipment from exporting electrical energy
						  when connected to a de-energized electrical system.
Applicant
-A person who has submitted
						  an interconnection request to interconnect a small generator facility to an
						  EDC's electric distribution system, also referred to as the interconnection
						  customer.
Area network
-
(i) A type of electric distribution system
						served by multiple transformers interconnected in an electrical network
						circuit, which is generally used in large metropolitan areas that are densely
						populated.
(ii) The term has the
						same meaning as the term "distribution secondary grid network" as stated in
						IEEE Standard 1547 Section
						4.1.4 (published July 2003), as
						amended and supplemented.
Center tapped neutral transformer
-A
						  transformer with a tap in the middle of the secondary winding, usually used as
						  a grounded neutral connection, intended to provide an option for the secondary
						  side to use the full available voltage output or just half of it according to
						  need.
Certificate of completion
-A
						  certificate in a form approved by the Commission containing information about
						  the interconnection equipment to be used, its installation and local
						  inspections.
Certified
-A designation that the
						  interconnection equipment to be used by a customer-generator complies with the
						  following standards, as applicable:
(i)
						IEEE Standard 1547, "Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with
						Electric Power Systems," as amended and supplemented.
(ii) UL Standard 1741, "Inverters, Converters
						and Controllers for use in Independent Power Systems" (January 2001), as
						amended and supplemented.
Distribution upgrade
-A required
						  addition or modification to the EDC's electric distribution system at or beyond
						  the point of interconnection. Distribution upgrades do not include
						  interconnection facilities.
Draw-out type circuit breaker
-A
						  switching device capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal
						  circuit conditions and also, making and carrying for a specified time and
						  breaking currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions, such as those of
						  a short circuit. A draw-out circuit breaker has two parts, the base, which is
						  bolted and wired to the frame and the actual breaker, which slides into and
						  electrically mates with the base. A draw-out circuit breaker can be physically
						  removed from its enclosure creating a visible break in the circuit.
Electric distribution system
-
(i) The facilities and equipment used to
						transmit electricity to ultimate usage points such as homes and industries from
						interchanges with higher voltage transmission networks that transport bulk
						power over longer distances. The voltage levels at which electric distribution
						systems operate differ among areas but generally carry less than 69 kilovolts
						of electricity.
(ii) Electric
						distribution system has the same meaning as the term Area EPS, as defined in
						3.1.6.1 of IEEE Standard 1547.
Electric nameplate capacity
-The net
						  maximum or net instantaneous peak electric output capacity measured in
						  volt-amps of a small generator facility, the inverter or the aggregated
						  capacity of multiple inverters at an alternative energy systems location as
						  designated by the manufacturer.
Equipment package
-A group of
						  components connecting an electric generator with an electric delivery system,
						  and includes all interface equipment including switchgear, inverters or other
						  interface devices. An equipment package may include an integrated generator or
						  electric source.
Fault current
-The electrical current
						  that flows through a circuit during an electrical fault condition. A fault
						  condition occurs when one or more electrical conductors contact ground or each
						  other. Types of faults include phase to ground, double-phase to ground,
						  three-phase to ground, phase-to-phase, and three-phase. Often, a fault current
						  is several times larger in magnitude than the current that normally flows
						  through a circuit.
IEEE standard 1547
-The Institute of
						  Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) Standard 1547 (2003)
						  "Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power
						  Systems," as amended and supplemented, at the time the interconnection request
						  is submitted.
IEEE standard 1547.1
-The IEEE Standard
						  1547.1 (2005) "Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting
						  Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems," as amended and
						  supplemented, at the time the interconnection request is submitted.
Interconnection customer
-An entity
						  that proposes to interconnect a small generator facility to an electric
						  distribution system.
Interconnection equipment
-A group of
						  components or integrated system connecting an electric generator with an
						  electric distribution system that includes all interface equipment including
						  switchgear, protective devices, inverters or other interface devices.
						  Interconnection equipment may be installed as part of an integrated equipment
						  package that includes a generator or other electric source.
Interconnection facilities
-Facilities
						  and equipment required by the EDC to interconnect the small generator facility
						  and the interconnection customer's interconnection equipment. Collectively,
						  interconnection facilities include the facilities and equipment between the
						  small generator facility and the point of common coupling, including any
						  modification, additions that are necessary to physically and electrically
						  interconnect the small generator facility to the EDC's electric distribution
						  system. Interconnection facilities are sole use facilities and do not include
						  electric distribution system upgrades.
Interconnection facilities study
-A
						  study conducted by the EDC or a third party consultant for the interconnection
						  customer to determine a list of facilities (including EDC's interconnection
						  facilities and required distribution upgrades to the electric distribution
						  system as identified in the interconnection system impact study), the cost of
						  those facilities, and the time required to interconnect the small generator
						  facility with the EDC's electric distribution system.
Interconnection facilities study
						  agreement
-An agreement in a form approved by the Commission which
						  details the terms and conditions under which an EDC will conduct an
						  interconnection facilities study.
Interconnection feasibility study
-A
						  preliminary evaluation of the system impact and cost of interconnecting the
						  small generator facility to the EDC's electric distribution system.
Interconnection feasibility study
						  agreement
-An agreement in a form approved by the Commission which
						  details the terms and conditions under which an EDC will conduct an
						  interconnection feasibility study.
Interconnection request
-An
						  interconnection customer's request, in a form approved by the Commission,
						  requesting the interconnection of a new small generator facility, or to
						  increase the capacity or operating characteristics of an existing small
						  generator facility that is interconnected with the EDC's electric distribution
						  system.
Interconnection study
-Any of the
						  following studies:
(i) The
						Interconnection Feasibility Study.
(ii) The Interconnection System Impact
						Study.
(iii) The Interconnection
						Facilities Study.
Interconnection system impact study
-An
						  engineering study that evaluates the impact of the proposed interconnection on
						  the safety and reliability of an EDC's electric distribution system.
Interconnection system impact study
						  agreement
-An agreement in a form approved by the Commission which
						  details the terms and conditions under which an EDC will conduct an
						  interconnection system impact study.
Line section
-That portion of an EDC's
						  distribution system connected to an interconnection customer, bounded by
						  automatic sectionalizing devices or the end of the distribution line.
Minor equipment modification
-Changes
						  to the proposed small generator facility that do not have a material impact on
						  safety or reliability of the electric distribution system.
NRTL-Nationally recognized testing
						  laboratory
-A qualified private organization that meets the
						  requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA)
						  regulations. NRTLs perform independent safety testing and product
						  certification. Each NRTL must meet the requirements as set forth by OSHA in the
						  NRTL program.
Parallel operation-parallel
-The state
						  of operation which occurs when a small generator facility is connected
						  electrically to the electric distribution system and the potential exists for
						  electricity to flow from the small generator facility to the electric
						  distribution system.
Point of common coupling
-The point
						  where the customer's interconnection equipment connects to the electric
						  distribution system at which harmonic limits or other operational
						  characteristics (IEEE Standard 1547 requirements) are applied.
Point of interconnection
-The point
						  where the interconnection equipment connects to the EDC's electric distribution
						  system.
Queue position
-The order of a valid
						  interconnection request, relative to all other pending valid interconnection
						  requests, that is established based upon the date and time of receipt of the
						  valid interconnection request by the EDC.
Radial distribution circuit
-A system
						  in which independent feeders branch out radially from a common source of
						  supply. from the standpoint of a utility system, the area described is between
						  the generating source or intervening substations and the customer's entrance
						  equipment. A radial distribution system is the most common type of connection
						  between a utility and load in which power flows in one direction, from the
						  utility to the load.
SGIA-Standard small generator interconnection
						  agreement
-A set of standard forms of interconnection agreements
						  approved by the Commission which is applicable to interconnection requests
						  pertaining to a small generating facilities.
Scoping meeting
-A meeting between
						  representatives of the interconnection customer and EDC conducted for the
						  purpose of discussing alternative interconnection options, exchanging
						  information including any electric distribution system data and earlier study
						  evaluations that would be reasonably expected to impact interconnection
						  options, analyzing information, and determining the potential feasible points
						  of interconnection.
Secondary line
-A service line
						  subsequent to the utility's primary distribution line, also referred to as the
						  customer's service line.
Small generator facility
-The equipment
						  used by an interconnection customer to generate, or store electricity that
						  operates in parallel with the electric distribution system. A small generator
						  facility typically includes an electric generator, prime mover, and the
						  interconnection equipment required to safely interconnect with the electric
						  distribution system.
Spot network
-The term has the same
						  meaning as the term "spot network" under IEEE Standard 1547 Section
						  4.1.4, (published July 2003), as
						  amended and supplemented. As of August, 2005, IEEE Standard 1547 defined "Spot
						  Network" as "a type of electric distribution system that uses two or more
						  inter-tied transformers to supply an electrical network circuit." A spot
						  network is generally used to supply power to a single customer or a small group
						  of customers.
UL Standard 174
-Underwriters
						  Laboratories' standard titled "Inverters Converters, and Controllers for Use in
						  Independent Power Systems," as amended and supplemented.
Witness test
-The EDC's interconnection
						  installation evaluation required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section
						  5.3 and the EDC's witnessing of
						  the commissioning test required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section
						  5.4. For interconnection equipment
						  that has not been certified, the witness test shall also include the witnessing
						  by the EDC of the onsite design tests as required by IEEE Standard1547 Section
						  5.1 and witnessing by the EDC of
						  production tests required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section
						  5.2. Tests witnessed by the EDC
						  are to be performed in accordance with IEEE Standard 1547.1.
The provisions of this § 75.22 amended under
							 66 Pa.C.S. §
															§
															501,
							 1501 and
							 2807(e); and sections
							 1648.7(a) and
							 1648.3(e)(2) of
							 the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 (73 P.S. §
															§
															1648.7(a) and
							 1648.3(e)(2)).
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §
														69.2101 (relating to statement of
							 scope); 52 Pa. Code §
														69.2102 (relating to statement of
							 purpose); and 52 Pa. Code §
														69.2104 (relating to
							 interconnection application fees).