OAR 860-084-0280: Interconnection Cost Responsibility

(1) For a Level 1 interconnection review, the electric company may not charge an application, or other fee, unless otherwise directed by the Commission. However, if an application for Level 1 interconnection review is denied because it does not meet the requirements for Level 1 interconnection review and the applicant resubmits the application under another review procedure, the electric company may impose a fee for the resubmitted application. (2) For a Level 2 interconnection review, the electric company may charge fees of up to $50.00 plus $1.00 per kilowatt of the qualifying system's capacity, plus the reasonable cost of any required minor modifications to the electric distribution system or additional review. Costs for such minor modifications or additional review will be based on the electric company’s non-binding, good faith estimates and the ultimate actual installed costs. Costs for engineering work done as part of any additional review will not exceed $100.00 per hour. An electric company may adjust the $100.00 hourly rate once in January of each year to account for inflation and deflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. (3) For a Level 3 interconnection review, the electric company may charge fees of up to $100.00 plus $2.00 per kilowatt of the qualifying system’s capacity, as well as charges for actual time spent on any required impact or facilities studies. Costs for engineering work done as part of an impact study or interconnection facilities study will not exceed $100.00 per hour. An electric company may adjust the $100.00 hourly rate once in January of each year to account for inflation and deflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. If the electric company must install facilities in order to accommodate the interconnection of the qualifying system, the cost of such facilities will be the responsibility of the applicant. (4) Interconnected net metered systems must be equipped with two meters: metering equipment that can measure the flow of electricity in both directions (complying with ANSI C12.1 standards and OAR 860-023-0015) to replace the existing customer meter, and a second meter that can measure the total output of the qualifying system. Interconnected stand-alone systems using the bidding process must be equipped with metering equipment that can measure the flow of electricity in both directions (complying with ANSI C12.1 standards and OAR 860-023-0015). The electric company will install the required metering equipment at the electric company’s expense for both the net metered and stand-alone system. (a) The electric company constructs, owns, operates, and maintains all meters and applicable interconnection facilities on the company side of the retail electric consumer’s meter, including, the second meter installed to measure the total output of the qualifying system. (b) The electric company must charge an additional monthly service charge to the retail electricity customer for the additional meter used to measure the total output of the qualifying system, as established by Commission order. (5) An eligible participant who is reinstalling a contracted system and is eligible to continue in the solar photovoltaic pilot program under an existing standard contract must pay the expense of interconnection facilities, required additions or modifications to the electric distribution system, interconnection review, or system upgrades in the new location as applicable.