Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-108 - Electric companies-Interconnection with electric generators › Part 1 - INTERCONNECTION OF GENERATION FACILITIES WITH NAMEPLATE CAPACITY RATING OF 300 KW OR LESS › Section 480-108-020 - Eligibility and technical requirements for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interconnection

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
				General interconnection requirements.
(a) The
				interconnection of a generating facility with the electrical company's electric
				system, the modification of a generating facility that is currently
				interconnected to the electrical company's electric system, or the modification
				of an existing interconnection must meet all minimum technical specifications
				applicable, in their most current approved version, as set forth in WAC
				480-108-999.
(b) Interconnection of a generation facility
				with a nameplate capacity rating of 300 kW or less must comply with all
				applicable requirements in Table 1.
Table 1. 300 kW Capacity or Less.
Single-Phase
Three-Phase
Feature
< 50 kW Inverter based
< 50 kW Noninverter based
< 300 kW Inverter based
< 300 kW Noninverter based
IEEE 1547 compliant
X
X
X
X
UL 1741 listed
X
X
Interrupting devices (capable of interrupting
								maximum available fault current)
X (8)
X
X (8)
X
Interconnection disconnect device (manual,
								lockable, visible, accessible)
X (1)
X
X
X
System protection
X (3)(4)(6)
X (3)(4)(5)(6)
Over-voltage trip
X (8)
X
X (8)
X
Under-voltage trip
X (8)
X
X (8)
X
Over/under frequency trip
X (8)
X
X (8)
X
Automatic synchronizing check
X
X
Ground over-voltage or over-current trip for
								utility system faults
X (2)
Power factor
X (7)
X (7)
Notes:
X - Required feature (blank = not required).
(1) - Electrical company may choose to waive this
								requirement.
(2) - May be required by electrical company;
								selection based on grounding system.
(3) - No single point of failure shall lead to loss
								of protection.
(4) - All protective devices shall fully meet the
								requirements of American National Standards Institute C37.90.
(5) - Electrical company will specify the
								transformer connection.
(6) - It is the customer's responsibility to ensure
								that its system is effectively grounded as defined by IEEE Std. 142 at the
								point of common coupling.
(7) - Variance may be allowed based upon specific
								requirements per electrical company review. Charges may be incurred for
								losses.
(8) - UL 1741 listed equipment provides required
								protection.
(c)
				Any single or aggregated generating facility with a capacity greater than 50 kW
				requires a three-phase interconnection.
(d) The specification and requirements in
				this section are intended to mitigate possible adverse impacts caused by the
				generating facility on electrical company equipment and personnel and on other
				customers of the electrical company. The specifications and requirements in
				this section are not intended to address protection of the generating facility
				or its internal load, or generating facility personnel. The interconnection
				customer is responsible for complying with the requirements of all appropriate
				standards, codes, statutes, and authorities to protect its own facilities,
				personnel, and loads.
(e) The
				specifications and requirements in this section apply generally to the
				interconnection to an electrical company's electric system of customer-owned
				and operated electric equipment and any other facilities or equipment not owned
				by the electrical company to which interconnection agreement(s) apply
				throughout the period encompassing the interconnection customer's installation,
				testing and commissioning, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and removal
				of equipment. The electrical company may verify compliance at any time, with
				reasonable notice.
(f) The
				electrical company may refuse to establish or maintain interconnection with any
				interconnection customer that fails to comply with the requirements in (f)(i),
				(ii) and (iii) of this subsection. However, at its sole discretion, the
				electrical company may approve alternatives that satisfy the intent of, and/or
				may excuse compliance with, any specific elements of these requirements except
				local, state and federal building codes.
(i)
				Code and standards. All interconnections must conform to all applicable codes
				and standards for safe and reliable operation. Among these are the National
				Electric Code (NEC); National Electric Safety Code (NESC); the standards of the
				Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); the standards of the
				North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC); the standards of the
				Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC); American National Standards
				Institute (ANSI); Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards; local, state and
				federal building codes, and any electrical company's written electric service
				requirement approved by the commission. Electrical companies may require
				verification that an interconnection customer has obtained all applicable
				permit(s) for the equipment installations on its property.
(ii) Safety. All safety and operating
				procedures for interconnection facilities must comply with the Occupational
				Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard at
				29 C.F.R.
				1910.269, the NEC, Washington Administrative
				Code (WAC) rules, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Administration
				(WISHA) Standard, and equipment manufacturer's safety and operating
				manuals.
(iii) Power quality.
				Installations must be in compliance with all applicable standards including,
				without limitation, IEEE Standard 519 Harmonic Limits, and IEEE Standard 141
				Flicker as measured at the PCC.