Net Metering = Standards

Interconnection=20 of Electric Generators

Generating=20 Capacity Of Not More Than 25=20 kiloWatts

Table of = Contents

Chapter 1 =20 Purpose=20 and Scope

Chapter 2 =20 Application=20 of Rules

Chapter 3 =20 Definitions

Chapter 4 =20 Technical=20 Standards for Interconnection

Chapter 5 =20 Application=20 for Interconnection

Chapter 6 =20 General=20 Terms and Conditions of Interconnection

Chapter 7 =20 Certificate=20 of Completion

Chapter 8 =20 Required=20 Filings =96 Exceptions

Chapter 1 =20 Purpose and Scope

1. The purpose of this = chapter is to=20 establish rules for determining the terms and conditions governing the=20 interconnection of electric generating facilities with a nameplate = generating=20 capacity of not more than 25 kilowatts to the electric system of Tacoma=20 Power.

2. These rules are intended = to be=20 consistent with the requirements of chapter 80.60 RCW, Net Metering of=20 Electricity; to partially comply with Section 1254 of the Energy Policy = Act of=20 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-58 (2005); and to promote the purposes of = Substitute=20 Senate Bill 5101, Chapter 300, Laws of 2005 (effective July 1, = 2005).

Chapter 2 =20 Application of rules

1. These rules include = various=20 requirements applicable to Tacoma Power, the applicant and the=20 generator.

2. These rules modify, if = necessary,=20 any existing interconnection rules of Tacoma Power, including but not = limited=20 to, rules implementing chapter 80.60 RCW, Net Metering of=20 Electricity.

Chapter 3 = Definitions

=93Applicant=94 = means any=20 person, corporation, partnership, government agency, or other entity = applying to=20 interconnect a generating facility to Tacoma Power=92s electric system = pursuant to=20 this chapter.

=93Application=94 = means the=20 written notice as defined in WAC 480-108-030 provided by the applicant = to Tacoma=20 Power that initiates the interconnection process.

=93Certificate of = completion=94=20 means the attached certificate furnished by Tacoma Power and completed = by the=20 applicant or generator and the electrical inspector having jurisdiction = over the=20 installation of the facilities indicating completion of installation and = inspection of the interconnection.

=93Electric = system=94 means all=20 electrical wires, equipment, and other facilities owned or provided by = Tacoma=20 Power that are used to transmit electricity to = customers.

=93Generating = facility=94 means=20 a source of electricity owned by the applicant or generator that is = located on=20 the applicant=92s side of the point of common coupling, and all = facilities=20 ancillary and appurtenant thereto, including interconnection facilities, = which=20 the applicant requests to interconnect to Tacoma Power=92s electric=20 system.

=93Generator=94 = means the=20 entity that owns and/or operates = the=20 generating facility interconnected to Tacoma Power=92s electric = system.

=93Initial = operation=94 means=20 the first time the generating facility is in parallel operation with the = electric system.

=93In-service date=94 means the date on which = the generating=20 facility and any related facilities are complete and ready for service, = even if=20 the generating facility is not placed in service on or by that=20 date.

=93Interconnection=94 means the physical = connection of a=20 generating facility to the electric system so that parallel operation = may=20 occur.

=93Interconnection = agreement=94=20 means the standardized terms and conditions that govern the = interconnection of=20 generating facilities pursuant to these rules. The model interconnection = agreement may=20 be modified to accommodate terms and conditions specific to individual=20 interconnections, subject to the conditions set forth in these=20 rules.

=93Interconnection facilities=94 means the = electrical wires,=20 switches and other equipment used to interconnect a generating facility = to the=20 electric system.

=93Net metering=94 = means=20 measuring the difference between the electricity supplied by Tacoma = Power and=20 the electricity generated by a generating facility that is fed back to = Tacoma=20 Power over the applicable billing period.

=93Network = distribution system=20 (grid or spot)=94 means electrical service from a distribution system = consisting=20 of two or more primary circuits from one or more substations or = transmission=20 supply points arranged such that they collectively feed secondary = circuits=20 serving one (a spot network) or more (a grid network) Utility=20 customers.

=93Parallel = operation=94 or=20 =93operate in parallel=94 means the synchronous operation of a = generating facility=20 while interconnected with Tacoma Power=92s electric = system.

=93Point of common coupling=94 or = =93PCC=94 means the point=20 where the generating facility=92s local electric power system connects = to Tacoma=20 Power=92s electric system, such as the electric power revenue meter or=20 at the=20 location of the equipment designated to interrupt, separate or = disconnect the=20 connection between the generating facility and Tacoma Power.

=93Utility=94 means Tacoma Power who owns = and operates=20 the electrical distribution system, or the electrical distribution = system=20 itself, onto which the applicant seeks to interconnect a generating=20 facility.

Chapter = 4 = Technical Standards for Interconnection

The technical standards listed in this = section shall=20 apply to all generating facilities to be interconnected to Tacoma Power = under=20 this chapter.

1. General interconnection=20 requirements.

a. Any = generating facility=20 desiring to interconnect with Tacoma=20 Power=92s electric system or modify an = existing=20 interconnection must meet all minimum technical specifications = applicable, in=20 their most current approved version, as set forth in this chapter.=20

b. =20 The specifications and requirements in this section are intended = to=20 mitigate possible adverse impacts caused by the generating facility=20 on Utility equipment and personnel = and on=20 other customers of Tacoma Power. = They are not intended to address protection of the generating = facility=20 itself, generating facility personnel, or its internal load. It is the responsibility of = the=20 generating facility to comply with the requirements of all appropriate=20 standards, codes, statutes and authorities to protect its own = facilities,=20 personnel, and loads.

c. The = specifications and=20 requirements in this section shall apply generally to the non- = Utility-owned=20 electric generation equipment to which this standard and agreement(s) = apply=20 throughout the period encompassing the generator=92s installation, = testing and=20 commissioning, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and removal of = said=20 equipment. Tacoma Power = may verify=20 compliance at any time, with reasonable notice.

d. The generator = shall=20 comply with the requirements in subsections (d)(i), (d)(ii) and (d)(iii). However, at its sole = discretion, Tacoma=20 Power may approve alternatives that satisfy the intent of, and/or may = excuse=20 compliance with, any specific elements of these requirements.~~=20~~

i. =20 Code and standards. =20 Applicant shall conform to all applicable codes and = standards for safe and reliable=20 operation. Among these = are the=20 National Electric Code (NEC), National Electric Safety Code (NESC), the=20 Institute of=20 Electrical and = Electronics=20 Engineers (IEEE), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and = Underwriters=20 Laboratories (UL) standards, and local, state and federal building = codes. The generator shall be = responsible to=20 obtain all applicable permit(s) for the equipment installations on its = property.=20

ii. Safety. =20 All safety and operating procedures for joint use equipment = shall be=20 in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration = (OSHA)=20 Standard 29, CFR 1910.269, the NEC, Washington Administrative Code (WAC) = rules,=20 the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Administration (WISHA) = Standard, and=20 equipment manufacturer=92s safety and operating = manuals.

iii. Power Quality. Installations will be in = compliance with=20 all applicable standards including IEEE Standard 519-1992 Harmonic=20 Limits.

2. Specific interconnection=20 requirements.

a. Applicant shall = furnish and=20 install on applicant=92s side of the meter, a=20 UL-approved safety disconnect switch which shall be capable of fully=20 disconnecting the applicant's generating facility from Tacoma Power=92s = electric=20 system. The disconnect = switch shall=20 be located adjacent to Utility = meters and=20 shall be of the visible break type in a metal enclosure which can be = secured by=20 a padlock. The disconnect = switch=20 shall be accessible to Tacoma Power = personnel=20 at all times.

b. The = requirement in=20 subsection (2)(a) above may be waived by Tacoma Power if: (i) applicant provides = interconnection=20 equipment that applicant can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of Tacoma = Power,=20 performs physical disconnection of the generating equipment supply = internally;=20 and (ii) applicant agrees = that its=20 service may be disconnected entirely if generating equipment must be = physically=20 disconnected for any reason.

c. Tacoma Power = shall have=20 the right to disconnect the generating facility at the disconnect switch = under=20 the following circumstances: = when=20 necessary to maintain safe electrical operating conditions; if the = generating=20 facility does not meet required standards, or these rules; if the = generating=20 facility at any time adversely affects or endangers any person, the = property of=20 any person, Tacoma Power=92s operation of its electric system or the = quality of=20 Tacoma Power=92s service to other customers; or failure of the owner of = record, as=20 filed with Tacoma Power, to notify Tacoma Power of a sale or transfer of = the=20 generator, interconnecting facilities or the premises on which the = generator is=20 located.

d. Nominal = voltage and=20 phase configuration of applicant=92s generating facility must be = compatible to=20 Tacoma Power system at the point of common = coupling.

e. Applicant = must provide=20 evidence that its generation will never result in reverse current flow = through=20 Tacoma Power's network protectors. =20 All instances of interconnection to secondary spot distribution = networks=20 shall require review and written pre-approval by Tacoma Power. Interconnection to = distribution=20 secondary grid networks is not allowed. =20 Closed transition transfer switches are not allowed in secondary = network=20 distribution systems.

3. Specifications applicable = to all=20 inverter-based interconnections. = Any=20 inverter-based generating facility desiring to interconnect with = Tacoma=20 Power=92s electric system or modify an = existing=20 interconnection must meet the technical specifications, in their most = current=20 approved version, as set forth below.

a. IEEE Standard = 1547-2003, Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with = Electric=20 Power Systems.

b. UL Standard = 1741,=20 Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems. Equipment must = be UL=20 listed.

c. IEEE Standard = 929-2000,=20 IEEE Recommended Practice for Utility Interface of Photovoltaic (PV)=20 Systems.

4. Requirements applicable = to all=20 non-inverter-based interconnections. =20 Non-inverter based interconnection=20 requests may require more detailed =20 review, testing, and approval by Tacoma Power, at applicant cost, = of the=20 equipment proposed to be installed to ensure compliance with applicable=20 technical specifications, in their most current approved version,=20 including:

a. IEEE Standard = 1547-2003, Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power=20 Systems.

b. ANSI Standard = C37.90,=20 IEEE Standard for Relays and = Relay Systems=20 Associated with Electric Power Apparatus.

c. Applicants = proposing=20 such interconnection may also be required to submit a power factor = mitigation=20 plan for Utility=20 review and approval.

Chapter 5 Application for Interconnection

1. =20 When an = applicant=20 requests interconnection from Tacoma Power, the applicant shall be = responsible=20 for conforming to the rules and regulations that are in effect and on = file with=20 Tacoma Power. Tacoma = Power will=20 designate a point of contact and provide a telephone number or website = address=20 for this purpose. The applicant seeking to = interconnect a=20 generating facility under these rules must fill out and submit a signed=20 application form. = Information must=20 be accurate, complete, and approved by Tacoma Power prior to installing = the=20 generating facility. =20

2. =20 Fees. Tacoma Power=92s = interconnection=20 fee is the $50 required for an electrical permit. Additional charges may apply = if=20 additional inspections are required for completion.

Renewable = Energy=20 Annual Incentive Payment Program. A=20 $25 fee is required if customers wish to participate and receive annual = payments=20 for renewable energy production. = The fee must be submitted with your application for the Renewable = Energy=20 System Annual Incentive. =20

Production meter fees. =20 Tacoma Power requires that the customer have a utility-owned = meter=20 installed. The charge for = the=20 installation of a utility-owned production meter is $75.54. =

3. =20 Application=20 Prioritization. All = generation=20 interconnection requests pursuant to this chapter will be prioritized by = Tacoma=20 Power in the same manner as any new load requests. Preference will not be given = to either=20 request type. Tacoma = Power will=20 process the application and provide interconnection in a time frame = consistent=20 with the average of other service connections.

4. =20 Application=20 evaluation. All = generation=20 interconnection requests pursuant to this chapter will be reviewed by = Tacoma=20 Power for compliance with these rules. =20 If Tacoma Power in its sole discretion finds that the application = does=20 not comply with this chapter, Tacoma Power may reject the = application. If Tacoma Power rejects the = application=20 it shall provide the applicant with written notification stating its = reasons for=20 rejecting the application. =

Chapter = 6 = General Terms and Conditions of Interconnection

The general terms and conditions listed in = this=20 section shall apply to all generating facilities interconnecting to = Tacoma=20 Power.

1. =20 Any electrical = generating facility with a maximum electrical generating capacity of 25 = kW or=20 less must comply with these rules to be eligible to interconnect and = operate in=20 parallel with Tacoma Power=92s electric system. The rules under this chapter shall apply = to all=20 interconnecting generating facilities that are intended to operate in = parallel=20 with Tacoma Power=92s electric system irrespective of whether the = applicant=20 intends to generate energy to serve all or a part of the applicant=92s = load; or to=20 sell the output.

2. =20 In = order to=20 ensure system safety and reliability of interconnected operations, all=20 interconnected generating facilities shall be constructed and operated = by=20 generator in accordance with this chapter and all other applicable = federal,=20 state, and local laws and regulations.

3. =20 Prior to = initial=20 operation, all generators must submit a completed certificate of = completion to=20 Tacoma Power; execute the appropriate interconnection agreement = contained in=20 Attachment C, and any other agreement(s) required by these rules for the = disposition of the generating facility=92s electric power output. The=20 interconnection agreement between Tacoma Power and generator outlines = the=20 interconnection standards, cost allocation and billing agreements, and = on-going=20 maintenance and operation requirements.

4. =20 Applicant = or=20 generator shall promptly furnish Tacoma Power with copies of such plans, = specifications, records, and other information relating to the = generating=20 facility or the ownership, operation, use, or maintenance of the = generating=20 facility, as may be reasonably requested by Tacoma Power from time to=20 time.

5. =20 For the purposes = of public=20 and working personnel safety, any non-approved generation = interconnections=20 discovered will be immediately disconnected from Tacoma Power=92s=20 system.

6. =20 To ensure = reliable=20 service to all Tacoma Power customers and to minimize possible problems = for=20 other customers, Tacoma Power will review the need for a=20 dedicated-to-single-customer distribution transformer. Interconnecting generating = facilities=20 under 25 kW may require a separate = transformer. If Tacoma Power requires a = dedicated=20 distribution transformer, the applicant or generator shall pay for all = costs of=20 the new transformer and related facilities.

7. =20 Metering.

a. =20 Net = Metering for=20 Solar, Wind, Hydropower and Fuel Cells as set forth in RCW 80.60: =20 Tacoma Power shall install, own and maintain a kilowatt-hour = meter,=20 or meters as the installation may determine, capable of registering the=20 bi-directional flow of electricity at the point of common coupling at a = level of=20 accuracy that meets all applicable standards, regulations and = statutes. The meter(s) may measure such = parameters=20 as time of delivery, power factor, voltage and such other parameters as = Tacoma=20 Power shall specify. The = applicant=20 shall provide space for metering equipment. It will be the applicant=92s=20 responsibility to provide the current transformer enclosure (if = required), meter=20 socket(s) and junction box after the applicant has submitted drawings = and=20 equipment specifications for Tacoma Power=92s approval. Tacoma Power may = approve=20 other generating sources for net metering but is not required to do=20 so.

b. =20 Production=20 Metering: Tacoma Power = will require=20 separate metering for production. =20 This meter will record all generation produced and may be = accounted for=20 separately from any net metering or customer usage metering. All costs associated with the=20 installation of production metering will be paid by the=20 applicant.

Common labeling = furnished=20 or approved by Tacoma Power and in accordance with NEC requirements = must be=20 posted on meter base, disconnects, and transformers informing working=20 personnel that generation is operating at or is located on the=20 premises.

As currently set forth for qualifying = generation under=20 RCW 80.60, for solar, wind, hydro or fuel cells no additional = insurance will=20 be necessary. For other = generating facilities permitted under these standards and rules but = not=20 contained within RCW 80.60, additional insurance, limitations of = liability and=20 indemnification may be required by Tacoma Power. =

10. = Prior to any future modification or expansion = of the=20 generating facility, the generator will obtain Utility review and = approval. Tacoma = Power reserves the right to require the generator, = at the=20 generator=92s expense, to provide corrections or additions to existing = electrical=20 devices in the event of modification of government or industry = regulations and=20 standards.

For the overall safety and protection of = Tacoma=20 Power=92s system, RCW 80.60 currently limits interconnection of = generation for=20 net metering to 0.1% of Tacoma Power=92s peak demand during 1996. Additionally, = interconnection of=20 generating facilities to individual distribution feeders will be = limited to=20 10% of the feeder=92s peak capacity. =20 However, Tacoma Power may, in its sole discretion, allow = additional=20 generation interconnection beyond these stated limits. =

It is the responsibility of the generator to = protect=20 its facilities, loads and equipment and comply with the requirements = of all=20 appropriate standards, codes, statutes and authorities.=20

Charges by Tacoma Power to the applicant or = generator=20 in addition to the application fee, if any, will be cost-based and = applied as=20 appropriate. Such costs = may=20 include, but are not limited to, transformers, production meters, and = Utility testing, qualification, and approval of = non UL 1741=20 listed equipment. The = generator=20 shall be responsible for any costs associated with any future upgrade = or=20 modification to its interconnected system required by modifications in = Tacoma=20 Power's electric system.

This chapter governs the terms and = conditions under=20 which the applicant=92s generating facility will interconnect with, = and operate=20 in parallel with, Tacoma Power=92s electric system. This chapter does not govern = the=20 settlement, purchase or delivery of any power generated by = applicant=92s=20 generating facility. = The purchase=20 or delivery of power, including net metering of electricity pursuant = to=20 Chapter 80.60. RCW, and other services that = the=20 applicant may require will be covered by separate agreement or = pursuant to the=20 terms, conditions and rates as may be from time to time approved by = Tacoma=20 Power. Any such = agreement shall=20 be complete prior to initial operation and filed with Tacoma=20 Power.

Generator may disconnect the generating = facility at=20 any time; provided that the generator provides reasonable advance = notice to=20 Tacoma Power.

Generator shall notify Tacoma Power prior to = the sale=20 or transfer of the generating facility, the interconnection facilities = or the=20 premises upon which the facilities are located. The applicant or generator = shall not=20 assign its rights or obligations under any agreement entered into = pursuant to=20 these rules without the prior written consent of Tacoma Power, which = consent=20 shall not be unreasonably withheld. =

Chapter = 7 Certificate of completion

All generating = facilities must obtain an electrical permit and pass electrical = inspection=20 before they can be connected or operated in parallel with Tacoma = Power=92s=20 electric system. = Generator=20 shall provide written certification to Tacoma Power that the generating = facility=20 has been installed and inspected in compliance with the local building = and/or=20 electrical codes.

Chapter = 8 Required filings =96 Exceptions

=20

Tacoma Power shall = maintain on=20 file for inspection at its place of business, the charges, terms and = conditions=20 for interconnections pursuant to these rules. Such filing includes forms of = the=20 following documents and contracts:

Application=20
Interconnection agreements =
Certificate of Completion=20
Customer Checklist =

Tacoma Power may = grant such=20 exceptions to these rules as may be appropriate in individual=20 cases.