TITLE 39

Public Utilities and Carriers

CHAPTER 39-26.3

Distributed Generation Interconnection

SECTION 39-26.3-3



   § 39-26.3-3  Application process. –

(a) The application process set out in this section shall be applicable to

electric distribution companies thirty (30) days after the enactment of this

chapter.



   (b) An applicant for a renewable distributed generation

interconnection must submit an application to the electric distribution company

for an impact study, including a request for an estimate of the cost of

interconnecting the renewable distributed generation resource to the

distribution system. The applicant may request a feasibility study prior to

requesting an impact study, but the applicant is not required to do so and may

submit an application for an impact study without having obtained a feasibility

study. The distribution company shall follow the schedule below for all

applications.



   (c) Upon receipt of a completed application requesting a

feasibility study and receipt of the applicable feasibility study fee, the

electric distribution company shall provide a feasibility study to the

applicant within thirty (30) days.



   (d) Upon receipt of a completed application requesting an

impact study and receipt of the applicable impact study fee, the electric

distribution company shall provide an impact study within ninety (90) days.



   (e) In anticipation of the electric distribution company

needing to add resources that are not currently in Rhode Island or covered in

rates, to provide the necessary services to advance the aggressive goals and

objectives set forth in title 39, the electric distribution company shall be

authorized to add up to two (2) incremental employee resources located in Rhode

Island that shall be primarily dedicated to servicing Rhode Island applicants

and customers in connection with net metering and the development of

distributed generation resources, including the requisite resources to perform

impact and feasibility studies for distributed generation interconnections and

to assure that feasibility studies and impact studies, as well as other

engineering activity necessary to facilitate the completion of distributed

generation projects in Rhode Island are implemented and delivered on a timely

basis. Prior to new rates going into effect following the company's next

general rate case filing, the cost of such incremental employee resources shall

be recovered through rates on an annual basis through an annual reconciliation

mechanism, provided that the total amount of fees collected from impact studies

and feasibility studies shall be netted against such costs. Only the cost of

time and work actually spent on Rhode Island renewable energy project matters

shall be included in such annual reconciliation. The commission shall have the

authority to review these positions in the electric distribution company's next

general rate case as a cost of service in the same manner as it reviews all

other expenses in a rate case to determine whether they should continue.

Nothing contained in this section shall preclude the electric distribution

company from adding additional resources, subject to commission approval.



   (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the

application process and fees set forth in this chapter apply only to

interconnections to the distribution system by renewable distributed generation

resources. To the extent that a renewable generation resource seeks an

interconnection to the transmission system and such interconnection request is

governed by rules and regulations under the exclusive jurisdiction of the

federal energy regulatory commission, the provisions of this chapter shall not

apply.



   (g) The rules and fees established in this chapter shall be

incorporated within the applicable "Standards for Interconnection of

Distributed Generation" approved by the commission.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2011, ch. 140, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 144, § 1.)