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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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4901:1 Utilities |
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Chapter4901:1-22. Interconnection Services |
4901:1-22-01. Definitions
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As used in this chapter:
(A) "Applicant" means the person requesting interconnection service and may be any of the following:
(1) A customer generator as defined by division (A)(29) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(2) A self-generator as defined by division (A)(32) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(3) The owner or operator of distributed generation as defined in paragraph ( K) of this rule.
(B) "Application" means a request to an electric distribution utility (EDU) using the format set forth on the web site of the public utilities commission of Ohio for interconnection of distributed generation to the electric distribution system owned by the EDU.
(C) "Area network" means a type of electric distribution system served by multiple transformers interconnected in an electrical network circuit, which is generally used in large metropolitan areas that are densely populated, in order to provide highly reliable service. Area network has the same meaning as the term "distribution secondary grid network" found in institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) standard 1547 sub clause 4.1.4.
(D) "Automatic sectionalizing device" means any self-contained, circuit-opening device used in conjunction with a source-side protective device, which features automatic reclosing capability.
(E) "Backup electricity supply" means replacement electric power supplied to an applicant by the EDU at a tariff rate or alternatively, as a market-based option or by a competitive retail electric service provider of the applicant's choice at a rate to be determined between the provider and the applicant.
(F) "Business Day" means any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
(G) "Calendar Day" means any day, including Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays.
(H) "Commission" means the public utilities commission of Ohio.
(I) "Competitive retail electric service" means a component of retail electric service that is competitive as provided under division (B) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(J) "Cost recovery" means collection, upon approval by the commission pursuant to its authority under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, of such documented EDU interconnection costs that are incurred at reasonable levels for prudent purposes and that are over and above the review processing fees set forth in rules 4901:1-22-06 to 4901:1-22-08 of the Administrative Code.
(K) "Distributed generation" is a general term for all or part of a system of a distributed electrical generator or a static inverter either by itself or in the aggregate of twenty megawatts or less in size together with all protective, safety, and associated equipment installed at a point of common coupling on the EDU's distribution system in close proximity to the customer load.
(L) "Electric distribution utility" or (EDU) means an electric distribution utility, which is an investor-owned electric utility that owns and operates a distribution wires system and supplies at least retail electric distribution service.
(M) "Equipment package" means distributed generation facility assembled to include not only a generator or electric source but related peripheral devices that facilitate operation of the distributed generation.
(N) "Expedited procedure" means a review process for certified distributed generation that passes a certain prespecified review procedure, has a capacity rating of two megawatts or less, and does not qualify for simplified procedures.
(O) "Interconnection" means the physical connection of the applicant's facilities to the EDU's system for the purpose of electrical power transfers.
(P) "Interconnection point" means the point at which the applicant's distributed generation facility physically connects to the EDU's system.
(Q) "Interconnection service" means the services provided by an EDU or transmission provider for the applicant's distributed generation facility.
(R) "Line section" means either that portion of an EDU's electric system connected to a customer bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices, the end of the distribution line, or a line segment identified as appropriate for study by a utility engineer.
(S) "Minor modification" to an interconnection application means a change in the technical characteristics that improves the reliability, safety and compatibility of the interconnection with the electric distribution system while not materially increasing the size or cost of the intended distributed generation facility installation.
(T) "Parallel operation with the EDU's system" means all electrical connections between the applicant's distributed generation facility and the EDU's system that are capable of operating in conjunction with each other.
(U) "Point of common coupling" means the point which the distributed generation facility is connected to the EDU's system.
(V) "Reliability" means the degree of performance of the elements of the electric system that results in electricity being delivered to and from an applicant in the amount desired while avoiding adverse effects on the adequacy and security of the electric supply, defined respectively as:
(1) The ability of the electric system to supply the aggregate electrical demand and energy requirements at all times, taking into account scheduled and unscheduled outages of system elements.
(2) The ability of the electric system to withstand sudden disturbances such as electric short circuits or unanticipated loss of system elements.
(W) "Retail electric service provider" means any entity in this state that provides retail electric service as defined by division (A)(27) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(X) "Sale for resale" means a sale of energy to an energy supplier, electric utility or a public authority for resale purposes.
(Y) "Scoping meeting" means a meeting between representatives of the applicant and the EDU conducted for but not limited to the following purposes:
(1) To discuss alternative interconnection options.
(2) To exchange information including any electric distribution system data and earlier study evaluations that would be expected to impact such interconnection options.
(3) To analyze such information.
(4) To determine the potential points of common coupling.
(Z) "Simplified procedures" means a review process for interconnection of inverter-based distributed generation twenty-five kilowatts or less in size on a radial or spot network system under certain conditions.
(AA) "Standard procedure" means a review process for interconnection of any generating facility(s) that has a power rating of twenty megawatts or less, not qualifying for either simplified or expedited interconnection review processes.
(BB) "Spot network," as defined by IEEE standard 1547 sub clause 4.1.4, means a type of electric distribution system that uses two or more inter-tied transformers to supply an electrical network circuit and is generally used to supply power to a single customer or a small group of customers.