Oregon

Only for Oregon Distribution or QF up to 10 MW

 

Pre-Application Process:

In accordance with section 860-082-0020 of Oregon Administrative Rules, PacifiCorp has designated that information can be obtained regarding the small generator interconnection process, the appropriate portion of the electric system, and affected systems by submitting a request to the appropriate PacifiCorp Representative. When submitting your request, please provide the following information:
  • Description of facility including maximum aggregate nameplate MW rating for the proposed generation facility.
  • Location of planned facility by GPS coordinates in degrees, minutes, seconds and including nearest cross streets and city.
  • Summary of information looking to obtain.

Please follow the link to review the specific pre-application process and technical information that will be required: OGI-OBP1 (PDF)

OGI-Pre-Application-Agreement (PDF)

Please follow link to view required deposits: DGI-Study-Deposit-Matrix (PDF)
 
PacifiCorp will comply with all reasonable requests to the extent possible. 
 
The customer has the option of interconnecting at four different tier levels:
Tier 1
(1) A public utility must use the Tier 1 review procedures for an application to
interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following requirements:
(a) The small generator facility must use lab-tested, inverter-based interconnection
equipment;
(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of 25 kilowatts or
less; and
(c) The small generator facility must not be interconnected to a transmission line.
 

Application

Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:
  • original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
  • application deposit $100.
  • demonstration of site control.
Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the applicant and the person/company owning the property that gives the applicant the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.
 
 

Interconnection Study

The public utility verifies that the Small Generating Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the screens contained in the Tier 1 Process in the Oregon Generator Interconnection Procedures (OGIP). Please refer to section 860-082-0045 of the OAR.
  • Once the scope of the study has been defined the utility will request a study deposit from the customer.
  • The study will take fifteen (15) Business Days to complete.
  • The estimated cost to complete the study is$3,000 - $7,000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced / refunded upon completion of the study.
Should the customer fail the study, they must resubmit their application under Tier 2, 3, or 4 rules.

 

Interconnection Agreement

After passing the Tier 1 interconnection study, an interconnection agreement will be submitted to interconnection customer.
 
Tier 2

(1) A public utility must use the Tier 2 interconnection review procedures for an application to interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following requirements:

(a) The small generator facility does not qualify for or failed to meet the Tier 1
interconnection review requirements;
(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of two megawatts
or less;
(c) The small generator facility must be interconnected to either a radial
distribution circuit or a spot network distribution circuit limited to serving one
customer;
(d) The small generator facility must not be interconnected to a transmission line;
and
(e) The small generator facility must use interconnection equipment that is either
lab-tested equipment or field-tested equipment. For equipment to gain status as field tested
equipment, the applicant must provide all the documentation from the prior
Tier 4 study, review, and approval, including any interconnection studies and the
certificate of completion.
 

Application

Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:
  • original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
  • application deposit $500.
  • demonstration of site control.
Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the applicant and the person/company owning the property that gives the applicant the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.
 
 

Study

The public utility verifies that the Small Generating Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the screens contained in the Tier 2 Process in the Oregon Generator Interconnection Procedures (OGIP). Please refer to section 860-082-0050 of the OAR.
  • Once the scope of the study has been defined the utility will request a study deposit from the customer. 
  • The study will take fifteen (15) Business Days to complete.
  • The estimated cost to complete the study is $3,000 - $7,000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced / refunded upon completion of the study.
Should the customer fail the study, they must resubmit their application under Tier 3 or 4 rules
 

Interconnection Agreement

After passing the Tier 2 study, an interconnection agreement will be submitted to interconnection customer.
 
Tier 3
(1) A public utility must use the Tier 3 interconnection review procedures for an
application to interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following
requirements:
 
(a) The small generator facility does not qualify for or failed to meet the Tier 1 or
Tier 2 interconnection review requirements;
(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of 10 megawatts or
less;
(c) The small generator facility must not be connected to a transmission line;
(d) The small generator facility must not export power beyond the point of
interconnection; and
(e) The small generator facility must use low forward power relays or other
protection functions that prevent power flow onto the area network.
 

Application

Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:
  • original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
  • application deposit $1,000.
  • demonstration of site control.
Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the applicant and the person/company owning the property that gives the applicant the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.
 

 

Study

The public utility verifies that the Small Generating Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the screens contained in the Tier 3Process in the Oregon Generator Interconnection Procedures (OGIP). Please refer to section 860-082-0055 of the OAR.
  • Once the scope of the study has been defined the utility will request a study deposit from the customer.
  • The study will take fifteen (15) Business Days to complete.
  • The estimated cost to complete the study is $3,000 - $7,0000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced / refunded upon completion of the study.
Should the customer fail the study, they must resubmit their application under Tier 4 rules
 

Interconnection Agreement

After passing the Tier 3 study, an interconnection agreement will be submitted to interconnection customer.
 
Tier 4
(1) A public utility must use the Tier 4 interconnection review procedures for an
application to interconnect a small generator facility that meets the following
requirements:
 
(a) The small generator facility does not qualify for or failed to meet the Tier 1,
Tier 2, or Tier 3 interconnection review requirements; and
(b) The small generator facility must have a nameplate capacity of 10 megawatts or
less.
 

Application

Interconnection Customer must submit the following for a valid application to receive a queue number:
  • original signed application with all applicable fields completed.
  • application deposit $1,000.
  • demonstration of site control.
Specifically, PacifiCorp requires documentation reasonably demonstrating ownership, right to develop, option to purchase, leasehold or an exclusivity or business relationship between the applicant and the person/company owning the property that gives the applicant the right to construct a Generating Facility on the land. If Interconnection Customer owns the land, the most recent property tax receipt for the location would be an acceptable form of site control.
 

 

Scoping Meeting

Once the application is deemed complete a scoping meeting with be scheduled to discuss the project within 10 business days. The public utility and the applicant may agree to waive the scoping meeting requirement.

 

Studies Agreements

Feasibility Study
The Feasibility Study Report is an optional study the Interconnection Customer can request. Should the Interconnection Customer decide to skip this study they would be required to complete the System Impact Study. See OASIS (PDF)

* The study deposit is $10,000
* The study will take thirty (30) Business Days to complete.
* The estimated cost to complete the study is $5,000-10,000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced / refunded upon completion of the study.
 
SCOPE:
The interconnection Feasibility Study will consider base case as well as all generating facilities (and with respect to (iii) below, an identified network upgrades associated with such higher queued interconnection) that, on the date the interconnection Feasibility Study is commenced:
 
  • are directly interconnected to the distribution system;
  • are interconnected to affected systems and may have an impact on the interconnection request;
  • have a pending higher queued interconnection request to interconnect to the distribution system; and
  • have no queue position but have executed an DGIA.
 
The interconnection feasibility study report shall provide the following information:
 
  • preliminary identification of any circuit breaker short circuit capability limits exceeded as a result of the interconnection;
  • preliminary identification of any thermal overload or voltage limit violations resulting from the interconnection; and
  • preliminary description and non-binding estimated cost of facilities required to interconnect the large generating facility to the distribution system and to address the identified short circuit and power flow issues.

 

System Impact Study
The System Impact Study is a required study and must be completed prior to the Facility Study and Interconnection Agreement. 

  • The SIS Study deposit is $10,000. 
  • The study will take thirty (30) Business Days to complete.
  • The estimated cost to complete the study is $7,000-10,000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced / refunded upon completion of the study.
 
SCOPE
The interconnection system impact study shall evaluate the impact of the proposed interconnection on the reliability of the distribution system. The interconnection system impact study will consider base case as well as all generating facilities (and with respect to (iii) below, an identified network upgrades associated with such higher queued interconnection) that, on the date the interconnection system impact study is commenced:
 
  • are directly interconnected to the distribution system;
  • are interconnected to affected systems and may have an impact on the interconnection request;
  • have a pending higher queued interconnection request to interconnect to the transmission system; and
  • have no queue position but have executed an SGIA or requested that an unexecuted SGIA be filed with FERC.
The interconnection system impact study will consist of a short circuit analysis, a stability analysis, and a power flow analysis. The interconnection system impact study will state the assumptions upon which it is based; state the results of the analyses; and provide the requirements or potential impediments to providing the requested interconnection service, including preliminary indication of the cost and length of time that would be necessary to correct any problems identified in those analyses and implement the interconnection. The interconnection system impact study will provide a list of facilities that are required as a result of the Interconnection Request and a non-binding good faith estimate of the cost responsibility and a non-binding good faith estimated time to construct
 
 
Facilities Study
The Facility Study is a required study and must be completed prior to signing the Interconnection Agreement. 
 
  • The FS Study deposit is $15,000.
  • The study will take forty-five (45) Business Days to complete.
  • The estimated cost to complete the study is $10,000-15,000. The balance of the study cost will be invoiced / refunded upon completion of the study.
SCOPE:
The interconnection Facilities Study will consider base case as well as all generating facilities (and with respect to (iii) below, an identified network upgrades associated with such higher queued interconnection) that, on the date the interconnection Facilities Study is commenced:
  •  
  • are directly interconnected to the distribution system;
  • are interconnected to affected systems and may have an impact on the interconnection request;
  • have a pending higher queued interconnection request to interconnect to the distribution system; and
  • have no queue position but have executed an DGIA.
 
The objective of the facilities study is to complete a facilities analysis, which shall specify and estimate the cost of equipment, engineering, procurement, and construction required to address issues as outlined in the system impact study, and shall provide a scope of work and an estimated cost and schedule for completing the scope of work.
 
 

Engineering & Procurement

Prior to executing a Oregon Generator Interconnection Agreement, an Interconnection Customer may, in order to advance the implementation of its interconnection, request and Transmission Provider shall offer the Interconnection Customer, an Engineering and Procurement Agreement that authorizes Transmission Provider to begin engineering and procurement of long lead-time items necessary for the establishment of the interconnection.
 
 
 

Interconnection Agreement

Upon completion of the Facilities Study, and with the agreement of the Interconnection Customer to pay for Interconnection Facilities and Upgrades identified in the facilities studies, the Transmission Provider shall provide the Interconnection Customer an executable interconnection agreement within five (5) Business Days. See OASIS (PDF)
 
 

Standards

This PacifiCorp Generation Interconnection Policy explains the technical requirements for interconnection of generators to PacifiCorp's distribution power systems. It is based on applicable rules and tariffs crafted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and jurisdictional state regulatory agencies. In addition to providing reliability, this policy is consistent with safety requirements for PacifiCorp employees and the general public.
 

 

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