Ariz. Admin. Code § R14-2-2621 - Utility Site Inspection; Approval for Parallel Operation

A. Once an Application is approved for Interconnection:

1. If the Utility has not received an executed Interconnection Agreement, the Utility shall send to the Customer, within seven calendar days after the notice of Application approval, the appropriate Interconnection Agreement for review and signature;

2. If required, the Customer shall submit to the Utility a copy of the final electrical clearance for the Generating Facility issued by the authority having jurisdiction;

3. The Customer shall submit all necessary supplemental documents as specified by the Utility; and

4. A site inspection shall be performed if deemed necessary by the Utility or requested by the Customer.

B. Within seven calendar days after a site inspection is deemed necessary by the Utility, or requested by the Customer, the Utility shall perform a site inspection for which it may charge a fee, if a tariff containing such a fee is approved for the Utility by the Commission. During a site inspection, the Utility shall verify at least the following:

1. The Generating Facility is in compliance with all applicable Interconnection and code requirements;

2. All Generating Facility equipment is properly labeled;

3. The Generating Facility system layout is in accordance with the plant location and site plans submitted to the Utility;

4. The inverter nameplate ratings are consistent with the information submitted to the Utility;

5. The Utility has unrestricted 24-hour access to the Utility-owned production meter and Disconnect Switch, and the Disconnect Switch meets all applicable requirements;

6. The inverter shuts down as required upon simulated loss of Utility voltage; and

7. To the extent visible, the Generating Facility appears to be wired in accordance with the electrical diagrams submitted to the Utility.

C. The Utility shall install appropriate metering equipment, if required. The Utility may require the Customer to pay for the metering equipment, if a tariff containing such a fee is approved for the Utility by the Commission.

D. Within three calendar days of the completion of the site inspection and the receipt of all final applicable signed Interconnection documents, the Utility shall determine whether the Generating Facility meets all applicable requirements and shall notify the Customer that:

1. The Generating Facility is approved for Parallel Operation with the Distribution System per the agreed terms and conditions; or

2. The Generating Facility has failed the site inspection because it does not meet one or more of the applicable requirements, which shall be specified; the Generating Facility is not approved for Parallel Operation; and specified actions must be taken by the Customer to resolve the issue and to obtain approval for Parallel Operation.

E. If the Generating Facility fails the initial Utility site inspection:

1. The Applicant shall, within 30 calendar days of the initial site inspection, correct any outstanding issues and notify the Utility that all corrections have been made, or the Application may be deemed withdrawn unless alternative arrangements have been made by the Customer with the Utility; and

2. The Utility shall, within 14 calendar days of the Applicant notice of correction, perform a repeat inspection of the Generating Facility, for which the Utility may charge a fee, if a tariff containing such a fee is approved for the Utility by the Commission.

F. A Utility may take any reasonable actions, including locking open a Disconnect Switch, to prevent Parallel Operation for:

1. A Generating Facility that fails a site inspection; or

2. A Customer who operates a Generating Facility in parallel without Utility approval.

G. If a Customer does not interconnect a Generating Facility within 180 calendar days after Application approval, the Customer's Application may be considered withdrawn.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R14-2-2621

Adopted by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 473, effective 2/25/2020.