POLICY NO. 614
I. SUBJECT: DISTRIBUTED GENERATION POLICY
a. Policy
Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (herein after referred to as “Cobb EMC” or the “Cooperative”) commits to safely delivering reliable, competitively priced electricity while being accountable to our Member-owners through sound governance, management, operating practices and improving the quality of life in our local communities. In some cases, Cooperative Members may choose to install their own electric power generation equipment. In these cases, Cobb EMC stands ready to work with its Members to ensure that their generation equipment is installed in a manner consistent with this policy. Members will also need to coordinate the installation and approval of their electric power generator facilities with the local code inspection authority to ensure compliance with all applicable codes, standards, regulations, and laws.
This policy outlines the minimum requirements for Members, from the Cobb EMC distribution system protection and operations perspective. Such generators can be described by several different names: distribution generator, independent power producer, co-generator, or peak shaver. Cobb EMC will refer to all of these types of generators as Distributed Generation (DG). DG as described in this policy is a source of electric power that is directly connected to the distribution system and not the bulk power transmission system.
This policy is applicable only to DG facilities defined herein. The interconnection of other generators to Cobb EMC’s distribution system will be addressed with each Member on a case-by-case basis. This policy is not applicable to generation intended strictly for emergency backup, open transfer peak shaving, or any other stand-alone operations where DG is never tied directly with Cobb EMC’s distribution system.
This Distributed Generation Policy establishes the terms and conditions for the application process, interconnection, provision of energy metering services, excess energy purchases, and net metering.
b. Definitions
Capitalized terms used in this policy document have the meanings given below or elsewhere in the policy document, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
“Bi-Directional Meter” is a meter capable of measuring (but not necessarily displaying) electricity flow in both directions.
“Bi-Directional Metering” means measuring the amount of electricity supplied by the Cooperative and the amount of electricity fed back to the Cooperative by the Member’s Distributed Generation Facility using a single meter.
“Billing Period” means, as to a particular Member, the time period between the dates on which the Cooperative normally reads the retail service meter for billing purposes.
“Distributed Generation Facility” means a facility owned and operated by a Member Generator for the production of electrical energy that:
(1) generates electrical energy from a Renewable Energy Source, energy storage system, fuel cell, or other generating method;
(2) has a peak generating capacity of (i) not more than 10 kW for residential application and 100 kW for commercial application and (ii) not more than the rated capacity of the distribution equipment used by the Cooperative to serve the Member’s facility;
(3) is located on premises leased or owned by the Member;
(4) operates in parallel with the Cooperative’s distribution facilities;
(5) is connected to the Cooperative’s distribution system on either side of the Cooperative’s retail service meter; and
(6) is intended for use as defined in the application by the Member.
“Excess Net Energy” is the positive difference between the electricity generated by the Member’s Distributed Generation Facility and the electricity consumed by the Member Generator during the Billing Period.
“Lessee” means a Member Generator who has a Solar Energy Procurement Agreement (as defined in the Georgia “Solar Power Free-Market Financing Act of 2015”) with a solar financing agent.
“Member” means a Member of Cobb EMC.
“Member Generator” means a Member who is the lessee or owner and operator of a Distributed Generation Facility.
“Renewable Energy Sources” means energy supplied from technologies such as a solar photovoltaic system, wind turbine, biomass system, or other technologies approved in the Georgia Green Pricing Accreditation Program.
c. Application Process
A prospective Member Generator that intends to interconnect with the Cooperative’s distribution system must submit a completed Application for Interconnection of Distributed Generation Facility (see Exhibit 1), including all attachments thereto, along with payment of a $100.00 application fee to the Cooperative at least thirty (30) days prior to the date the Member intends to interconnect the Distributed Generation Facility to the Cooperative’s electric distribution facilities.
Following receipt of a complete application and application fee, a representative from the Cooperative will review the application and notify the prospective Member Generator within thirty (30) days if the application is accepted or not accepted. Review or acceptance of the application by the Cooperative does not impose any liability and does not convey any warranty or certification that the Member Generator’s equipment that is the subject of the application is adequate or approved by the Cooperative to perform as intended by Member Generator. The Cooperative disclaims any expertise or special knowledge relating to the design or performance of Member’s Distributed Generation Facility and does not warrant the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, safety, durability, or reliability of the Distributed Generation Facility that is the subject of the Application.
d. Requirements for Initial Interconnection
A Member Generator may begin operation of the Distributed Generation Facility on an interconnected basis when each of the following is completed, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Cooperative:
(1) The Application Process set forth in Section d. above is complete.
(2) The Member has executed a Distributed Generation Facility Interconnection Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 2 or Exhibit 3, as applicable, with the Cooperative and is in compliance with all requirements set forth therein.
(3) The Member is in compliance with the requirements established by the National Electric Code, National Electric Safety Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories, and other safety, power quality, and interconnection requirements as the Cooperative may adopt, from time to time.
(4) The Member Generator has paid the Cooperative all applicable charges and fees set forth in the Distributed Generation Facility Interconnection Agreement, including any costs associated with installation of a Bi-Directional Meter.
(5) The Member Generator has made all payments required by and has otherwise complied with the conditions for extension or modification of the Cooperative’s distribution system to allow for interconnection, as may be determined herein and as set forth in the Cooperative’s service rules and regulations.
(6) The Member Generator has submitted to the Cooperative a copy of the final, signed, jurisdictional approval (Permit) for the Member’s Distributed Generation Facility from the local government entity with jurisdiction over the Member’s Distributed Generation Facility (generally the local building and inspection department), or proof that inspection has been made in the form of an inspection sticker at the Member Generator’s premise.
e. Metering
The Cooperative will use a single Bi-Directional Meter to measure the electricity generated for each Distributed Generation Facility that interconnects with the company’s distribution system on or after July 1, 2015.
f. Energy Purchases
When the electricity generated by the Member Generator’s Distributed Generation Facility exceeds the electricity supplied by the Cooperative during the Billing Period, the Member Generator shall receive a bill credit for the Excess Net Energy pursuant to the Cooperative’s Distributed Generation Service Schedule, DG-1.
g. Charges for Interconnection and Net Metering
The Member Generator shall be responsible for all costs of installing, owning, testing, operating and maintaining protective equipment and/or electrical facilities located before the point of interconnection and required to interconnect the Member’s generation equipment with the System and for providing metering service. In addition, the Member Generator shall be charged for the direct costs incurred by the Cooperative, including for any interconnection facilities installed by the Cooperative to allow for the interconnection and to provide metering service. These charges will be determined in accordance with the Cooperative’s Distributed Generation Service Schedule, DG-1.
h. Exhibits
Application for Interconnection of Distributed Generation Facility--------------------------- Exhibit 1
Distributed Generation Facility Interconnection Agreement (<10kW)------------------------ Exhibit 2
Distributed Generation Facility Interconnection Agreement (10-100kW)-------------------- Exhibit 3
Adopted: January 22, 2008
Revised August 26, 2014
Revised June 30, 2015
Revised February 26, 2019: Section A., Number 7(b): Added State Law Requirements
Revised June 2, 2020 Sections 7, a, b, e: Added language to reflect new interconnection policies. Added additional Exhibit 3 for commercial interconnection agreement. See File “Overview of interconnection changes” for additional revision notes.
