National Grid

Distributed Generation Seminar

Hopedale, MA

July 25, 2019

The Interconnection Process, Access Roads, and

Environmental Permitting

The information summarized in this Seminar for the convenience of customers is current as of April 18, 2019 and neither the slides nor related

recording should be relied on for a particular project. Customers are responsible for ensuring that they comply with all distributed generation

rules and regulations, including the distributed generation tariff, for their particular project.

Agenda

Welcome, Opening Remarks – Will Kern (10 min)

Interconnection Process (1 hour, 20 min)

Simplified Process – Margaret Campbell

Questions

Expedited Process – Eric Munzert

Questions

Standard Process – Priscilla Ndikwani and Andrea Agra

Questions

Access Roads– Will Kern (20 min)

Environmental Permitting– Laura Ernst and Lauren Peloquin (30 min)

Questions

Customer Meet and Greet with CEI Job Owners (30 min)

2

Safety Moment

Access Roads

When you are at an access road near a DG site,

be sure to know what the names of the streets are

near the sites

3

Simplified Review Process

Simplified Criteria

UL Listed (1741 SA), inverter based systems with power ratings of

15kW or less on a single phase service on a radial feed

UL Listed (1741 SA), inverter based systems with power ratings of

25kW or less on a three phase service on a radial feed.

The Simplified Process does not apply for:

Non-listed inverters or other generators (induction / synchronous /

asynchronous)

Aggregate generation capacity of listed inverters that exceed the above-

mentioned limits

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Interconnection Process Steps

Application

Simplified

Conditional Approval (to construct DG system)

Witness Test (completion package)

Authorization to Interconnect

https://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energyeff/4_interconnection-process.asp

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Simplified Review Path

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Simplified Process

Eligible Facilities Listed Small Inverter

Acknowledge Receipt of Application (3 days)

Review Application for Completeness 10 days

Complete Review of All Screens 15-20 days

Complete Supplemental Review (if needed) N/A

Complete Standard Process Initial Review N/A

Send Follow-on Studies Cost/Agreement N/A

Complete Impact Study (if needed) N/A

Complete Detailed Study (if needed) N/A

Send Executable AgreementDone. The agreement is part of the application.

Total Maximum Days 25 days (30 in the case of failure of Screen #5)

Construction Schedule Varied

Witness Test Within 10 days from receipt of the Certificate of Completion or by mutual agreement

Exception Policy for sub meter(s) location

if grouping of meters is not feasible

There are select cases in which grouping of the Company meters may not be feasible, such

as when a required DER sub-meter is:

located beyond the service equipment and the location of the service meter is remote

from the location of the DER point of interconnection to the premise electric system

connected to a supply side tap of a service where the existing meter is remote from the

structure and the tap location is at the structure.

The associated DER isolation disconnect (see ESB 756), when required, shall be located

adjacent to the sub-meter.

Labeling requirements for DER devices and utility meters shall apply in accordance with

ESB 756.

All other sections of ESB 750 section 7.0 apply as appropriate.

One line must include the distance between the service meter and the sub-meter

https://www9.nationalgridus.com/non_html/CM7512%20Meter%20Location.pdf

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Expedited Review Process

Expedited Criteria

Single phase customers with listed single-phase inverter based

systems with power ratings of >15 kW on a radial feed

Three phase customers with listed three-phase inverter based

systems with power ratings of >25kW on a radial feed

Any project that did not pass the Simplified process screens

Non-simplified projects that do not require an impact study

10

Interconnection Process Steps

Pre-Application (if 500 kW or greater)

Application

Expedited

Engineering Review

Supplemental Review

Conditional Approval (to construct DG system)

National Grid Construction

Witness Test (where applicable)

Completion Document Review and Meter Set

Authorization to Interconnect

https://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energyeff/4_interconnection-process.asp

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Expedited Review Path

If any screens are not passed, the

Company may require a

Supplemental Review

Agreement before providing an

Interconnection Service

Agreement

Key threshold: if aggregate

generation is less than 67%

of minimum load on the

feeder. Other screens review

voltage quality, reliability and

safety to reduce the potential

need for impact studies.

Relay control system must be well

defined to make supplemental

review easier.

Expedited

Eligible Facilities Listed Inverter DG

Acknowledge Receipt of Application(3 days)

Review Application for Completeness10 days

Complete Review of All Screens25 days

Complete Supplemental Review (if needed)20 days or Standard Process

Send Executable Agreement10 days

Total Maximum Days 45/65 days

Construction ScheduleVaried

Notice/ Witness TestWithin 10 days of receiving Certificate of

Completion or by mutual agreement

12

Common Errors in Completion

Documents

For most expedited applications a “Commissioning Memo”

on a company letterhead is provided in lieu of Witness Test.

Commissioning test should consist of the following:

1. 2 second shutdown when disconnect open test.

2. 5 minutes before restart when disconnect is closed test.

3. Confirm system matches As-built (include most recent revision

date of as built provided)

4. List the inverter relay frequency (Hz) and trip time settings.

13

Common Errors in Completion

Documents

As Built: Must be PE stamped, and signed/ dated by person

that performed the commissioning test. (Signature date

should match date of test.)

Pictures: Meter picture should show permanent plaque

(visible at eye level) that includes a warning about generator

installed.

Pictures: If the AC utility disconnect switch is not grouped

with and adjacent to the utility revenue meter, then a

permanent plaque (visible at eye level) that clearly identifies

the location of the AC utility disconnect is required.

14

Common Errors in Completion

Documents

Pictures: Projects participating in the SMART program

require additional plaques that identify the different meters.

Plaques shall read as follows.

Utility Service Meter

Utility PV Generation Meter

Utility Storage Meter

Pictures: If the PCC is at a pad mounted service transformer

a permanent plaque (visible at eye level located on the right

door of the transformer) that includes a warning about the

generator is required.

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Common Errors in Completion

Documents

Evidence of insurance is required for all projects > 60kW in

MA and >50kW in RI. Refer to the ISA and Interconnection

Tariff for insurance requirements.

Qualifying Facility documents

Schedule A (P-Rate) required for all QF projects.

W9 (Only for projects >60kW)

ACH (Only for projects >60kW)

Supplier Enrollment Form (Only for projects >60kW)

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Metering Reminder

Projects greater than 60kW in MA and greater than 25kW in

RI require interval metering (Wireless or phone line).

National Grid needs a 4G wireless signal test on a Verizon

network in order to provide wireless metering.

Phone lines must be dedicated and terminated at the meter

location. Line must be 100% copper. Fiber lines will not

communicate properly.

These meters are long lead time items and prep time can be

6-8 weeks, so it is important to work through this with your

job owner well in advance of when you intend to seek

Authority to Interconnect.

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Standard Review Process

Pre-Application

Necessary for all cases 500 kW or greater

Pre-application report returned to customer with in 10 Business Days

Customer provides contact information, facility location, generation type

including size, phase and service configuration.

Customer also provides information on existing service/new service or

upgrade, stand alone or site max and min electric loads if available.

National Grid provides circuit information including agg DG (connected

and not connected) on circuit , phase, network/radial and potential

system constraints

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Application

Application

Required for all projects

Application review to be completed with 10 Business Days

Application Review

Application fee, Billing account, system size, assets , application roles

Account location, incentive, program, meter fee

Application form, site plan, line diagram, tech sheet, legal document

Additional information for battery storage, Curtailment letter,

Anti-Islanding Letter (> 500kW), Prove Site Control

20

Screening

Required for expedited and standard projects

Screening review to be completed with 25 Business Days

Is PCC on a radial/Network system?

Is facility using UL1741 listed or UL1741 SA certified inverter

Is the Facility power rating< 15kW Single-phase or <25kW three phase?

Is the Service Configuration Screen Met?

Risk of Islanding screen met?

Substation back-feed screen met?

If any screens are not passed, the Company may require a Supplemental Review

Agreement or Impact study before providing an Interconnection Service Agreement

Key threshold: if aggregate generation is less than 67% of minimum load on the feeder.

Other screens review voltage quality, reliability and safety to reduce the potential need

for impact studies.

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Standard Criteria

Applies to:

Projects that require Distribution System Impact Study (DSIS)

Large-scale DG projects

Generally greater than 500 kW but project specific

DG projects requiring system modifications at the substation level

Non-listed inverters or generators other than PV:

Induction, Synchronous, Asynchronous

Most CHP systems

All projects that do not qualify for the Simplified or Expedited process

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Interconnection Process Steps

Pre-Application

Note that we now include notice of ISO-NE approval required for all applications that are

greater than 1MW in size. This approval can be in response to Generator Notification Form

(PP5-1) or Proposed Plan Application (PPA) submittals. These approvals and associated

processes will introduce delays into the Distributed Generation Interconnection Process.

Application

Standard

Engineering Review

Impact Study/Detailed Study

Conditional Approval (to construct DG system)

National Grid Construction

Witness Test

Authorization to Interconnect

https://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energyeff/4_interconnection-process.asp

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Standard Review Path

Standard

Eligible Facilities Any DG

Acknowledge Receipt of Application (3 days)

Review Application for Completeness 10 days

Complete Standard Process Initial Review 20 days

Send Impact Study Agreement 5 days

Complete Impact Study55 – 60 days, or by mutual agreement depending on complexity

Complete Detailed Study (if needed)30 – 60 days, or by mutual agreement depending on complexity

Send Executable Agreement (ISA) 15 days

Total Maximum Days 135/160 days (200 days for Standard Complex)

Construction Schedule Varied

Witness Test

10 days from the Company’s approval of WT procedures or by

mutual agreement

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Standard Review Path

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Impact Study will determine the level of impact on the Company’s EPS, and the required system

modifications

Impact and Detailed Study (if applicable) will determine System Modifications required and cost

(Risk of Islanding)

ISO-NE Generator Notification Process will be required for applications that are greater than and

equal to 1MW but less than 5MW (i.e. PP5-1 or GNF), and a Proposed Plan Application (PPA)

along with supporting Transmission System Impact Study (TSIS) will be required for applications

5MW or greater in size, single or potentially in aggregate. Size of project based on nameplate

rating of system.

These requirements will add time to the DG Interconnection Process. The DSIS will be placed

on hold until the ISO-NE approval or determination is known, likely at a point during the study

process.

Interconnection Service Agreement (ISA) provided after study completed or an Early ISA could

be requested if Detailed Study is required

If substation modifications required, Company has 60 BD for study (MDPU 1320 – pg. 50) or by

mutual agreement if estimated construction cost greater than $1 million.

Access Roads

Purpose & Place within

Construction

Access roads are required for safe access to National Grid

equipment on customer’s property

Indicated in Site Plan, built before Design completed

All town requirements will also need to be adhered to

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Construction Standards

Existing and proposed Access road(s) including, at a minimum, the

access road shall be at minimum width 18ft, with a gradient of at

most 8%.

Provide turnaround area that enables vehicles to exit without

backing up where possible.

Road must be accessible by NG bucket trucks at all times.

Access roads must be made of material that will not allow trucks to

be interfered with by mud, snow, or other environmental factors.

If gate needs to be locked, will require it to be “double locked”

using at utility-owned lock.

Vegetation along road should be maintained to allow access to

utility-owned poles and equipment.

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Environmental Permitting

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Interconnection questions can be directed to –

Distributed.Generation@nationalgrid.com

Case-specific questions can be directed to your respective CEI

Job Owner

Questions

Appendix: Summary of Resources,

Documents, and Links

Distributed Generation Website –

https://www9.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energyeff/distribut

ed_generation.asp

Interconnection Process Resources –

https://www9.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energyeff/4_interc

onnection-process.asp

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