Alaska Picks up Interconnection Docket Again; Net Metering Takes Effect
After more than a year of inactivity, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) has taken up its interconnection docket again. In July of 2009, Commission Staff presented a straw man proposal identifying certain federal interconnection standards that should apply to the state’s interconnection requirement. The proposal includes the following provisions: Applies to systems up to 10…
After more than a year of inactivity, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) has taken up its interconnection docket again.
In July of 2009, Commission Staff presented a straw man proposal identifying certain federal interconnection standards that should apply to the state’s interconnection requirement. The proposal includes the following provisions:
- Applies to systems up to 10 MW.
- For systems 25 kW or less, an external disconnect switch may be required by the utility and installed at the utility’s expense.
- For DG of 25 kW or less, no insurance is required above a standard homeowner’s policy or commercial business policy. For DG with a capacity above 25 kW, the parties may negotiate whether insurance should be required and include the provisions in a power purchase agreement.
- A standard interconnection agreement for interconnecting DG of 25 kW or less must be included in the utility’s tariff. For DG with a capacity above 25 kW, the utility may either develop a standard agreement to include in its tariff or develop agreements on a case-by-case basis.
The RCA will convene a technical conference on July 12, 2010, to discuss Staff’s straw man proposal to aid in a determination on the appropriate parameters of an interconnection standard. The RCA asks that any interested person participating at the technical conference to file a notice of intent to participate by July 9, 2010.
For more information, see RCA Docket 09-002
Also, back in January of this year we reported that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) adopted regulations addressing net metering requirements for certain economically regulated electric utilities. The net metering regulations apply to independent electric systems owned and operated by an electric utility if the system had total retail sales of 5,000,000 kWh or more during the previous calendar year (an exemption applies if the system generates 100 percent of its power using renewable resources). As of June 16, the net metering regulations have taken effect. They were published in the July 2010 Register of the Alaska Administrative Code.
Source: RCA Announcement
