J U L Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 W E S T W O O D , M A

David ForrestM A N A G E R , E N G I N E E R I N G & S T U D Y C O O R D I N A T I O N

Massachusetts DG Interconnection Collaborative Working Group

Generator Interconnection Process in New England

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Generator Interconnection Process in New England

• Interconnection process is performed to ensure that a proposed facility can be interconnected without posing an adverse impact on the reliability of the transmission system or any resource connected to it.

• Issues for discussion:– Interconnection Requirements

• When is an Interconnection Request required?• When is an Interconnection Request not required?

– Proposed Plan Applications– ISO New England Generator Interconnection Queue– Forward Capacity Market– Managing Interconnection Requests– Contacting ISO New England

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When is an Interconnection Request to the ISO Required?

• Interconnection of a new generating facility

• Increase capacity of an existing generating facility

• Material modification of an existing generating facility

• Change from energy only resource to energy and capacity unit resource

• There is no minimum size

• Reference: Schedule 23 of the Open Access Transmission Tariff

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When is an Interconnection Request to the ISO Not Required?

• Energy will be consumed only on retail customer’s site

• Generating facility will not be used to make wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce

• Qualifying Facility, as defined by the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, that sells 100% of its output to an interconnected electric utility

• Interconnection to distribution circuit that does not have a wholesale transaction at the time of the application, unless the generator is a Qualifying Facility at the time of the application and will not sell 100% of its output to an interconnected electric utility

• Interconnection to a utility that is not part of the Transmission Operating Agreement

Proposed Plan Applications (PPA)

• PPAs are used to notify the ISO of proposed generation and transmission changes.

• 0-.999 MW cumulative increase– No form required

• 1.000-4.999 MW cumulative increase– Notification form required to go to Reliability Committee

• > 4.999 MW cumulative increase– PPA and studies required to go to Stability and Transmission Task Forces and

Reliability Committee • Transmission Owner submits PPA if generator is not a NEPOOL participant• Task Forces need to agree if no transmission study will be required• A stability model will likely be required

• Reference: ISO New England Planning Procedure 5-1

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ISO New England Generator Interconnection Queue

• Generator Interconnection Queue (“Queue”) provides status of and information about requests for interconnection of proposed generators and proposed elected transmission upgrades.

• Queue overview:– “Active Projects - FERC” tab lists all Interconnection Requests administered by the

ISO that are active.– “Active Projects Non-FERC” tab lists Interconnection Requests not administered

by the ISO that are active. Only generators 5 MW or greater are listed.– “Commercial projects” tab lists projects that have gone into service.– “Withdrawn” tab lists projects that have withdrawn from the Queue.

• MW in Queue are generally total MW for the facility.

• Queue is located at: http://www.iso-ne.com/genrtion_resrcs/nwgen_inter/status/index.html

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Forward Capacity Market

• Generators that wish to receive or increase their payments for capacity, require an Interconnection Request and a Show of Interest.

• Generators receive a capacity obligation by participating in the Forward Capacity Auction (FCA).

• The next Auction open to participants is FCA-8 (Capacity Commitment period beginning June 1, 2017).– Show-of-Interest is February 14-28, 2013– Auction begins February 3, 2014

• There are also periodic reconfiguration auctions.

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Managing Interconnection Requests

• Customer should contact interconnecting utility regarding where to apply.

• Interconnecting utility should contact ISO as needed.

• Interconnecting utility should provide information to ISO on interconnection requests 5 MW or higher.

• Customer should complete Proposed Plan Application well ahead of In-Service Date.

• Interconnecting utility should ensure study is completed and Proposed Plan Application is submitted well ahead of In-Service Date.

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Contact Information

• Interconnection questions:– Dave Forrest

P. 413.540.4584E. dforrest@iso-ne.com

– Cheryl RuellP. 413.540.4219E. cruell@iso-ne.com

• For all other questions, please contact ISO Customer Service at 413.540.4220