Section 466.110  Level 3 Expedited Review

An EDC shall use the Level 3 expedited review procedure for an interconnection request that meets the criteria in Section 466.80(c) or (d). An EDC may not impose additional requirements for Level 3 reviews not specifically authorized under this section unless the applicant agrees.

a)         A Level 3 interconnection shall use the following procedures:

1)         The applicant submits an interconnection request using the appropriate form and the Level 3 application fee (see Appendix C).

2)         Within 10 business days after receiving the interconnection request, the EDC shall inform the applicant as to whether the interconnection request is complete.  If the request is incomplete, the EDC shall specify what materials are missing and the applicant has 10 business days to provide the missing information, or the interconnection request shall be deemed withdrawn.

3)         After an interconnection request is deemed complete, the EDC shall assign a queue position to it based upon the date the interconnection request is determined to be complete.  The EDC shall then inform the applicant of its queue position.

4)         If, after determining that the interconnection request is complete, the EDC determines that it needs additional information to evaluate the distributed generation facility's adverse system impact, it shall request this information.  The EDC may not restart the review process or alter the applicant's queue position because it requires the additional information.  The EDC can extend the time to finish its evaluation only to the extent of the delay is required for receipt of the additional information.  If this additional information is not provided by the applicant within 15 business days, the interconnection request shall be deemed withdrawn.

5)         Interconnection requests meeting the requirements set forth in Section 466.80(c)(1) for non-exporting distributed generation facilities interconnecting to an area network shall be presumed to be appropriate for interconnection.  The EDC shall process the interconnection request to area networks using the following procedures:

A)        The EDC shall evaluate the interconnection request under Level 2 interconnection review procedures as set forth in Section 466.100(a) except that the EDC has 25 business days to evaluate the interconnection request against the screens to determine whether interconnecting the distributed generation facility to the EDC's area network has any potential adverse system impacts.

B)        If the Level 2 screens for area networks identify potential adverse system impacts, the EDC may determine, at its sole discretion, that it is inappropriate for the distributed generation facility to interconnect to the area network under Level 3 review, and the interconnection request is denied.  The applicant may submit a new interconnection request for consideration under Level 4 procedures at the queue position assigned to the Level 3 interconnection request, if the request is made within 15 business days after notification that the current application is denied.

6)         For interconnection requests that meet the requirements of Section 466.80(c)(2) for non-exporting distributed generation facilities interconnecting to a radial distribution circuit, the EDC shall evaluate the interconnection request under the Level 2 expedited review in Section 466.100(a).

b)         For a distributed generation facility that satisfies the criteria in Section 466.110(a)(5) or (a)(6), the EDC shall approve the interconnection request and provide a standard interconnection agreement (see Appendix D) for the applicant to sign on the day the EDC makes its determination.

c)         Within 30 business days after receipt of the standard distributed generation interconnection agreement, the applicant shall complete, sign and return the agreement to the EDC.  If the applicant does not sign the standard distributed generation interconnection agreement within 30 business days, the request shall be deemed withdrawn, unless the applicant requests a 15 business day extension in writing. An initial request for extension may not be denied by the EDC.  After the standard distributed generation interconnection agreement is signed by the parties, interconnection of the distributed generation facility shall proceed according to any milestones agreed to by the parties in the standard distributed generation interconnection agreement.

d)         The interconnection agreement shall not be final until:

1)         All requirements in the interconnection agreement are satisfied; and

2)         The distributed generation facility is approved by the electric code officials with jurisdiction over the distributed generation facility; and

3)         The applicant provides a certificate of completion (see Appendix B) to the EDC; and

4)         The witness test is successfully completed, if required by the EDC or if the witness test is waived according to Article 2.1.1 of Appendix D.

e)         If the distributed generation facility is not approved under a Level 3 review, the EDC shall provide the applicant with written notification explaining its reasons for denying the interconnection request.  The applicant may submit a new interconnection request for consideration under a Level 4 interconnection review.  The queue position assigned to the Level 3 interconnection request shall be retained, provided that the request is made within 15 business days after notification that the current interconnection request is denied.