Distributed Generation Distributed Generation & &

Distribution CompaniesDistribution Companies

Darius Vaiciunas

Collingwood

OPTIONSOPTIONS

• No interconnectionNo interconnection

• Isolated DG operation with automatic Isolated DG operation with automatic transfer between the DG and the gridtransfer between the DG and the grid

• Parallel operation with grid, no power Parallel operation with grid, no power exportexport

• Parallel operation with grid with Parallel operation with grid with power exportpower export

Basic PrincipalsBasic Principals

• SafetySafety• the operation of the interconnected the operation of the interconnected

generator should not pose any generator should not pose any unreasonable safety hazard to utility unreasonable safety hazard to utility equipment, customer equipment, or equipment, customer equipment, or human beings (including utility human beings (including utility personnel and the public).personnel and the public).

Basic PrincipalsBasic Principals• System stability / reliabilitySystem stability / reliability

• the interconnected generator should the interconnected generator should not seriously degrade the quality of not seriously degrade the quality of power or reliability for the utility power or reliability for the utility system or for the customers connected system or for the customers connected to that system.to that system.

• Reverse power flow Reverse power flow • Rule of thumb < 15% of the total load on Rule of thumb < 15% of the total load on

the feederthe feeder

• Over-current protection systems Over-current protection systems • Fuse / Breaker Coordination Fuse / Breaker Coordination

Basic PrincipalsBasic Principals

• Power qualityPower quality• injection of power into the utility injection of power into the utility

system from the generator will not system from the generator will not cause voltage excursions (steady state cause voltage excursions (steady state or otherwise) that result in out-of-or otherwise) that result in out-of-range feeder voltage conditions, range feeder voltage conditions, objectionable voltage flicker, or objectionable voltage flicker, or improper operation of utility system improper operation of utility system equipment or customer loads.equipment or customer loads.

STANDARDSSTANDARDS

• MOE (Provincial)MOE (Provincial)

• NRC (Federal)NRC (Federal)

• New YorkNew York

• MassachusettsMassachusetts

• New HampshireNew Hampshire

• TexasTexas

• New MexicoNew Mexico

• North CarolinaNorth Carolina

• VermontVermont

• CaliforniaCalifornia

Locations working on Interconnection Locations working on Interconnection Standards:Standards:

ISSUESISSUES• MeteringMetering

• Should reflect interconnection Should reflect interconnection • No Export vs. Export CapabilitiesNo Export vs. Export Capabilities

• Net MeteringNet Metering• Measuring the difference between Measuring the difference between

electricity delivered to a electricity delivered to a customer/generator and supplied customer/generator and supplied by a customer/generator at the by a customer/generator at the same point of interconnection same point of interconnection

ISSUESISSUES

• Distributor potential loss of revenueDistributor potential loss of revenue• Impact augmented by rate freezeImpact augmented by rate freeze• Standby Capacity requirements for Standby Capacity requirements for

Consumer/GeneratorConsumer/Generator• Review of Distribution Rate Design Review of Distribution Rate Design

processprocess• Adversarial approach counterproductive Adversarial approach counterproductive