Grid Connections: Techs & Specs
March 11, 2006
London, Ontario
Bob Singh, Manager - Generation Connections

Presentation Focus: what you need to know and do to connect to Hydro One's distribution system

Renewable Generation includes:

• wind, solar, Bio-mass, Bio-gas, Bio-fuel, landfill gas, or water
• important part of Ontario's supply mix
• Hydro One initiatives in support of renewable energy:
  • connection policies, processes & requirements
  • working with government/OPA on RFP as well as Standard Offer Program issues
  • helping generation proponents with RFPs

Connection to Transmission or Distribution?

Transmission (Tx) 50 kV & higher

• Generator Must be Market Participant
• Requires IESO & Hydro One Assessments

Distribution (Dx) Under 50 kV

• Requires Hydro One (T & D) Assessment
• 110 MVA also requires IESO Assessment

Distribution System Code
Technical Process Contracts Costs
Generator Classification and Rating:

• Micro - </= 10 kW
• Small - </= 500 kW for system voltage < 15 kV; </= 1 MW for system voltage >/= 15 kv
• Mid-Size - < 10 MW
• Large - >/= 10 MW

Connecting Very Small Generators
Residential Installations (e.g. Solar Panels)

• Distribution Generator Connection Process still applies (less onerous)
• Main Requirements:
  • Isolation - Safety
  • Auto-shutdown Feature - Safety
  • ESA Approval - Safety
  • Metering

Connection of Small Renewable Facilities - Net Metering

• Our policies for connection made easy and customer friendly
• Program offers opportunity to lower electricity bills
  • residential, farm, and small business
• Focus is on small renewable generation technologies
  
  • solar, wind, biomass, up to 500 kW
    
• No assessments under 50kW
  
• Continue to look at ways to speed up assessments
• Hydro One's Net Metering Policy is available at: www.hyroonenetworks.com/en/electricity_updates/renewable_technologies/

Process: Distribution Generation Connection

• Customer Request
• Hydro One Connection Assessment (Tx & Dx)
• Hydro One Design & Estimate
• Approvals and Connection Cost Recovery Agreement
• Construct
• Test
• Connection

Timeline Obligations per DSC

• Initial Consultation
  • Small - 15 days
  • Mid-Sized - 15 days
  • Large - 15 days
• Connection Impact Assessment
  • Small - 60 days* (no exp./rein.), 90 days* (exp./rein.)
  • Mid-Sized - 60 days
  • Large - 90 days (includes ESO assess.)
• Estimate
  • Small - *Included in above
  • Mid-Sized - 90 days
  • Large - 90 days
• Total
  • Small - 75 days to 105 days
  • Mid-Sized - 165 days
  • Large - 195 days

Generator Obligations for Hydro One Cost

• Initial Consultation
  • Small - Free
  • Mid-Sized - Free
  • Large - Free
• Connection Impact Assessment
  • Small - $ 3K
  • Mid-Sized - $ 5K
  • Large - $ 6K (does not include IESO fee)
• Estimate
  • Estimate costs depend on the situation and vary from project to project

Who Plays a Part?

• Generator
  • Hydro One
  • OPA
  • Electrical Safety Authority
  • External Consultant
  • Ministry of Environment
    Ministry of Natural Resources
  • Municipal Government
  • OEB
  • IESO

Electrical Safety Authority & Generator Responsibilities

Ensure:

• Public Safety with Generation facility
• Safety of Generator's workers
• Protection of Generator's assets

Generator must design the facility to prevent any negative impact on the Hydro One system or other customers' electrical or communication equipment.

Hydro One Responsibilities

Ensure:

• Safety of Hydro One workers
• Protection of Hydro One assets
• No negative impact on Hydro One system and its customers (Security, PQ)
• Customer connection

Obligations consistent with:

• Market rules
• Applicable codes
• NPCC/NERC standards

To expedite connection of DGs, Hydro One has:

• Technical requirements in place to ensure safety, reliability, PQ and system integrity.
• Websites in place for Net Metering and Government & OPA projects (e.g., RFP's and Standard Offer Program) - provide helpful information on processes and activities involved
  
• Simple, customer friendly forms and templates have been created to expedite assessments and cost estimates
  
• Customer handout is available - provides an excellent overview of what is involved in connecting generation to the Hydro One grid.
  

Hydro One's other Initiatives to enable DG

• Current generation connection processes will be further streamlined
  
• Customer information package will include: simplified user-friendly forms and detailed templates for assessments, expedited studies and cost estimates
  
• Continue interacting with the Ontario Government, OPA, OEB, CSA and other stakeholder groups to ensure generation connections to the Hydro One grid are made in a consistent, timely and cost effective manner.

For you to keep in mind ...

• Hire a qualified consultant to assist you with the processes and technical requirements
• Involve all key players and provide them complete information
• Contact Hydro One early in the process