(A) Purpose. The town hereby establishes a policy and this subchapter for the connection of customer-owned solar generating facilities to town’s electrical distribution system under ordinances that provide for user credits for metering of solar-generated electricity that is accepted into the town’s electrical distribution system.
(B) Introduction.
(1) The town serves as a municipal utility providing electricity and related services to residential, retail, and commercial customers within the town’s territorial and legal jurisdiction. The town will implement, to the extent possible, a net-metering program that allows customers with “solar generation facilities” to interconnect those facilities with the town’s electrical distribution system and credit participating customers for the value of the electricity contributed to the town’s system. For purposes of §§ 50.70, 50.71, 50,72, and 50.73, SOLAR GENERATION FACILITIES refers to equipment located at a customer site that generates electricity using sunlight and meets technical requirements for an interconnection to the town’s electrical distribution system. The town may expand this program in the future to allow use of other types of renewable-energy facilities.
(2) The provisions of §§
50.70, 50.71, 50,72, and 50.73
(the “user metering ordinances”) shall be available to all customers within the town’s territorial and legal jurisdiction; provided that ownership and operation of interconnected solar generation facilities by customers is not mandatory. The user metering ordinances shall not supersede existing contracts with any customer of the town’s electrical distribution system. Any agreement or contract for interconnection of solar generation facilities shall be supplemental to and in addition to the agreement or contract for the supply of electrical power.
(3) The user metering ordinances represent general rules and guidelines since the nature, size, and character of solar generation facilities can vary widely. The town reserves the right to evaluate each solar generation facility or facilities on a case-by-case basis.
(C) Definitions. The following definitions apply to the user credit ordinances.
DEMAND. The average rate in kilowatts (kW) at which electric capacity is made available as determined at the point of measurement during any 30-minute period or any other period to be determined by the town.
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION. Generation of energy (electric power) from facilities located at a customer site and meeting minimum requirements for an interconnection to the town’s electrical distribution system.
ENERGY. Electric energy as measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) at the point of measurement.
ENERGY COSTS. The variable costs associated with the production of electric energy. They represent energy-related cost only or the average cost of purchased energy. Identifiable capacity charges included in purchased power agreements shall not be included in the calculation of the cost of purchased energy.
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT. A contractual agreement between the town and a solar generation customer for an interconnection between town's electrical distribution system and the customer’s solar generation facilities.
INTERCONNECTION or POINT OF INTERCONNECTION. The point or points at which the solar generation facility is to receive and/or deliver energy or capacity and energy under normal operating conditions.
POINT OF MEASUREMENT. The point or points where energy and/or demand are metered.
PRESENT PRACTICE. Any practices, methods, and actions engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electrical power industry consistent with reliability, safety, and experience.
SOLAR GENERATION. The generation of energy (electric power) through the conversion of sunlight and/or light into usable or consumable energy.
SOLAR GENERATION FACILITY. Equipment and/or technology used for solar generation of energy (electric power) meeting minimum standards for accredited capacity and with the necessary components for an interconnection to the town’s electrical distribution system.
SOLAR GENERATION FEE. A fee charged by the town and paid by solar generation customers for establishing and/or maintaining an interconnection between a customer’s solar generation facility and the town’s electrical distribution system. See § 50.72(C).
TOWN. The Town of Fredonia and/or its designated agent(s) for operations, maintenance, and technical services related to the town’s electrical distribution system.
(Ord. 2021-001, passed 8-24-2021)