Distributed generation.
An electrical generating facility located at a customer’s point of delivery (point of common coupling) of fifty (50) kilowatts (KW) or less and connected at a voltage less than 15 kilovolts (KV) which may be connected in parallel operation to the city’s electric system.
Interconnection.
The physical connection of the distributed generation to the utility system in accordance with the requirements of this division so that parallel operation can occur.
Net metering.
A system in which solar panels or other renewable energy generators are connected to a public utility power grid and surplus power is transferred on to the grid, allowing customers to offset the costs of power drawn from the utility.
Networked secondary.
Two or more utility primary distribution feeder sources electrically tied together on the secondary (low voltage) side to form one power source for one or more customers. The service is designed to maintain service to the customers even after the loss of one or these primary distribution feeder sources.
Parallel operation.
The operation of distributed generation by a customer while the customer is connected to the city’s electric system.
Point of interconnection (point of service, point of common coupling).
The point where the electrical conductors of the company utility system are connected to the customer’s conductors and where any transfer of electric power between the customer and the utility system takes place, such as switchgear near the meter.
Pre-certified equipment.
A specific generating and protective equipment system or systems that have been certified as meeting the applicable parts of this article relating to safety and reliability by an entity approved by the commission.
Stabilized.
The city’s electric system shall be considered stabilized when, following a disturbance, the system returns to the normal range of voltage and frequency of a duration of two minutes.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
Before a person or entity may interconnect or operate in parallel a distributed generation system within the city electric system, that person or entity must apply with the city by completing and submitting the application for interconnection and parallel operation of distributed generation. Applications will be available at city hall.
(b) 
The application shall be reviewed by the city manager or his designee for approval.
(c) 
Upon approval, the customer shall execute the agreement for interconnection and parallel operation of distributed generation that establishes the terms and conditions before interconnecting with the city’s electric system.
(d) 
The interconnection shall not be energized prior to the execution of the agreement as required herein.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
With the exception of only the city’s meter, the customer shall own and solely be responsible for all expense, installation, maintenance and operation of the generating installation at and beyond the point of delivery.
(b) 
At its sole discretion, the city may install city-owned metering equipment and transformers past the point of delivery.
(c) 
Any necessary meter(s) or meter modifications in addition to one standard service meter will be installed, maintained and operated by the city at the customer’s expense.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The customer (at the customer’s expense) will furnish, install, operate and maintain in good order and repair all equipment necessary for the safe operation of DG facilities operated in parallel with the electrical system.
(b) 
The customer’s equipment will have capability to both establish and maintain synchronism with the electrical system and to automatically disconnect and isolate the DG facility from the city in the event of an outage of the city’s system or a malfunction of the generating installation.
(c) 
The customer’s DG facility will also be designed, installed and maintained to be self-protected from normal and abnormal conditions on the city. The conditions for which the power generating installation shall be self-protected and shall include, but not be limited to, over-voltage, under-voltage, overcurrent, frequency deviation, and faults. The self-protection will be compatible with the city’s system protection arrangements and operating policies.
(d) 
Specialized protective functions may be required by the city when, in the sole judgment of the city, the particular DG facility installation and/or the electric power system characteristics so warrant. The customer shall be responsible for the costs of any specialized protective functions.
(e) 
Any unapproved generating equipment found operating in parallel with the city’s electrical system may be immediately disconnected by the city and not allowed to reconnect until the appropriate review and approval from the city has been obtained.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The customer’s generation shall not exceed the rated capacity of the electrical service (service entrance, meter base, conductors, etc.) serving the facility’s load.
(b) 
The customer’s DG facility will provide power at the nominal voltage of the city’s electric system at the customer’s delivery point plus or minus five percent (5%), at the nominal system frequency of 60 Hz plus or minus one-tenth (1/10) Hz as defined by ANSI C84.1 Range A.
(c) 
Customer generation greater than 25 KW shall be three-phase unless specifically approved in writing by the city. Where multiple generators are connected to the electrical distribution system through a single service point, the sum of the rating of the generators will be used to determine KW rating.
(d) 
Customer’s DG installation will generate power at a frequency within the tolerances as defined by IEEE 1547.
(e) 
Customer’s DG facility shall interconnect at a power factor that is at or near one hundred percent (100%) as is practicable. In the event the customer’s power factor is less than ninety percent (90%) leading or lagging, the customer will provide proper power factor correction (within ten percent (10%) of unity) or reimburse the city the cost of any necessary correction. Customer’s DG facility shall be in accordance with the power quality limits specific in IEEE 519.
(f) 
The overall quality of the power provided by the customer’s DG facility including, but not limited to, the effects of harmonic distortion, voltage regulation, voltage flicker, switching surges and power factor, will be such that the city’s electric system is not adversely affected in any manner.
(g) 
In the event that the adverse effects are caused in whole or in part by the customer’s DG facility, the city will disconnect services immediately and will not allow reconnection until the appropriate review and approval from the city has been obtained.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
The customer shall provide and install, at the customer’s expense, a visible load break disconnect switch:
(1) 
The switch will be located so as to be readily accessible to city personnel at all times in a location acceptable to both the customer and city.
(2) 
The switch shall be a type that can be secured in an open position by a city padlock.
(3) 
Signage shall be placed by the customer at the disconnect indicating the purpose of the switch as “alternate power source” with contact names and numbers of the customer.
(4) 
The customer shall not bypass the disconnect switch or lock at any time for any reason.
(5) 
The city shall have the right to lock the switch open when, in the judgment of the city:
(A) 
It is necessary to maintain safe electrical operating or maintenance conditions.
(B) 
The customer’s DG adversely affects the city’s electric system.
(C) 
There is a system emergency or other abnormal operating condition warranting disconnection.
(D) 
For routine maintenance, repairs, and utility system modifications the utility shall reconnect the customer as quickly as reasonably possible following any such service interruption.
(E) 
There is not an interconnection agreement filed and approved with the city.
(F) 
The city reserves the right to operate the disconnect switch for the protection of the city’s system even if it affects the customer’s DG facility.
(6) 
In the event the city opens and/or closes the disconnect switch:
(A) 
The city shall not be responsible for energizing or restoration of parallel operation of the DG facility. (The city will make reasonable efforts to notify the customer.)
(7) 
Customers with DG facilities which are solely for the purpose of emergency backup or peak shaving without intent to export power shall not operate their DG facilities at any time unless visibly disconnected from the city’s electrical system. At its sole discretion, the city may require customer to install at his/her own expense an interlocking switch for the purpose of insuring the customer’s facilities do not operate in parallel with the city’s facilities.
(8) 
Should the city lose power serving the customer’s DG facilities for any reason, customers with DG facilities shall not operate their DG facilities unless visibly disconnected from the city’s electrical system.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
Persons authorized by the city will have the right to enter the customer’s property for purposes of operating the disconnect switch, reading or metering at any time. Such entry onto the customer’s property may be without notice.
(b) 
If the customer erects or maintains locked gates or other barriers, the customer will furnish the city with convenient means to circumvent the barrier for access to the disconnect switch and meter(s).
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The customer assumes full responsibility for electric energy furnished at and past the point of interconnection and shall indemnify the city and/or its power supplier against and hold the city and/or its power supplier harmless from all claims for both injuries to persons, including death resulting there from, and damages to property occurring upon the premises owned or operated by the customer arising from electric power and energy delivered by the city or in any way arising directly or indirectly from the customer’s DG facility.
(b) 
The city and/or its power supplier shall not be liable for either direct or consequential damages resulting from failures, interruptions, or voltage and waveform fluctuations occasioned by causes reasonably beyond the control of the city and/or its power supplier including, but not limited to, acts of God or public enemy, sabotage and/or vandalism, accidents, fire, explosion, labor troubles, strikes, order of any court or judge granted in any bona fide adverse legal proceeding or action, or any order of any commission, tribunal or governmental authority having jurisdiction. All provisions notwithstanding, in no event shall the city be liable to the customer for any interest, loss of anticipated revenue, earnings, profits, or increased expense of operations, loss by reason of shutdown or nonoperation of customer’s premises or facilities for any indirect, incidental, or consequential, punitive or exemplary damages arising out of or related, in whole or part, to this agreement. The city shall not be liable in any event for consequential damages.
(c) 
The customer is solely responsible for insuring his/her facility complies with all applicable regulations including, but not limited to, laws, regulations, ordinances, city and city power supplier tariffs, policies and directives.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The customer will notify the city in writing thirty (30) days in advance of making any change affecting the characteristics, performance, or protection of the distributed generation facility.
(b) 
If it comes to the city’s attention that the modification will create or has created conditions which may be unsafe or adversely affect the city’s electrical system, the city will disconnect services immediately and will not allow reconnection until the appropriate review and approval from the city has been obtained. It shall be unlawful for any peddler to make false or fraudulent statements concerning the quality or nature of any goods, wares, merchandise or services for the purpose of inducing another to purchase the same [sic].
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The customer will test all aspects of the protection systems up to and including tripping of the generator and interconnection point at start-up and thereafter as required. Testing will verify all protective set points and relay/breaker trip timing and shall include procedures to functionally test all protective elements of the system. The city may witness the testing.
(b) 
The customer will maintain records of all maintenance activities and the city may review at reasonable times.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The city may at certain times and as operating conditions warrant reasonably refuse to accept part or all of the output of the customer’s facility. Such refusal shall be based on system emergency constraints, special operating requirement, and adverse effects of the customer’s facility on the city’s electrical system or violation by the customer of the terms of this article.
(b) 
The city shall not be required to make any purchases that will cause the city to no longer be in compliance with any applicable contracts or power contract requirements with its power supplier or regulatory authority.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
The DG installation owned and installed by the customer shall be installed and operated subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the city’s rules, regulations, bylaws, rates and tariffs, as amended from time to time, and, if applicable, approved by the city council, which are incorporated herein by reference, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, zoning codes, building codes, safety rules, environmental restrictions, ordinances and regulations, including without limitation, and in accordance with industry standard prudent engineering practices.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
The city may supply, own, and maintain all necessary meters and associated equipment to record energy purchases by the customer and energy exports to the utility system. The customer shall supply at no cost to the utility a suitable location on its premises for the installation of the utility’s meters and other equipment.
(b) 
The following metering options are available: Parallel operation with interconnection through single meter measuring net consumption. Net consumption shall be billed at applicable rate.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
(a) 
In a billing month after a customer receives approval to interconnect the customer’s on-site generating system from the city, if the energy delivered by the customer’s approved system to the city’s electric system exceeds the amount of energy delivered by the city to the customer, the city shall credit the customer’s account for the energy generated as described below.
(b) 
The monthly credit, if any, is calculated as follows:
The amount of kilowatts produced by the distributed generation system in excess of use will be credited to the owners account on a monthly basis equal to the energy rate charged to the city by LCRA. The customer will pay a monthly energy demand charge.
(c) 
During the operation of the DG system, customer shall exclusively purchase from the city its requirements of electric energy above the amounts generated by the DG system.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)
Any person violating this section by interconnecting distributed generation to the city’s electric system without a complete application and executed agreement, or operating a distributed generation system that does not meet the specification set forth in this section commits a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be subject to the penalties provided in this code.
(Ordinance 2016-06 adopted 9/20/16)