[Adopted 6-19-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-16]
To assure safety and the optimum value for both
the customer and the municipal utility, it is essential for the customer
to consult with the utility before purchasing, constructing, operating,
or interconnecting any self-generation equipment to the system. No
self-generating equipment may be connected to the municipal utility
unless the customer notifies the municipal utility and all necessary
equipment, in the opinion of the municipal utility, is properly installed
to isolate the generating equipment from the municipal utility system.
A.
No self-generating equipment or facility may be connected
to the municipal utility without express authorization from the municipal
utility and unless the requirements contained in this rule are fully
and completely satisfied.
B.
The customer must provide complete plans and specifications of the proposed equipment, including a single-line diagram and details of proposed protective schemes. Plans must be certified by a registered New Jersey professional engineer. Upon receipt of the certified plans and a fee as set forth in Chapter 155, Fees, as provided in Subsection G below to compensate the municipal utility for the cost of engineering services provided herein, the municipal utility will provide specific switching, breaker, and isolation plans for installation at the customer's expense. Any review of plans by the municipal utility does not constitute approval of the correctness of customer's plans.
C.
Installation must be in compliance with the National
Electrical Code and all applicable municipal, County, and federal
codes or regulations.
D.
Prior to connection to the municipal utility system,
the equipment and interconnection shall be inspected by the municipal
utility or its qualified representative. Inspections undertaken by
the municipal utility shall be undertaken solely for the purpose of
determining compliance with the proposed plans and for the safety
and integrity of the municipal utility system. Nothing done by the
municipality utility inspector shall constitute approval or waiver
by any other inspector who may be authorized to inspect such facility
and interconnection.
E.
Prior to interconnection with the municipal utility
system, customer shall enter into a written agreement with the municipal
utility. In addition to the operating provisions contained in these
rules, this agreement shall permit unlimited right of entry to the
customer's property for safety reasons or to disconnect whenever the
municipal utility believes that continued operation of the self-generation
equipment could result in harm to the municipal utility system or
to a customer of the municipal utility. Municipal utility employees
shall have the right to inspect and test the interconnection facilities
during reasonable hours. This agreement also shall require the safe
operation of the equipment or facility, indemnification of the municipal
utility for damages of any type, including, but not limited to, direct,
consequential, punitive damages, to the municipal utility or any other
customer as a result of the operation of the self-generation equipment
or facility. The agreement shall contain such other provisions as
are appropriate for the protection and safe operation of the municipal
utility.
F.
The customer shall be responsible for the safe operation
of the self-generation equipment and shall be responsible for all
costs of repairs, corrections, or updating of interconnection facilities.
G.
The customer shall be financially responsible for
all costs of interconnection, including, but not limited to, review
of the plans for equipment and the proposed isolation scheme, voltage
regulation, wiring, labor, special metering, and inspection. The municipal
utility shall provide a good faith estimate of the cost of reviewing
the plans, inspections, and for the cost of all equipment that may
be necessary to interconnect the self-generating equipment with the
municipal utility, and the customer shall pay the municipal utility
the full amount of the good faith estimate. Any amounts not expended
shall be returned to the customer. Any additional costs reasonably
incurred by the municipal utility to complete the interconnection
with the customer shall be paid to the municipal utility prior to
interconnection. The customer shall be responsible for the cost of
periodic testing of the interconnection facilities.
H.
The customer shall not change any aspect of the operation, the wiring, the controls, or the interconnection of the self-generation equipment without first providing prior written notice to the municipal utility of all proposed changes to the plans or the as-built drawings, as the case may be. All changes or proposed changes shall be certified by an electrical engineer, in the same manner as provided in Subsection B above. This information is essential for determining whether the existing interconnection equipment is adequate for the requirements and for safety reasons in the event of emergency cut-off. The customer shall pay all reasonable engineering fees incurred by the municipal utility to review and inspect the proposed installation.
I.
Self-generating equipment that is intended to operate
in parallel with the municipal utility shall be subject to a contract
that provides for such interconnected parallel operation.
A.
For facilities intended to operate in synchronization
with the municipal utility:
(1)
The interconnection point between the self-generator
and the municipal utility shall be on the customer's side of the designated
metering location. It shall operate in synchronization with the municipal
system.
(2)
Electrical quality must be 60 Hz, alternating current
having voltage and phase characteristics acceptable to the municipal
utility. Operation of the self-generating unit shall not result in
flicker, voltage fluctuations, interference with electronic equipment,
or damage to municipal utility or customer-owned equipment.
(3)
Equipment shall be capable of being manually and automatically
isolated from the municipal utility system within a maximum of 10
seconds, and provide for automatic disconnection from utility lines
that have been deenergized.
(4)
All costs incurred to interconnect the self-generation
equipment shall be the responsibility of the customer.
B.
For generating equipment not intended to operate as
interconnected generating facilities:
(1)
The customer shall install all equipment, switches
and devices necessary to allow such facility that is capable of being
served by the generating equipment to be electrically isolated from
the municipal utility.
(2)
All generating equipment subject to this subsection
shall be designed so that it is incapable of being operated unless
it is isolated and disconnected from the municipal utility.
A.
The municipal utility and customer shall enter into
an agreement that addresses all purchase and payment obligations.
The municipal utility shall only be required to purchase from PURPA-qualifying
facilities, pursuant to 18 CFR 292.300.
B.
Rates for the purchase of excess energy from the PURPA-qualifying
facility shall be based upon the municipal utility's avoided cost.
The avoided cost shall be calculated so that it takes into account
the all-inclusive cost of energy, including capacity costs, availability,
dispatchability, load limitations, operating contingencies or limitation,
energy costs, and administrative costs. If the municipal utility does
not require capacity and would receive no benefit from the addition
of capacity, the municipal utility shall only pay for the avoided
cost of energy, excluding all capacity costs.
