Mich. Admin. Code R. 460.950

Current through Vol. 24-21, December 1, 2024

Section R. 460.950 - Fast track; supplemental review

Rule 50.

(1) An electric utility shall list in its interconnection procedures the supplemental review screens specified in subrule (6) of this rule. An electric utility may add additional details to each of these screens in the interconnection procedures.

(2) An electric utility may include additional supplemental review screens in its interconnection procedures. In its application requesting approval of interconnection procedures, the electric utility shall provide a detailed technical rationale for the inclusion of each supplemental review screen. If an additional screen negates or undermines any of the supplemental review screens specified in subrule (6) of this rule, the rationale must include an explanation of the technical justification for the additional screen.

(3) An electric utility may waive application of 1, some, or all of the supplemental review screens.

(4) To receive a supplemental review, an applicant shall submit payment of the supplemental review fee within 20 business days of agreeing to a supplemental review. If payment of the fee has not been received by the electric utility within 25 business days, the electric utility shall withdraw the interconnection application.

(5) Within 30 business days after the applicant pays the applicable supplemental review fee or fees, and provides reasonable requested data, an electric utility shall perform a supplemental review and notify the applicant of the results. The supplemental review must consist of applying the supplemental review screens selected by the electric utility pursuant to subrule (3) of this rule to the proposed DER. The electric utility shall not require a system impact study if the DER passes the applied supplemental review screens.

(6) The supplemental review screens must include all of the following:

(a) Minimum load screen. Where 12 months of line section minimum load data, including onsite load but not station service load served by the proposed DER, are available, can be calculated, can be estimated from existing data, or can be determined from a power flow model, the aggregate DER capacity on the line section must be less than 100% of the minimum load for all line sections bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices upstream of the proposed DER. If minimum load data are not available, or cannot be calculated, estimated, or determined, an electric utility shall include the reason or reasons that it is unable to calculate, estimate, or determine minimum load in its supplemental review results notification under subrules (7) and (8) of this rule. All of the following must be applied by the electric utility:

(i) The type of generation used by the proposed DER will be considered when calculating, estimating, or determining circuit or line section minimum load relevant for the application of the minimum load screen specified in this subrule. Solar photovoltaic generation systems with no battery storage must use daytime minimum load. All other generation must use absolute minimum load unless an operating schedule is provided.

(ii) When this screen is being applied to a DER that serves some station service load, only the net injection of electric energy into the electric utility's distribution system may be considered as part of the aggregate generation.

(iii) The electric utility shall not consider as part of the aggregate generation, for purposes of this supplemental screen, DER capacity known to be already reflected in the minimum load data.

(b) Voltage and power quality screen. In aggregate with existing generation on the line section, all of the following conditions must be met:

(i) The voltage regulation on the line section can be maintained in compliance with relevant requirements under all system conditions.

(ii) The voltage fluctuation is within acceptable limits as defined by the IEEE Standard 1453-2015, IEEE Recommended Practice for the Analysis of Fluctuating Installations on Power Systems.

(c) Safety and reliability screen. The location of the proposed DER and the aggregate generation capacity on the line section may not create impacts to safety or reliability that require application of the study track to address. An electric utility shall consider all of the following when determining potential impacts to safety and reliability in applying this screen:

(i) Whether the line section has significant minimum loading levels dominated by a small number of customers, such as several large commercial customers.

(ii) Whether the loading along the line section is uniform.

(iii) Whether the proposed DER is located less than 0.5 electrical circuit miles for less than 5 kV or less than 2.5 electrical circuit miles for greater than 5 kV from the substation. In addition, whether the line section from the substation to the point of common coupling is a mainline rated for normal and emergency ampacity.

(iv) Whether the proposed DER incorporates a time delay function to prevent reconnection of the DER to the distribution system until distribution system voltage and frequency are within normal limits for a prescribed time.

(v) Whether operational flexibility is reduced by the proposed DER, such that transfer of the line section or sections of the DER to a neighboring distribution circuit or substation may trigger overloads, power quality issues, or voltage issues.

(vi) Whether the proposed DER employs equipment or systems certified by a recognized standards organization to address technical issues including, but not limited to, islanding, reverse power flow, or voltage quality.

(7) If the proposed interconnection passes the supplemental review, or if the proposed interconnection fails the review but the electric utility determines that the DER may be interconnected consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality standards, the electric utility shall notify the applicant and the interconnection application must proceed pursuant to both of the following:

(a) If the proposed interconnection requires a facilities study, the interconnection application must proceed under R 460.962.

(b) If the proposed interconnection does not require further study, the interconnection application must proceed under R 460.964 to an interconnection agreement.

(8) If the proposed interconnection fails any of the supplemental review screens or the electrical utility is unable to perform a supplemental review screen, and the electric utility does not or cannot determine that the DER may be interconnected consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality standards, the electric utility shall notify the applicant, provide the applicant with the results of the application of the supplemental review screens, and offer both of the following options:

(a) Stop the supplemental review and continue evaluating the proposed interconnection under the study track under R 460.952.

(b) Withdraw the interconnection application.

(9) For subrules (7) and (8) of this rule, if an applicant does not select a course of action within 10 business days of notice from the electric utility, the electric utility shall withdraw the interconnection application.

Mich. Admin. Code R. 460.950

2023 MR 8, Eff. 4/25/2023