Section 466.20  Definitions

 

Terms defined in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act [220 ILCS 5] shall have the same meaning for purposes of this Part as they have under Section 16-102 of the Act, unless further defined in this Part.  The following words and terms, when used in this Part, have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:

 

"Act" means the Public Utilities Act [220 ILCS 5].

 

"Adverse system impact" means a negative effect that compromises the safety or reliability of the electric distribution system or materially affects the quality of electric service provided by the electric distribution company (EDC) to other customers.

 

"Affected system" means an electric system not owned or operated by the electric distribution company reviewing the interconnection request that could suffer an adverse system impact from the proposed interconnection.

 

"Applicant" means a person (or entity) who has submitted an interconnection request to interconnect a distributed energy resources facility to an EDC's electric distribution system.

 

"Area network" means a type of electric distribution system served by multiple transformers interconnected in an electrical network circuit, generally used in large, densely populated metropolitan areas.

 

"Business day" means Monday through Friday, excluding State and federal holidays.

 

"Calendar day" means any day, including Saturdays, Sundays and State and federal holidays.

 

"Certificate of completion" means a certificate, in a form approved by the Commission, that contains information about the interconnection equipment to be used, its installation and local inspections (see Appendix B).

 

"Commissioning test" means tests applied to a distributed energy resources facility by the applicant after construction is completed to verify that the facility does not create adverse system impacts and performs to the submitted specifications.  At a minimum, the scope of the commissioning tests performed shall include the commissioning test specified in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) Standard 1547 Section 5.4 "Commissioning tests".

 

"Contingent upgrades" means proposed interconnection facilities or distribution system upgrades, identified during interconnection studies for an applicant's interconnection request, that are the responsibility of an interconnection request earlier in the queue than the subject application for interconnection. The identified contingent upgrades are required in order for the applicant's proposed interconnection request to receive permission to operate and, if delayed or not built by the earlier-queued interconnection request, could cause a need for restudies of the interconnection request and may become the responsibility of the applicant's interconnection request.

 

"Distributed energy resources facility" or "DER" facility means the equipment used by an interconnection customer to generate or store electricity that operates in parallel with the electric distribution system.  A DER facility may include, but is not limited to, an electric generator or energy storage system, a prime mover, and the interconnection equipment required to safely interconnect with the electric distribution system or local electric power system.

 

"Distribution upgrade" means a required addition or modification to the electric distribution system to accommodate the interconnection of the DER facility.  Distribution upgrades do not include interconnection facilities.

 

"Draw-out type circuit breaker" means a switching device capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal and abnormal circuit conditions such as those of a short circuit.  A draw-out circuit breaker can be physically removed from its enclosure creating a visible break in the circuit.  The draw-out circuit breaker shall be capable of being locked in the open, drawn-out position.

 

"Earlier in the queue" means that an interconnection request relative to another interconnection request retains the rights to use any available distribution system capacity first and may be interconnected first.

 

"Electric distribution company" (EDC) means any electric utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.

 

"Electric distribution system" means the facilities and equipment owned and operated by the EDC and used to transmit electricity to ultimate usage points such as homes and industries from interchanges with higher voltage transmission networks that transport bulk power over longer distances.  The voltage levels at which electric distribution systems operate differ among areas, but generally operate at less than 100 kilovolts (kV) of electricity.  "Electric distribution system" excludes facilities under the operational control of the regional transmission organization (RTO) that would otherwise be classified as distribution.

 

"Energy storage system" (ESS) means a mechanical, electrical, or electrochemical means to store and release electrical energy, and its associated electrical inversion device and control functions.

 

"Export capacity" means the nameplate capacity in kilovolt amperes (kVA) of a DER facility except where that capacity is limited by an acceptable means as identified in Section 466.75.

 

"Fault current" is the electrical current that flows through a circuit during an electrical fault condition.  A fault condition occurs when one or more electrical conductors contact ground or each other.  Types of faults include phase to ground, double-phase to ground, three-phase to ground, phase-to-phase, and three-phase.  Often, a fault current is several times larger in magnitude than the current that normally flows through a circuit.

 

"Host load" means the electrical power registered by the EDC during the prior 12-month period at the customer meter to which the proposed DER facility is to be interconnected.

 

"IEEE" is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 3 Park Avenue, New York NY 10016-5997 (http://www.ieee.org).

 

"IEEE C37.90" is the IEEE Standard C 37.90 (2005), "IEEE Standard for Relays and Relay Systems Associated with Electric Power Apparatus".  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"IEEE C37.90.1" is the IEEE Standard C37.90.1 (2012), "IEEE Standard for Surge Withstand Capability (SWC) Tests for Relays and Relay Systems Associated with Electric Power Apparatus".  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"IEEE C37.90.2" is the IEEE Standard C37.90.2 (2004), "IEEE Standard for Withstand Capability of Relay Systems to Radiated Electromagnetic Interference from Transceivers".  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"IEEE C62.92.6" is the IEEE Standard C62.92.6 (2017), "IEEE Guide for Application of Neutral Grounding in Electrical Utility Systems, Part VI--Systems Supplied by Current-Regulated Sources". This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"IEEE Standard 519-2014" is the IEEE Standard 519-2014 "IEEE Recommended Practice and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems". This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"IEEE Standard 1547" is the IEEE Standard 1547 (2003) "Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems".  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"IEEE Standard 1547.1" is the IEEE Standard 1547.1 (2005) "Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems."  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"Inadvertent export" means the unpermitted, unscheduled, and uncompensated export of real power from a DER facility and exported across the point of interconnection to the EDC's distribution system.

 

"Interconnection customer" means a person or entity that interconnects, or seeks to interconnect, a DER facility to an electric distribution system.

 

"Interconnection equipment" means a group of components or an integrated system owned and operated by the interconnection customer that connects an electric generator with a local electric power system, as that term is defined in Section 3.1.6.2 of IEEE Standard 1547, or with the electric distribution system.  Interconnection equipment is all interface equipment including switchgear, protective devices, inverters or other interface devices.  Interconnection equipment may be installed as part of an integrated equipment package that includes a generator or other electric source.

 

"Interconnection facilities" means facilities and equipment required by the EDC to accommodate the interconnection of a DER facility.  After installation, interconnection facilities become part of the electric distribution system.  Collectively, interconnection facilities include all facilities and equipment between the DER facility's interconnection equipment and the point of interconnection, including any modifications, additions, or upgrades necessary to physically and electrically interconnect the DER facility to the electric distribution system.  Interconnection facilities are sole use facilities and do not include distribution upgrades.

 

"Interconnection request" means an applicant's request, in a form approved by the Commission, for interconnection of a new DER facility or to change the capacity or other operating characteristics of an existing DER facility already interconnected with the electric distribution system.

 

"Interconnection study" is any study described in Section 466.120.

 

"Lab-certified" means a designation that the interconnection equipment meets the requirements set forth in Section 466.70.

 

"Like-kind modification" means a modification to interconnection equipment such that the installed interconnection equipment has analogous certification, size, ratings, impedances, efficiencies, and operating capabilities. 

 

"Limited export" means the exporting capability of a DER facility whose generating capacity is limited below the nameplate capacity by the use of a configuration or operating mode as described in Section 466.75.

 

"Line section" is that portion of an electric distribution system connected to an interconnection customer's site, bounded by automatic sectionalizing devices or the end of the distribution line.

 

"Local electric power system" means facilities that deliver electric power to a load that is contained entirely within a single premises or group of premises.  Local electric power system has the same meaning as that term has as defined in Section 3.1.6.2 of IEEE Standard 1547.

 

"Material modification" has the meaning ascribed in Section 466.125.

 

"Minor system modifications" means modifications to an EDC's Electric Distribution System located between the service tap on the distribution circuit and the meter serving the Interconnection Customer or other minor system changes that the EDC estimates will entail less than 10 hours of work and $5,000 in materials.

 

"Nameplate capacity" is the maximum rated output in kVA of a generator, prime mover, energy storage system, or other electric power production equipment under specific conditions designated by the manufacturer and usually indicated on a nameplate physically attached to the power production equipment.

 

"Nationally recognized testing laboratory" or "NRTL" means a qualified private organization that meets the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) regulations.  See 29 CFR 1910.7 (February 18, 2020).  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.  NRTLs perform independent safety testing and product certification.  Each NRTL shall meet the requirements as set forth by OSHA in its NRTL program.

 

"Non-export" or "non-exporting" means that the DER facility is sized and designed, such that no electrical energy other than inadvertent export allowed by Section 466.75 is transferred from the DER facility to the electric distribution system.

 

"Operating profile" means the manner in which the DER facility is designed to be operated, based on the generating prime mover and operating characteristics, including any energy storage system.

 

"Parallel operation" or "parallel" means a DER facility that is connected electrically to the electric distribution system for longer than 100 milliseconds.

 

"Point of interconnection" or "POI" means the point where the DER facility is electrically connected to the electric distribution system.  Point of interconnection has the same meaning as the term "point of common coupling" defined in Section 3.1.13 of IEEE Standard 1547.

 

"Power control system" means systems or devices that electronically limit or control steady state currents to a programmable limit. 

 

"Power rating configuration setting" means the as-configured value of the active or apparent power ratings that is used as the rating within the DER facility.

 

"Primary line" means an electric distribution system line operating at greater than 600 volts.

 

"Protective function" means the specific type of protection, based on the ANSI Protection Device Numbers and functional descriptions, that a utility-grade protective relay provides against conditions that, if left uncorrected, could result in, but not limited to, the following:  harm to personnel, damage to equipment, loss of safety or reliability, or operation outside pre-established parameters required by the interconnection agreement.

 

"Queue position" means, for each distribution circuit or line section, the order of a completed interconnection request relative to all other pending completed interconnection requests on that distribution circuit or line section.  It is established by the date that the EDC receives the completed interconnection request.

 

"Radial distribution circuit" means a circuit configuration in which independent feeders branch out radially from a common source of supply.

 

"Regional Transmission Organization" or "RTO" means the independent systems operator that administers and oversees the wholesale electricity markets in which the State participates.  In Illinois, the two RTOs are the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. and PJM Interconnection, LLC.

 

"Scoping meeting" means a meeting between representatives of the applicant and EDC conducted to discuss interconnection issues and exchange relevant information.

 

"Secondary line" means an electric distribution system line, or service line, operating at 600 volts or less.

 

"Shared transformer" means a transformer that supplies secondary voltage to more than one customer.

 

"Spot network" means a type of electric distribution system that uses two or more inter-tied transformers to supply an electrical network circuit.  A spot network is generally used to supply power to a single customer or a small group of customers.  Spot network has the same meaning as the term "spot network" defined in Section 4.1.4 of IEEE Standard 1547.

 

"Standard DER interconnection agreement" means a standard interconnection agreement applicable to interconnection requests for DER facilities.  (see Appendices A and D).

 

"UL Standard 1741" means the standard titled "Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources (January 28, 2010), Underwriters Laboratories Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook IL 60062-2096.  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"UL 1741 CRD for PCS" means the Certification Requirement Decision for Power Control Systems for the standard titled "Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources" (March 8, 2019), Underwriters Laboratories Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook IL 60062-2096.  This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions.

 

"Utility-grade protective relay" means a protective relay system that works under a variety of environmental and operational conditions and that includes:

 

Test plugs/switches for testing the operation of the relay without unwiring or disassembly;

 

Targets to indicate relay operation;

 

Ability to record and store fault events; and

 

Conformance with IEEE C37.90, IEEE C37.90.1 and IEEE C37.90.2.

 

"Witness test" means a verification, either by an on-site observation or review of documents, that the interconnection installation evaluation required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section 5.3 and the commissioning test required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section 5.4 have been performed.  For interconnection equipment that has not been lab-certified, the witness test shall also include verification of the on-site design tests as required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section 5.1 and verification of production tests required by IEEE Standard 1547 Section 5.2.  All verified tests are to be performed in accordance with the test procedures specified by IEEE Standard 1547.1.

 

(Source:  Former Section 466.30 renumbered to 466.20 and amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 9666, effective May 26, 2022)