Iowa Code r. 199-45.4 - [Effective until 7/16/2025] Interconnection requests

(1) Applicants seeking to interconnect a distributed generation facility shall submit an interconnection request to the utility that owns the electric distribution system to which interconnection is sought. Applicants shall identify in the application if they are representing a group of customers that are located in the same vicinity and whether the application requires a group interconnection study. Applicants shall use the commission-approved interconnection request forms and agreements that are provided on the commission's website, iuc.iowa.gov.

(2) Preapplication request. Applicants may request a preapplication report from the utility using the following process:

a. The utility shall designate an employee or office from which information on the application process and on the affected system can be obtained through an informal request from the applicant presenting a proposed project for a specific site, which may include multiple proposed individual interconnections in close proximity and related to one project, such as a residential or commercial development proposing rooftop solar on each premises or a multiturbine wind project. The name, telephone number, and email address of such contact employee or office shall be made available on the utility's website. Electric system information provided to the applicant should include, to the extent such provision does not violate confidentiality provisions of prior agreements or critical infrastructure requirements, relevant, available system studies, interconnection studies, and other materials useful for gaining an understanding of an interconnection at a particular point on the utility's electric distribution system. The utility shall comply with reasonable requests for such information.

b. In addition to the information described in paragraph 45.4(2)"a," which may be provided in response to an informal request, an applicant may submit a formal written request form along with a nonrefundable fee of $300 for a preapplication report on a proposed project at a specific site. The utility shall provide the preapplication data described in paragraph 45.4(2)"a" to the applicant within 20 business days of receipt of the completed request form and payment of the $300 fee. The preapplication report produced by the utility is nonbinding, it does not confer any rights, and the applicant must still successfully apply to interconnect to the utility's system. The written preapplication report request form shall include the following information to clearly and sufficiently identify the location of the proposed point of interconnection:

(1) Proposed distributed generation facility owner's contact information, including name, address, telephone number, and email address.

(2) Project location (street address with nearby cross streets and name of town).

(3) Meter number, pole number, or other equivalent information identifying the proposed point of interconnection, if available.

(4) Generator type (e.g., solar, wind, combined heat and power).

(5) Size (alternating current kW).

(6) Single or three-phase generator configuration.

(7) Stand-alone generator (whether or not there is an onsite load, not including station service).

(8) Whether or not new service is requested. If there is existing service, include the customer account number, site minimum and maximum current or proposed electric loads in kW (if available) and specify if the load is expected to change.

c. Using the information provided in the preapplication report request form in paragraph 45.4(2)"b," the utility will identify the substation/area bus, bank or circuit likely to serve the proposed point of interconnection. This selection by the utility does not necessarily indicate, after application of the screens or study or both, that this would be the circuit to which the distributed generation facility ultimately will be connected or that interconnection will occur. The applicant must request additional preapplication reports if information about multiple points of interconnection is requested. Subject to paragraph 45.4(2)"d" and other confidentiality concerns identified by the utility, the preapplication report will include the following information:

(1) Total capacity (in MW) of substation/area bus, bank or circuit based on normal or operating ratings likely to serve the proposed point of interconnection.

(2) Existing aggregate generation capacity (in MW) interconnected to a substation/area bus, bank or circuit (i.e., amount of generation online) likely to serve the proposed point of interconnection.

(3) Aggregate queued generation capacity (in MW) for a substation/area bus, bank or circuit (i.e., amount of generation in the queue) likely to serve the proposed point of interconnection.

(4) Available capacity (in MW) of substation/area bus or bank and circuit likely to serve the proposed point of interconnection (i.e., total capacity less the sum of existing aggregate generation capacity and aggregate queued generation capacity).

(5) Substation nominal distribution voltage or transmission nominal voltage or both if applicable.

(6) Nominal distribution circuit voltage at the proposed point of interconnection.

(7) Approximate circuit distance between the proposed point of interconnection and the substation.

(8) Actual or estimated peak load and minimum load data, including daytime minimum load and absolute minimum load, when applicable, for relevant line sections.

(9) Number and rating of protective devices and number and type (standard, bi-directional) of voltage-regulating devices between the proposed point of interconnection and the substation/area and whether or not the substation has a load tap changer.

(10) Number of phases available at the proposed point of interconnection. If it is a single phase, distance from the three-phase circuit.

(11) Limiting conductor ratings from the proposed point of interconnection to the distribution substation.

(12) Whether the point of interconnection is located on a spot network, grid network, or radial supply.

(13) Based on the proposed point of interconnection, existing or known constraints such as, but not limited to, electrical dependencies at that location, short-circuit interrupting capacity issues, power quality or stability issues on the circuit, capacity constraints, or secondary networks.

d. The preapplication report need only include existing data. A preapplication report request does not obligate the utility to conduct a study or other analysis of the proposed generator in the event that data is not readily available. If the utility cannot complete all or some of the preapplication report due to lack of available data, the utility shall provide the applicant with a preapplication report that includes the data that is available. The provision of information on "available capacity" pursuant to subparagraph 45.4(2)"c"(4) does not imply that an interconnection up to this level may be completed without impacts since there are many variables studied as part of the interconnection review process and data provided in the preapplication report may become outdated at the time of the submission of the complete interconnection request. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this subrule, the utility shall, in good faith, include data in the preapplication report that represents the best available information at the time of reporting.

(3) Utilities shall specify the fee by level that the applicant shall remit to process the interconnection request. The fee shall be specified in the interconnection request forms. The utilities shall not charge more than the fees as specified below:

a. Level 1 - $125 application fee and up to an additional $125 if the utility performs a witness test as specified in subrule 45.5(10).

b. Level 2 - $250 application fee plus $1 per kVA and up to an additional $125 if the utility performs a witness test as specified in subrule 45.5(10).

c. Level 3 - $500 application fee plus $2 per kVA.

d. Level 4 - $1,000 application fee plus $2 per kVA.

(4) Interconnection requests may be submitted electronically, if agreed to by the parties.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 199-45.4

ARC 8859B, IAB 6/16/10, effective 7/21/10; ARC 2917C, IAB 1/18/17, effective 2/22/17; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 7/24/24

ARC 8859B, lAB 6/16/10, effective 7/21/10 Amended by IAB January 18, 2017/Volume XXXIX, Number 15, effective 2/22/2017 Editorial change: IAC Supplement 7/24/2024