In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years. Note that the one-time burden added to this collection (averaged to be 295 hours/yr for 3 years) will need to be removed after Year 3, when this collection expires.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/2019
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2017
3,359
0
3,241
16,516
0
16,221
0
0
0
Final Rule in Docket No. RM16-8.FERC is modifying the pro forma Small Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA). The pro forma SGIA establishes the terms and conditions under which public utilities must provide interconnection service to small generating facilities of no larger than 20 megawatts. The Commission is modifying the pro forma SGIA to require newly interconnecting small generating facilities to ride through abnormal frequency and voltage events and not disconnect during such events. The specific ride through settings must be consistent with Good Utility Practice and any standards and guidelines applied by the transmission provider to other generating facilities on a comparable basis. The Commission already requires generators interconnecting under the Large Generator Interconnection Agreement to meet such requirements, and it would be unduly discriminatory not to also impose these requirements on small generating facilities. The Commission concludes that newly interconnecting small generating facilities should have ride through requirements comparable to large generating facilities.
FERC-516A, in general. Under sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) the Commission is charged with ensuring just and reasonable electric transmission rates and charges as well as ensuring that jurisdictional providers do not subject any person to any undue prejudice or disadvantage.
The lack of consistent and readily accessible terms and conditions for connecting resources to the grid led to a large number of disputes between jurisdictional transmission providers and small generators in the late 1990's and early 2000's. In response, the Commission directed transmission providers to include Commission-approved, standard, pro-forma interconnection procedures (small generator interconnection procedures or SGIP) and a single uniformly applicable interconnection agreement (small generator interconnection agreement or SGIA) in their open-access transmission tariffs (OATTs). The requirement to create and file these documents was instituted August 12, 2005, by Commission Order 2006 and is codified in 18 CFR 35.28(f). This collection is necessary because it sets and maintains a standard in OATTs for consistent consideration and processing of interconnection requests by transmission providers.
FERC modifies the pro forma Small Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA) originally set forth in Order No. 2006 and revised in Order No. 792 to require small generating facilities interconnecting through the SGIA to ride through abnormal frequency and voltage events and not disconnect during such events. Pursuant to section 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Commission finds that, given the changes to conditions since the Commission last evaluated whether to impose ride through requirements on small generating facilities, the revisions to the pro forma SGIA are necessary to remedy undue discrimination by ensuring that small generating facilities have ride through requirements comparable to large generating facilities.
As a result of this Final Rule in RM16-8, small generating facilities are required to not disconnect automatically or instantaneously from the system or equipment of the transmission provider and any affected systems for an under-frequency or over-frequency condition, or an under-voltage or over-voltage condition. Furthermore, the transmission provider must coordinate the small generating facilityâs protective equipment settings with any automatic load shedding program (e.g., under-frequency load shedding, under-voltage load shedding). The specific ride through settings must be consistent with Good Utility Practice and any standards and guidelines applied by the transmission provider to other generating facilities on a comparable basis. These requirements will apply to new interconnection customers that execute or request the unexecuted filing of an SGIA on or after the effective date of this Final Rule. These requirements will also apply to existing interconnection customers that, pursuant to a new interconnection request, execute or request the unexecuted filing of a new or modified SGIA on or after the effective date of this Final Rule.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
18CFR35-28f.docx
Order 2006 (May 2005).pdf
Standardization of Small Generator Interconnection Agreements and Procedures