April 30, 2014

CPUC Issues Decision in Interconnection Proceeding

Source: IREC The CPUC adopted a Final Decision on April 10, 2014, directing PG&E, SDG&E and SCE to incorporate a Distribution Group Study Process into their interconnection tariffs and approving several form agreements for use by the utilities under Rule 21, including a pre-application report request, an independent study process agreement, and an interconnection agreement for exporting…

Source: IREC

The CPUC adopted a Final Decision on April 10, 2014, directing PG&E, SDG&E and SCE to incorporate a Distribution Group Study Process into their interconnection tariffs and approving several form agreements for use by the utilities under Rule 21, including a pre-application report request, an independent study process agreement, and an interconnection agreement for exporting generation.

The CPUC stated in its decision that the new process will promote timeliness (by enabling utilities to study multiple projects as a group) and non-discriminatory processing of interconnection applications (by applying the same standards of review to a group of projects rather than by evaluating each project serially), improve cost-effectiveness (by creating a cost-sharing process for upgrade costs), and increase transparency (by reducing the possibility of unanticipated costs being assigned to subsequent projects).

The utilities must file within 60 days of the decision’s effective date Tier 2 Advice Letters (“substantially similar in substance and format”) that incorporate a Distribution Group Study Process and the form agreements specified above.