PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 3265, HARRISBURG, PA17105-3265 / IN REPLY PLEASE REFER TO OUR FILE
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January 10, 2017
M-2016-2580492
AMY HIRAKIS ESQ
PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION
TWO NORTH NINTH ST
ALLENTOWN PA 18101
Re:Interconnection Agreement between PPL Electric Utilities Corporation and Dickinson College
Docket No. M-2016-2580492
Dear Ms. Hirakis:
On December 21, 2016, PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL) submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Commission) a proposed Interconnection Agreement between PPL and Dickinson College pursuant to 52 Pa.Code § 75.13(a)(5), which was supplemented with PPL’s responses to staff data requests(the “Application”). Pursuant to 52Pa.Code § 75.17, which describes the process for obtaining Commission approval of customer-generator status for net metered alternative energy systems with a nameplate capacity of 500 kW and greater, PPL included in its filing itsReview and Recommendation of Eligibility for Net Metering Application in which PPL recommends the Commission approve the Application.
The Bureau of Technical Utility Services is authorized to review and issue a determination following PPL’ssubmission recommending approval of a net metering application under 52 Pa. Code § 75.17(e). For the reasons discussed below, the Commission approves the Application.
PPL’s customer, Dickinson College, intends to install a 3 megawatt (MW) solar project at 1250 Ritner Highway, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The proposed Dickinson College solar project will be a third-party installation with a nameplate generating capacity equal to but not greater than 3 MW. The estimated annual generation from the solar project will be 4,965,170 kilowatt-hours (kWh) which is less than the 13,541,520 kWh of estimated annual combined load of all meters requested by Dickinson College for virtual meter aggregation. Accordingly, this solar project is estimated to net meter approximately 37% of the estimated load of Dickinson College’s aggregated meters, which is less than the maximum threshold of 110% for third-party owned and operated systems.[1]
Staff recognizes that Section 75.17 recently became effective and the instant Application was PPL’s first submission under it. Staff hereby notifies PPL that the Interconnection Application between PPL and Dickinson College submitted in the Application is insufficient to act as the net metering application required by the net metering rider in PPL’s tariff. See Electric Pa.P.U.C. No. 201, pages 19L.2-19L.4A. In particular, on page 19L.4, the tariff states “APPLICATION Customer-generators seeking to receive service under the provisions of this Rider mustsubmit a written application to the Company demonstrating compliance with the Net Metering Riderprovisions and quantifying the total rated generating capacity of the customer-generator facility.” In addition, PPL’s recommendation form, Review and Recommendation for Eligibility for Net Metering, could be improved to better demonstrate to Commission staff the customer’s compliance with PPL’s net metering rider provisions and Chapter 75 of the Commission’s regulations. See 52 Pa.Code §75.17(b). As the Application is PPL’s first submission under Section 75.17 we believe these deficiencies should not preclude staff’s approval of the instant Application. We request PPL to work with staff to revise its forms and applications to fully comply with Section 75.17 in its future submissions.
Accordingly, the Bureau of Technical Utility Services determines that PPL’s Application for the Dickinson College solar project complies with 52 Pa.Code Chap. 75 and PPL’s tariff. The approval contained in this Secretarial Letter is limited to the public utility, customer and alternative energy system specifications contained in the submission. Any change of customer or modification of any of the specifications of the alternative energy system described in the Application will require the filing of a new application.
Petitions for appeal from this Secretarial Lettermust be filed within 20 days after service of this Secretarial Letter in accordance with 52 Pa. Code § 5.44.[2]
Sincerely,
Rosemary Chiavetta
Secretary
cc:Dickinson College
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[1]See Net Metering – Use of Third Party Operators, Final Order at Docket No. M20112249441, entered March 29, 2012.
[2]52 Pa. Code § 75.17(g).