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General Questions
现场发电是为爱达荷州电力公司的客户提供的一项服务,这些客户在家中或企业安装发电设备,以满足他们的一些能源需求,同时保持与爱达荷州电力公司的电网连接.
Idaho Power customers can install solar or other renewable energy systems to offset some of their energy use. Systems that are connected to the grid are called “interconnected.” With an interconnected system, energy flows two ways between the electrical grid and your home. At times, the solar or renewable system will produce more energy than the home/business needs. At other times the home/business will need to draw electricity from Idaho Power. Alternatively, a system can be designed as “non-export” to prevent excess energy from flowing to the grid.
Idaho and Oregon large general service (Schedule 09), 大型电力(附表19)和灌溉(附表24)客户可连接一个出口系统,其铭牌总容量等于或小于以下两项中较大者:(a)最近12个月期间(包括并截至当前计费期)的最大月度计费需求, or (b) 100 kW. They may also connect energy storage (e.g. batteries). *
*Energy storage devices do not count toward the maximum allowable capacity noted above; however, AC-coupled energy storage devices will count toward the total capacity for the Feasibility Review.
For exporting systems over these limits, refer to Generator Interconnection.
- Idaho residential customers – Schedule 06, Residential Service On-Site Generation
- Idaho small general service customers – Schedule 08, Small General Service On-Site Generation
- Idaho large general, irrigation and large power customers – Schedule 84, Large General, Large Power, and Irrigation On-Site Generation Service, and their standard retail service schedule (i.e. Schedule 9: Large General Service).
For Idaho residential (Schedule 06) and large general service (Schedule 09) customers, upon completion of the interconnection process, customers will take service under the Standard Rate option. 客户可以在获得最终操作许可后,通过联系客户服务中心,要求切换到使用时间选项(如果适用).
Oregon residential customers
- Monthly charge values are listed in Oregon Residential Service (Schedule 1). Reference the “Monthly Charge” section.
- Service terms and Export Credit Rates are listed in Idaho Schedule 6, Residential Service On-Site Generation. (Charges in Schedule 6 apply to Idaho customers only.)
Oregon small general service customers
- Monthly charge values are listed in Oregon Small General Service (Schedule 7). Reference the “Monthly Charge” section.
- Service terms and Export Credit Rates are listed in Idaho Schedule 8, Small General Service On-Site Generation. (Charges in Schedule 8 apply to Idaho customers only.)
Oregon Large general, irrigation and large power customers
- Service terms and monthly charge values are listed in the applicable Oregon Large General, Large Power and Irrigation Service (Schedule 9, 19, and 24)
- Service terms and Export Credit Rates are listed in Idaho Schedule 84, Large General, Large Power, and Irrigation On-Site Generation Service.
Additionally, Idaho Power’s rules and pricing structures are not contracts and are subject to change at any time with approval from the IPUC. Modifications to the compensation structure could result in changes to how excess energy sent back to the grid by the customer is measured and credited and the value of that credit. Those changes could impact any savings realized from a rooftop solar system and potential payback on the investment.
When an energy storage device is paired with a generating system, the total nameplate capacity depends on whether it is DC-coupled or AC-Coupled. For example, if a battery storage device uses the same inverter as the solar generation system, it is DC-Coupled. If the solar system and battery have separate inverters, the battery is AC-coupled. The total system size for generation systems with energy storage devices will be calculated as follows:
- DC Coupled: For energy storage devices that are DC coupled, the total nameplate capacity of the system is defined by the inverter (kilovoltampere [kVA]).
- AC Coupled: For AC coupled energy storage with an exporting system, 总铭牌容量是发电系统的总铭牌容量加上互联点(i)客户端的储能系统的总铭牌容量.e., the AC capacity of the solar PV system plus the AC capacity of the battery.)
For exporting systems, energy storage capacity shall not be used to calculate the allowable capacity limits set in Schedules 6, 8 and 84. AC coupled storage will count towards the total nameplate capacity values used for Feasibility Reviews for exporting systems as outlined in Schedule 68.
Energy Storage installed without a generating source must be installed as a non-exporting system under the rules of Schedule 68. (See Non-Export section below for more details).
Export Credit Rate values are listed in Idaho Rate Schedules 6, 8, and 84. Idaho customers’ pricing is listed in the applicable Idaho Rate Schedule 6, 8, 9, 19, and 24. Oregon customers’ pricing is listed in the applicable Oregon Rate Schedule 1, 7, 9, 19, or 24.
PVWatts Calculator is an online tool developed by the federal government for estimating solar generation based on geographic location and system design.
To use PVWatts to evaluate different system sizes, input your city, solar size in kilowatts (kW) and the calculator will estimate solar electricity generation by hour for a full year.
Connecting Your System
Idaho Power also requires an AC disconnect switch on the customer’s side of the meter. Breakers do not meet these requirements. AC disconnects and meters must be readily accessible to Idaho Power 24/7. An overview of the interconnection requirements and a link to the rules as outlined in Schedule 68 Interconnections to Non-Utility Generation are available at 185268.com/customerGeneration. The specific requirements for the AC disconnect are listed in Schedule 68.
Making changes to an existing service will require the service to comply with the current Customer Requirements for Electric Service, including requirements for service and panel upgrades and meter accessibility.
The first Idaho Power inspection is conducted at no charge. 每次皇冠现金盘公司的人员被派往作业现场,但由于客户或安装人员在系统验证表上证明已完成的一项或多项条件未得到满足而无法进行现场检查时,可向客户收取52美元的往返费用. This charge will appear on the customer’s bill the following month.
Making changes to an existing service requires the service to comply with the current Customer Requirements for Electric Service. There may be additional costs, if you upgrade your service or panel or if your meter does not meet the accessibility requirements.
- The system does not generate. This is usually due to a breaker being off or an issue with the inverters (e.g., inverters were not programmed, were not turned on, or have a fault).
- During the grid outage simulation, the inverter reconnects faster than the required 5-minute delay.
- There is no AC disconnect for the generation system or the AC disconnect does not meet the requirements in Schedule 68.
- The AC disconnect and meter are not accessible (behind a locked gate or in a building).
- A battery storage system was installed but not disclosed on the System Verification Form.
- The battery storage system is not working.
- The generation system installation was not finished.
- 智能逆变器必须符合最新的电气和电子工程师协会(IEEE) 1547标准,并通过美国保险商实验室(UL) 1741标准认证, which complies with the latest IEEE 1547 standards. Idaho Power requires inverters that comply with IEEE 1547-2018 and are UL 1741 SB certified.
- System Modifications that (1) do not replace or add inverters, (2) are like for like as the result of warranty inverter replacements, or (3) rely on an inverter that is required to meet the original inverter specifications for the Customer Generator System to properly function, may be considered exempt from the smart inverter requirement.
There are two configurations for energy storage devices (such as batteries): those that share an inverter with a generation facility (direct current [DC] coupled); and those that have a standalone inverter (alternating current [AC] coupled). For exporting systems, both configurations may export power onto Idaho Power’s system once the customer has completed the interconnection process. Energy storage devices not coupled with a generation facility taking service under Schedule 6, 8, or 84 (exporting system) may not export energy onto Idaho Power’s system and must take service under the non-export provisions of Schedule 68.
Managing Your System
对客户发电系统的修改,如果增加系统的总铭牌容量或以任何方式修改系统(包括更换逆变器),可能会影响皇冠现金盘公司电力系统的安全性或可靠性,则视为系统修改. Customers planning modifications must complete the interconnection process including a new application, $100 fee and system verification form. Common modifications requiring an application include:
- Inverter additions or changes (including like for like and warranty replacements or installing a different inverter model)
- Module replacements or additions that increase the total DC capacity for systems originally approved before May 1, 2020.
- Adding energy storage (batteries)
Some scenarios do not require an application and fee, but Idaho Power does require that customers fill out a new system verification form notifying us of the change. Scenarios include:
- Module changes for systems approved after May 1, 2020
- Battery replacements (like for like) or removal
- Removing inverters (and not replacing)
If you aren’t sure, please reach out to cg@185268.com to determine if an application is needed.
Note: Systems applying for modifications must meet the requirements in place today. Modifications may also require a state/city electrical inspection. Be sure to check with your authority-having-jurisdiction to ensure the work complies with all electrical codes.
System Modifications that (1) do not replace or add inverters, (2) are like-for-like as the result of warranty inverter replacements, or (3) rely on an inverter that is required to meet the original inverter specifications for the customer generator system to properly function, may be considered exempt from the smart inverter requirement.
- Customers who interconnected their system by December 20, 2019, or
- Customers who submitted an on-site generation application on or before December 20, 2019, and provided evidence of a binding financial commitment for the on-site generation system by January 19, 2020, and who completed the interconnection process by December 20, 2020.
- Residential and Small General Service Legacy status will terminate December 20, 2045.
Idaho Large Commercial, Industrial and Irrigation (Schedule 84):
- Customers who interconnected their system by December 1, 2020, or
- Customers who submitted an on-site generation application on or before December 1, 2020, and interconnected their system as a two-metered system by December 1, 2021.
Large Commercial, Industrial, and Irrigation Legacy status will terminate December 1, 2045.
Oregon Customers (Schedule 84):
- Oregon customers who interconnected their system by June 1, 2024, or
- Oregon customers who submitted an application to Idaho Power by June 1, 2024, and complete the interconnection process by their application’s expiration date.
- Legacy status will terminate December 1, 2045.
Not sure if your system is a Legacy system? Call Idaho Power’s customer solutions advisors at 1-800-632-6605 to confirm your system’s status.
A customer who moves into a property with a legacy net-metering system will inherit the legacy system.
When a customer moves from a property with a legacy system, that customer does not get to take the legacy status of the system with them to their next property.
If a system is offline for more than six months, or is moved to another site, the legacy status of the system is forfeited.
If a customer expands their system, the expansion must be metered separately to retain the legacy status of the original system. If the expansion is not metered separately, the entire system will lose legacy status.
To allow for the replacement of degraded or broken panels, the customer may increase the capacity of their legacy system by no more than 10% of the originally installed nameplate capacity or 1 kilowatt, whichever is greater.
Modifications to Legacy systems are allowed; however, if generating capacity is added, the way in which the new system is connected to the grid could result in forfeiture of the Legacy status of the existing system. The added generation system (i.e. both the new panels and associated inverters) must be metered separately from the Legacy system to retain Legacy status for the existing system. 系统的新部分 将 不接受遗留状态,并将 根据当时的规则进行服务,并将根据计费和补偿结构的未来变化而定. If the generating capacity increases and the expansion is not separately metered from the Legacy system, Legacy status will be forfeited.
Non-Legacy systems can replace broken panels following the process for modifying systems. For more information, read the FAQ “What if I want to expand or modify my system?”
For Legacy systems, 爱达荷州公用事业委员会允许 更换退化或损坏的太阳能电池板 ,而不会影响 系统的遗留状态,如果满足特定条件. When replacing panels, customers may increase the Legacy system’s capacity by no more than 10% of the initially installed nameplate capacity or 1 kW, whichever is greater. The total number of panels must remain the same or less than the initially installed system. Customers planning to make system modifications must follow the process for modifying systems. For more information, read the FAQ “What if I want to expand or modify my system?”
Systems that are offline for more than six months will be removed from the on-site generation rate and returned to a standard service rate. The AC disconnect will be locked off and the on-site generation meter exchanged for a standard service meter. If the system is brought back online at a later date or moved to a new location, it must meet the current requirements and complete the interconnection process, including a new application. If a Legacy system is offline for longer than six months, or is moved to another site, the Legacy status is forfeited.
Ensuring your system is operating is your responsibility. Be sure to keep copies of all warranties. Track your monthly energy use and generation (if you have data monitoring) to look for abnormal changes in use. These may indicate an issue.
Idaho Power’s My Account online portal has hourly data and will record the excess energy each hour you push power to the grid.
If you suspect your system is not working, check to see if the system’s AC disconnect is in the on position and that the breaker is on. You may also need to contact a local licensed electrician or installer to have them ensure the inverter is programming is up to date and the inverter is working. For systems that are offline for more than six months, accounts will be moved back to their standard rate schedule and, if applicable, Legacy status will be forfeited.
Existing customers may choose to convert their existing two-meter design to a single-meter option; however, Legacy status would be forfeited. The customer will be responsible for costs to reconfigure the system and must complete the interconnection process, including a new application.
Idaho Power’s My Account tool allows customers to access a wide variety of information including usage data, excess energy delivered to the grid, and even access to past bills. Usage data is provided on an hourly, daily, monthly and yearly basis. Hourly usage data is available for download.
Some systems come with monitors that measure the energy produced by your renewable energy system. These monitors measure the total amount of energy being produced by the system before the energy flows into your home or business. If your system is producing more energy than the home needs at a given moment, the extra energy flows to Idaho Power. Our meters measure that excess energy only.
Excess Generation Credit Transfers
- Excess energy credits must be available at the designated meter.
- Service agreements must be held by the customer and be for the customer’s use.
- Service agreements must be on the same contiguous property and be served by the same primary feeder.
- Transfers can only occur between Residential and Small General Service accounts (Schedule 1, 6, 7 and 8) or between Large General, Large Power and Irrigation accounts (Schedule 9, 19 and 24).
- If multiple meters are eligible for aggregation, excess credits must first be applied to the designated meter, then to eligible meters on rate schedules in accordance with the criteria detailed above.
It is not necessary to apply for transfer if you wish to retain all credits at the existing meter. Credits that are not transferred will remain with the current service agreement.
It is not necessary to apply for transfer if you wish to retain all credits at the existing meter. Credits do not expire. Credits that are not transferred will remain with the current service agreement.
All systems
- Excess generation credits must be available.
- Service agreements must be held by the customer and be for the customer’s use.
Net Energy Metering (Legacy) systems only
- Service agreements must be on the same contiguous property and be served by the same primary feeder as the customer generation (i.e. on-site generation) service agreements.
- Transfers can only occur between Residential and Small General Service accounts (Schedule 1, 6, 7, and 8) or between Large General, Large Power, and Irrigation accounts (Schedule 9, 19, 24 and 84).
- If multiple meters are eligible for aggregation, excess net energy credits must first be applied to the designated meter, then to eligible meters outlined above.
Additional changes for Net Billing (Non-Legacy) customers
- kWh credits accrued before 2024:
- Remaining kWh credit balances can be used for a full year, provided the customer maintains electric service at the same service point.
- On December 31, 2024, any remaining kWh credits will be converted to a comparable financial credit using a blended average retail energy rate. This financial credit may be applied to monthly charges.
- Financial credits accrued since 2024:
- If a customer moves, they may request credits be applied to their new account.
- If a customer ends service and does not intend to establish service at another location in Idaho Power’s service area, any unused credits will be paid out following the time the final bill is prepared.
Schedule 68 (Non-export Option)
Some customers do not want their generation systems, like solar panels, to export power to the electrical grid and wish to interconnect their system so they consume all energy generated on-site. However, these systems are still grid-connected and, as such, need rules in place to ensure they do not negatively impact the grid. Schedule 68 outlines (1) technical solutions to prevent export; (2) an interconnection and application process so Idaho Power can verify compliance with the interconnection requirements and (3) mitigation efforts should the customer’s system export power beyond the allowable amount, referred to as the inadvertent export limits.
There is no limit to system size for non-exporting systems for large general service (Schedule 09), irrigation (Schedule 24) and industrial (Schedule 19) customers.
所有客户的发电申请都将经过可行性审查,以确定皇冠现金盘公司的电网是否有能力纳入拟议的发电系统,并确定是否有必要进行升级. In some cases, proposed systems may require an additional Feasibility Study to determine if upgrades or protection equipment is needed. Idaho Power will conduct Feasibility Studies for systems under 3 megawatts (MW) on a case-by-case basis. Systems over 3 MW will require additional study.
- Advanced Functionality: Use of an internal transfer relay, energy management system or other customer-owned facility hardware or software system(s) to ensure power is never exported across the interconnection point.
- Reverse Power Protection: Uses a reverse power relay to ensure power is never exported across the interconnection point.
- Minimum Power Protection: Uses an under-power protective function to ensure a minimum amount of power is consumed at all times, and therefore, power cannot be exported.
系统出口超过允许的无意出口限制(任何30天内分布式能源总铭牌容量的3小时)的客户将被通知并期望采取纠正措施.
For residential (Schedule 01) and small general service (Schedule 07) customers, the inadvertent export must be rectified within 30 days. After 30 days, the customer may elect to turn off the system or move to Schedule 6 or 8 (exporting service). For Schedules other than 1 or 7, the customer must immediately open the AC disconnect until the issue that caused the export is remedied.
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