Policy & Regulation

FERC affirms Order 2023 interconnection rule

FERC affirms Order 2023 interconnection rule
(Image by Tom from Pixabay)

FERC has affirmed its July 2023 rule, Order No. 2023, that aimed to address the country’s interconnection backlog. The rule requires all public utilities to adopt revised pro forma generator interconnection procedures and agreements to ensure that interconnection customers can interconnect to the transmission system in a reliable, efficient, transparent, and timely manner.

FERC’s affirmation was meant to address rehearing and clarification requests stemming from Order 2023, and to create a set of compliance orders associated with it.

The rehearing order addressed the respective roles and responsibilities of transmission providers and interconnection customers in the interconnection process. It also aimed to clarify topics ranging from public interconnection information and the cluster study process to withdrawal and study delay penalties, and the consideration of alternative transmission technologies. Additionally, it extended the deadline for transmission providers to submit their compliance filings until 30 days after publication of Order No. 2023-A in the Federal Register.

“Today the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld penalties for utilities and transmission owners that fail to process interconnection applications in a timely manner,” said Melissa Alfano, senior director of energy markets and counsel for the Solar Energy Industries Association. “For the last decade, utilities have slow-walked interconnection applications and failed to make progress on their own, causing a massive, two-terawatt backlog of solar and storage assets waiting for permission to connect to the grid. These new rules will establish clear expectations for all parties involved in the interconnection process and outline consequences for inaction.”

FERC also acted on Order No. 2023 compliance filings by Duke Energy Florida, Duke Energy Carolinas, and Duke Energy Progress; Arizona Public Service Company; and Idaho Power Company. The Commission found that these filings partially comply with Order No. 2023 but directed each entity to submit a further compliance filing.  

Originally published in POWERGRID International.

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