Section 466.90  Level 1 Expedited Review

An EDC shall use the Level 1 interconnection review procedures for an interconnection request that meets the requirements specified in Section 466.80(a).  An EDC may not impose additional requirements on Level 1 reviews that are not specifically authorized under this Section unless the applicant agrees.

a)         The EDC shall evaluate the potential for adverse system impacts using the following screens, which shall be satisfied:

1)         Until December 31, 2023, for interconnection of a proposed DER facility to a radial distribution circuit, the aggregate export capacity of the DER facilities connected to the distribution circuit, including the proposed DER facility, may not exceed 100% of the minimum load (or 15% of maximum load if minimum load data are unavailable) normally supplied by the distribution circuit or line section.  After December 31, 2023, for interconnection of a proposed DER facility to a radial distribution circuit, the aggregate export capacity of the DER facilities connected to the distribution circuit, including the proposed DER facility, may not exceed 100% of the minimum load normally supplied by the distribution circuit or line section.  

2)         The aggregate nameplate capacity of DER facilities connected on the load side of spot network protectors, including the proposed facility, shall not exceed 5% of the spot network's maximum load or 50 kVA, whichever is less.

3)         When a proposed DER facility is to be interconnected on a single-phase shared secondary line, the aggregate export capacity on the shared secondary line, including the proposed DER facility, shall not exceed 20 kVA.

4)         When a proposed DER facility is single-phase and is to be interconnected on a center tap neutral of a 240 volt service, its addition may not create an imbalance between the two sides of the 240 volt service of more than 20% of the nameplate rating of the service transformer.

b)         The Level 1 interconnection shall use the following procedures:

1)         The applicant submits an interconnection request using the appropriate form along with the Level 1 application fee (see Appendix A). 

2)         Within 7 business days after receipt of the interconnection request, the EDC shall inform the applicant whether the interconnection request is complete or not.  If the request is incomplete, the EDC shall specify what information is missing and the applicant has 10 business days after receiving notice from the EDC to provide the missing information or the interconnection request shall be deemed withdrawn.

3)         Within 15 business days after the EDC notifies the applicant that its interconnection request is complete, the EDC shall verify whether the DER facility passes all the relevant Level 1 screens.

4)         If the applicant passes the Level 1 screens, or the applicant fails screens but the EDC determines that the DER may be interconnected consistent with safety, reliability and power quality standards, the interconnection request shall proceed as follows:

A)        If the proposed interconnection requires no construction of facilities by the EDC on its own system, the EDC shall send, or otherwise make available to, the applicant an executed "Conditional Agreement to Interconnect Distributed Energy Resources Facility" (Appendix A), or electronic notification of conditional approval along with notification of the Level 1 review results.

B)        If the proposed interconnection requires only minor system modifications, the EDC shall notify the applicant of the requirement when it provides the Level 1 results. The applicant must inform the EDC if the applicant elects to continue the application. If the applicant makes such an election and pays the fees specified in the EDC's tariff, the EDC shall provide a standard DER interconnection agreement (see Appendix D), along with a non-binding good faith cost estimate (if applicable) and construction schedule for those upgrades, to the applicant within 10 business days after the EDC receives such an election and the payment of the fee.

C)        If the proposed interconnection requires more than minor system modifications, the EDC shall notify the applicant of that requirement when it provides the Level 1 results.  The applicant must inform the EDC if the applicant elects to proceed with the proposed interconnection request. If the applicant makes such an election, the EDC may elect to:

i)          provide a standard DER interconnection agreement (see Appendix D), along with a non-binding good faith cost estimate (if applicable) and construction schedule for those upgrades, within 15 business days after the EDC receives such an election and the applicant pays the fee specified in the EDC's tariff; or

ii)         notify the applicant that an interconnection facilities study must be performed pursuant to Section 466.120(e)(3).  If the applicant elects to proceed with an interconnection facilities study, the EDC shall proceed with the interconnection facilities study according to the timeframes and process in Section 466.120(e)(3).

5)         Upon approving the interconnection request pursuant to subsection (b)(4), the EDC shall provide to the applicant a signed version of the "Conditional Agreement to Interconnect Distributed Energy Resources Facility" in Appendix A subject to the following conditions:

A)        The DER facility has been approved by local or municipal electric code officials with jurisdiction over the interconnection;

B)        A certificate of completion (see Appendix B) has been returned to the EDC.  Completion of local inspections may be designated on inspection forms used by local inspecting authorities;

C)        The witness test has been successfully completed if required by the EDC or if the witness test has been waived according to of Appendix A(2)(c)(ii); and

D)        The applicant has signed a standard DER interconnection agreement (see Appendix A).  When an applicant does not sign the agreement within 30 business days after receipt of the agreement from the EDC, the interconnection request is deemed withdrawn unless the applicant requests to have the deadline extended for no more than 15 business days.  An initial request for extension shall not be denied by the EDC, but subsequent requests may be denied.  In order to withdraw a standard DER interconnection agreement, the EDC must first send a notification to the applicant of its intent to withdraw, and the applicant must not have sent an executed standard DER interconnection agreement within 5 business days after receipt of the notice.

6)         If the EDC determines and demonstrates that a DER facility does not pass all relevant Level 1 screens, the EDC shall provide a letter to the applicant explaining the reasons that the facility did not pass those screens.

7)         If a DER facility is not approved under a Level 1 review, and the EDC's reasons for denying Level 1 status are not subject to dispute, the applicant may submit a new interconnection request for consideration under Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4 procedures.  The queue position assigned to the Level 1 interconnection request shall be retained, provided that the new interconnection request is made by the applicant within 15 business days after notification that the current interconnection request is denied.

c)         For the purposes of an interconnection customer's payment responsibilities under this Part, the standardized cost for Level 1 interconnection shall be $200.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the EDC incurs costs that exceed $200 to accomplish a Level 1 interconnection, the EDC may seek to recover these costs through its base delivery rates.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 9666, effective May 26, 2022)