N.M. Admin. Code § 17.9.568.17

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 17.9.568.17 - SUPPLEMENTAL REVIEW

A.Agreeing to supplemental review: To accept the offer of a supplemental review, the applicant shall agree in writing and submit a $2,500 fee for the review, both within 15 business days of the offer. If the written agreement and deposit have not been received by the utility within that timeframe, the interconnection application shall continue to be evaluated under the detailed study process unless it is withdrawn by the applicant.

B.Supplemental review screens: The utility shall evaluate the interconnection application using the following supplemental review screens.

(1)Minimum gross load screen: Where 12 months of line section minimum load data (including onsite load but not station service load served by the proposed generating facility) are available, can be calculated, can be estimated from existing data, or determined from a power flow model, the aggregate export capacity on the line section is less than one hundred percent of the gross minimum load for all line sections bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices upstream of the proposed generating facility. If minimum load data is not available, or cannot be calculated, estimated or determined, the utility shall include the reason(s) that it is unable to calculate, estimate or determine minimum load in its supplemental review results notification. After December 31, 2023 utility should have minimum load data for all circuits.

(a) The type of generation used by the proposed generating facility will be taken into account when calculating, estimating, or determining circuit or line section minimum load relevant for the application of Subsection B of 17.9.568.17 NMAC. Solar photovoltaic (pv) generation systems with no battery storage use daytime minimum load (i.e. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for fixed panel systems and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for pv systems utilizing tracking systems), while all other generation uses absolute minimum load.

(b) When this screen is being applied to a generating facility that serves some station service load, only the net injection into the electric system will be considered as part of the aggregate export capacity.

(c) Utility will not consider as part of the aggregate export capacity generation for purposes of this screen generating facility export capacity known to be already reflected in the minimum load data

(2)Voltage and power quality screen: In aggregate with existing generation on the line section:

(a) the voltage regulation on the line section can be maintained in compliance with relevant requirements under all system conditions;

(b) the voltage fluctuation is within acceptable limits as defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 1453, or utility practice similar to IEEE Standard 1453; and (3) the harmonic levels meet IEEE Standard 519 limits. If the generating facility limits export pursuant to 17.9.568.12 NMAC, the export capacity instead of nameplate rating must be utilized in any analysis including power flow simulations.

(3)Safety and reliability screen: The location of the proposed generating facility and the aggregate export capacity on the line section do not create impacts to safety or reliability that cannot be adequately addressed without application of the detailed study process. If the generating facility limits export pursuant to 17.9.568.12 NMAC, the export capacity must be included in any analysis including power flow simulations, except when assessing fault current contribution. To assess fault current contribution, the analysis must use the rated fault current; for example, the customer may provide manufacturer test data (pursuant to the fault current test described in IEEE 1547.1-2020 clause 5.18) showing that the fault current is independent of the nameplate rating. The utility shall give due consideration to the following and other factors in determining potential impacts to safety and reliability in applying this screen.

(a) whether the line section has significant minimum loading levels dominated by a small number of customers (e.g., several large commercial customers);

(b) whether the loading along the line section is uniform or even;

(c) whether the proposed generating facility is located in close proximity to the substation (i.e., less than 2.5 electrical circuit miles), and whether the line section from the substation to the point of interconnection is a mainline rated for normal and emergency ampacity;

(d) whether the proposed generating facility incorporates a time delay function to prevent reconnection of the generator to the system until system voltage and frequency are within normal limits for a prescribed time;

(e) whether operational flexibility is reduced by the proposed generating facility, such that transfer of the line section(s) of the generating facility to a neighboring distribution circuit/substation may trigger overloads or voltage issues;

(f) whether the proposed generating facility employs equipment or systems certified by a recognized standards organization to address technical issues such as, but not limited to, islanding, reverse power flow, or voltage quality.

C.Supplemental review screening results: Within 20 business days of an applicant's election to undergo supplemental review, the utility shall perform supplemental review using the screens set forth above and notify the customer of the results.

(1)Failed screens and option to revise interconnection application: If the proposed interconnection fails any of the supplemental review screens, the utility shall specify which screens the interconnection application failed, including the technical reason for failure, and the data and the analysis supporting the supplemental review. The utility shall provide information and detail about the specific system threshold or limitation causing the interconnection application to fail the screen. If the applicant chooses to amend the interconnection application to address the specific failed screens, the applicant must submit an updated interconnection application demonstrating the redesign within 10 business days after receiving the screen results. The redesign shall only include changes to address the screen failures or identified upgrades (which could include, for example, the addition of DC-coupled or AC-coupled energy storage). Increases in export capacity or changes in point of interconnection are not permitted and shall require the interconnection application to be withdrawn and resubmitted. The utility will evaluate whether the redesign addresses the screen failure and notify the applicant of the results of this evaluation within 10 business days. This redesign option to mitigate impacts shall only be available one time during the supplemental review process. If the applicant does not amend or withdraw its interconnection application within 10 business days of receiving results, it shall continue to be evaluated under the detailed study process consistent with Subsection A of 17.9.568.18 NMAC below.

(2)Approval:

(a) If the proposed interconnection passes the supplemental screens above and does not require construction of facilities by the utility on its own system, the interconnection agreement shall be provided within 10 business days after the notification of the supplemental review results unless the provisions in Paragraph (2) of Subsection D of 17.9.568.17 NMAC apply.

(b) If interconnection facilities or minor modifications to the utility's system are required for the proposed interconnection to pass the supplemental screens above, the interconnection agreement, along with a non-binding good faith estimate for the interconnection facilities or minor modifications, shall be provided to the applicant within 15 business days after receiving written notification of the supplemental review results.

(c) If the proposed interconnection would require more than interconnection facilities or minor modifications to the utility's system to pass the supplemental screens above, the utility shall notify the applicant, at the same time it notifies the applicant with the supplemental review results, that the interconnection application shall be evaluated under the detailed study process unless the applicant withdraws its interconnection application.

(d) If a utility's transmission service agreement requires that it notify the transmission provider of interconnections (of any size or beyond a specific threshold as specified in the transmission service agreement), the utility shall provide the notice to the transmission provider immediately after it has applied the supplemental review screens. If the transmission provider determines that it does not need to conduct a further analysis of transmission system impacts, the utility shall provide the interconnection agreement to the customer within three business days of receiving the transmission provider's determination. If the transmission provider does require further analysis, the utility shall coordinate with the interconnection applicant and the transmission provider to ensure such analysis is conducted in a timely manner. If the transmission provider determines that there are impacts that require upgrades, the utility shall follow the detailed study process in 17.9.568.18 NMAC for providing the customer with an interconnection agreement.

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.9.568.17

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 03, February 14, 2023, eff. 2/14/2023