Virginia Administrative Code › Title 20 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › Agency 5 - STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION › Chapter 314 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING INTERCONNECTION OF SMALL ELECTRICAL GENERATORS › Section 20VAC5-314-40 - Level 1 interconnection process

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. The Level 1 interconnection process is
				available to any IC proposing to interconnect a certified SGF with the utility
				system if the SGF is no larger than 500 kW.
B. The IC shall submit (i) a complete Level 1
				Interconnection Request Form (Schedule 5 of
				20VAC5-314-170
				) ; (ii) site control documentation pursuant to Schedule 5 of
				20VAC5-314-170;
				and (iii) the required $100 processing fee to the utility. Alternatively, the
				utility may require use of a commission-approved Interconnection Request Form
				similar to Schedule 5 of
				20VAC5-314-170,
				which shall be made available to customers on the utility's website. The
				Interconnection Request Form shall be date-stamped and time-stamped by the
				utility upon receipt of (i) a substantially complete Interconnection Request
				Form submitted by a valid legal entity and signed by the IC, (ii) site control
				documentation, and (iii) processing fee. The date-stamp and time-stamp shall be
				used as the qualifying start date-stamp and time-stamp for the purpose of any
				timetable in these procedures.
Within three business days of receiving the interconnection
				  request, the utility shall notify the IC of receipt, which notification shall
				  be made by United States mail, email address, or fax number provided by the IC.
				  As soon as practicable after receipt, but not later than 10 business days after
				  the date of receipt of the interconnection request, the utility shall notify
				  the IC if there are any deficiencies in the IC's submittal. If there are
				  deficiencies, such notice shall include a written list detailing all
				  information that must be provided by the IC to complete the interconnection
				  request.
The IC shall have 10 business days after receipt of the
				  notice of incomplete information to submit the listed information or to request
				  an extension of time to provide such information. The acceptance of such
				  request for time extension shall be at the utility's discretion. If the IC does
				  not provide the listed information or a request for an extension of time within
				  the deadline, the Interconnection Request Form will be deemed withdrawn.
C. Within 15 business days after
				the date the IC submits a complete Interconnection Request Form and requisite
				fee, the utility shall evaluate the request to determine whether the IC's
				project is interdependent with one or more earlier-queued projects. If it is
				determined that the IC's project does not create an interdependency, the
				utility shall designate the IC's project as Project A, and, if so, shall inform
				the IC what utility modifications are required to interconnect the SGF. If the
				utility determines that the IC's project is interdependent with one or more
				earlier-queued projects, the utility may delay study of the IC request until
				the interdependency is resolved and the IC becomes a Project A as further
				addressed in 20VAC5-314-38 B. If the utility delays study of the IC's project,
				the utility shall notify the IC in writing and identify the number of
				earlier-queued interdependent projects.
1. If
				the interconnection can be accomplished with minor modifications
				(e.g
.
, changing meters, fuses, and relay settings) to the
				utility system, the IC and the utility may informally agree upon a plan to
				effectuate the required installations and modifications. The utility shall
				perform all installations and modifications of the utility system and the IC
				shall reimburse the utility for the cost of such installations and
				modifications. The IC shall perform all required modifications to its
				SGF.
2. If the interconnection
				cannot be accomplished with minor modifications or the parties cannot come to
				an agreement regarding modifications to the utility system within 10 business
				days of study results being provided by the utility, the interconnection
				request will be transferred to the Level 2 process or handled according to
				20VAC5-314-100(Disputes)
				at the IC's option.
3. If the
				utility cannot reasonably determine that the modifications to the utility's
				system can be completed without additional study, the utility shall provide the
				IC, in writing, justification for that determination, and the interconnection
				request will be transferred to the Level 2 process or handled according to
				20VAC5-314-100 at the
				IC's option.