Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 30 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION › Sub-Agency 000 - GENERAL › Chapter 055 - INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURES FOR PROPOSED ELECTRIC GENERATION RESOURCES (5.500) › Section 30 000 055 - INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURES FOR PROPOSED ELECTRIC GENERATION RESOURCES (5.500)

Current through June, 2024
Section
			 5.501 Applicability
This Rule applies to all
				proposed interconnections of Generation Resources within the State of
				Vermont which are not (i) lawfully subject to ISO-NE interconnection
				rules or successor rules approved by FERC, or (ii) subject to the
				Board's net metering rule (Rule 5. 100), for which the
				interconnection provisions of those rules will govern. This Rule does
				not apply to facilities within the State of Vermont that were
				interconnected or had obtained all necessary approvals for
				interconnection with electric power transmission or distribution
				systems prior to 60 business days after the effective date of this
				Rule.
Section
			 5.502 Definitions
(1)
			 Affected System -- any electric system that is either directly or
			 indirectly connected to the Interconnecting Utility's electric system
			 that could be adversely affected by the interconnection and parallel
			 operation of the Interconnection Requester's Generation
			 Resource.
(2) Application
			 -- a request for interconnection initiated by the completed Standard
			 Application Form provided by the Board for the interconnection of
			 Generation Resources, the $ 300 Application fee, documentation of
			 site control, and information regarding certification or Underwriters
			 Laboratory listing of the Interconnection Requester's Generation
			 Resource. The Board may revise the Standard Application Form from
			 time to time, as necessary.
(3) Automatic Disconnect Device --
			 an electronic or mechanical switch used to isolate a circuit or piece
			 of equipment from a source of power without the need for human
			 intervention.
(4) Board
			 -- the Vermont Public Service Board.
(5) Disconnect (verb) -- To isolate
			 a circuit or equipment from a source of power. If isolation is
			 accomplished with a solid-state device, "disconnect" shall mean to
			 cease the transfer of power.
(6) Disconnection -- the state of a
			 circuit or equipment being disconnected from a source of
			 power.
(7) Distribution
			 Level Study -- a System Impact Study conducted at the distribution
			 level.
(8) Emergency -- a
			 situation in which continued interconnection of a Generation Resource
			 is imminently likely to result in significant disruption of service
			 or endanger life or property.
(9) Facilities Study -- a study to
			 determine which Interconnection Facilities or System Upgrades are
			 necessary for interconnection of the Generation Resource.
(10) Facilities Study Report --
			 contains the results of the Facilities Study, and is transmitted to
			 the Interconnection Requester in accordance with Section
			 5.507(G)(3).
(11) Fast
			 Track -- the process for establishing an interconnection for certain
			 qualifying Generation Resources in accordance with Section 5.506 of
			 this Rule.
(12) Fast
			 Track Screening Criteria -- the screening criteria for Generation
			 Resources set forth in Section 5.505(B) of this Rule.
(13) Feasibility Study -- a study
			 consisting of initial engineering analyses regarding the feasibility
			 of interconnecting the Generation Resource, if the Generation
			 Resource is not eligible for Fast Track.
(14) Feasibility Study Report --
			 contains the results of the Feasibility Study, and other information
			 pursuant to Sections 5.507(E)(6)(a) through (c).
(15) FERC -- the Federal Energy
			 Regulatory Commission.
(16) Generation Resource -- a
			 facility that produces electric energy from other energy
			 sources.
(17) IEEE --
			 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
(18) Interconnecting Utility --
			 Electric utility with which the Interconnection Requester proposes to
			 interconnect a Generation Resource.
(19) Interconnection Agreement --
			 an agreement between an Interconnecting Utility and Interconnection
			 Requester regarding the interconnection and parallel operation of a
			 Generation Resource. The Interconnection Agreement is accompanied by
			 or includes Technical Requirements and Operator Protocols.
(20) Interconnection Facilities --
			 all facilities and equipment between the Generation Resource and the
			 Point of Interconnection, including any modification, additions or
			 upgrades that are necessary to physically and electrically
			 interconnect the Generation Resource to the Interconnecting Utility's
			 distribution or transmission system. Interconnection Facilities are
			 sole-use facilities and shall not include System Upgrades.
(21) Interconnection Requester --
			 person or entity who proposes to interconnect a Generation Resource
			 with an Interconnecting Utility.
(22) Interconnection Queue -- The
			 list of Applications for the interconnection of Generation Resources,
			 in order based upon the date- and time-stamp of complete
			 Applications, maintained by each Interconnection Utility.
(23) ISO-NE -- Independent System
			 Operator of New England, Inc.
(24) Operator Protocols -- an
			 agreement between the Interconnection Requester and the
			 Interconnecting Utility pertaining to the operation and maintenance
			 of the Generation Resource.
(25) Point of Interconnection --
			 The point at which the interconnection between the Interconnecting
			 Utility's system and the Interconnection Requester's equipment
			 interface occurs.
(26)
			 PSB -- the Vermont Public Service Board.
(27) Radial Feeder -- a
			 distribution line that branches out from a substation and is normally
			 not connected to another substation or another circuit sharing a
			 common supply of electric power.
(28) Scoping Meeting -- an optional
			 meeting between the Interconnecting Utility and the Interconnection
			 Requester to discuss the results of the review of the Fast Track
			 Screening Criteria, and how to proceed with the interconnection
			 request.
(29) Standard
			 Application Form -- the form included as Attachment 1 to this Rule,
			 as may be amended by the Board from time to time.
(30) System Impact Study -- any
			 study or studies performed by an Interconnection Utility or a
			 designated third party to ensure the safety, reliability, and
			 stability of the electric power system with respect to the
			 interconnection of Generation Resources.
(31) System Impact Study Report --
			 contains the results of the System Impact Study, and other
			 information pursuant to Sections 5.507(F)(4)(a) through (c).
			 *
(32) System Upgrades --
			 the additions, modifications, and upgrades to the distribution system
			 and/or transmission system at or beyond the Point of Interconnection
			 to facilitate interconnection of the Generation Resource. System
			 Upgrades do not include Interconnection Facilities.
(33) Technical Requirements -- an
			 agreement between the Interconnection Requester and the
			 Interconnecting Utility designed to provide protection to the public
			 and to the personnel and equipment of the Interconnection Requester
			 and Interconnecting Utility from the physical and financial risks
			 associated with the interconnection and parallel operation of the
			 proposed Generation Resource. The interconnection Technical
			 Requirements accomplish this task through including, but not limited
			 to, ensuring the installation of proper protective devices and
			 metering equipment, and establishing performance criteria to minimize
			 the probability that the Generation Resource will reduce the quality
			 of service on the Interconnecting Utility's system.
(34) This Rule -- PSB Rule 5. 500:
			 Interconnection Procedures For Proposed Electric Generation
			 Resources.
(35)
			 Transmission Level Study -- a System Impact Study conducted at the
			 transmission level.