Section 170IAC4-4.3-6. Level 1 interconnection review

   (a) Each investor-owned electric utility shall adopt a Level 1 interconnection review procedure. The utility shall use the Level 1 review procedure for an application to interconnect a customer-generator facility that:

(1) is inverter-based;

(2) has a nameplate capacity of ten (10) kilowatts or less; and

(3) is certified in accordance with section 5 of this rule.

  (b) For a customer-generator facility described in subsection (a), the utility shall approve interconnection under the Level 1 review if all of the applicable requirements in subsections (c) though (h) are met. A utility shall not impose additional requirements not specifically authorized under this section.

  (c) If a customer-generator facility is to be connected to a radial distribution circuit, the aggregate generation nameplate capacity connected to the circuit, including the proposed nameplate capacity, shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the circuit annual peak load as most recently measured at the substation; the aggregate generation nameplate capacity connected to a line section, including the proposed nameplate capacity, shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the line section annual peak load as most recently measured or estimated based on the most recently measured circuit load at the substation.

  (d) The aggregate generation nameplate capacity on the distribution circuit to which the customer-generator facility will interconnect, including its nameplate capacity, shall not contribute more than ten percent (10%) to the circuit's maximum fault current at the point on which the primary level that is nearest the proposed point of common coupling.

  (e) If a customer-generator facility is to be connected to a single-phase shared secondary, the aggregate generation nameplate capacity connected to the shared secondary, including the proposed nameplate capacity, shall not exceed the lesser of twenty (20) kVA or the nameplate rating of the service transformer.

  (f) If a single-phase customer-generator facility is to be interconnected on a center tap neutral of a two hundred forty (240) volt service, the addition of the customer-generator facility shall not create an imbalance between the two (2) sides of the two hundred forty (240) volt service more than twenty percent (20%) of the nameplate rating of the service transformer.

  (g) The customer-generator facility point of common coupling shall not be on:

(1) a transmission line;

(2) a spot network; or

(3) an area network.

  (h) The customer-generator facility shall not violate any applicable provisions of IEEE 1547, Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems, as identified by the utility.

  (i) The utility shall notify the applicant within ten (10) business days after receiving an application for Level 1 interconnection review as to whether the application is complete. If the application is incomplete, the notification shall include a list detailing the information needed to complete the application.

  (j) Within fifteen (15) business days after the utility notifies the applicant that the application is complete, the utility shall notify the applicant that the customer-generator facility:

(1) meets all of the criteria in subsections (c) through (h) that apply to the facility, and the interconnection will be finally approved upon completion of the process set forth in subsections (k) though (m); or

(2) has failed to meet one (1) or more of the applicable criteria in subsections (c) through (h), and the interconnection application is denied.

  (k) If approved, the utility shall, within ten (10) business days after sending the notice of approval under subsection (j)(1), do the following:

(1) Notify the applicant if the utility will require inspection of the customer-generator facility for compliance with this rule before starting operation of the facility.

(2) Execute and send to the applicant a Level 1 interconnection agreement.

  (l) An applicant that receives an interconnection agreement under subsection (k) shall do the following:

(1) Execute the agreement.

(2) Return the agreement to the utility at least ten (10) business days before starting operation of the customer-generator facility.

(3) Indicate the anticipated start date for operation of the customer-generator facility.

If the utility requires an inspection of the customer-generator facility, the applicant shall not begin operating the facility until completion of the inspection.

  (m) Upon:

(1) receipt of the executed interconnection agreement; and

(2) satisfactory completion of any required inspection;

the utility shall approve the interconnection, conditioned on approval by the electric code officials with jurisdiction over the interconnection.

  (n) If an application for Level 1 interconnection review is denied because it does not meet one (1) or more of the applicable requirements of this section, an applicant may resubmit the application under Level 2 or Level 3 interconnection review procedure as appropriate. (Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission; 170 IAC 4-4.3-6; filed Mar 6, 2006, 9:45 a.m.: 29 IR 2172; readopted filed Jul 12, 2012, 2:12 p.m.: 20120808-IR-170120114RFA; readopted filed Aug 2, 2013, 2:16 p.m.: 20130828-IR-170130227RFA)