Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 22-25 AMENDING THE INTERCONNECTION POLICY FOR CONNECTION OF RESIDENTIAL AND/OR COMMERCIAL SOLAR POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS TO THE CITY OF HUDSON'S POWER GRID.
Brief Description: The City’s current HPP interconnection policy amendment which passed with Resolution No. 22-25 in March of 2022, increased the size (kW) of privately owned solar power generation systems for residents and/or businesses to interconnect to the Hudson Public Power grid. Staff has received a request from a commercial/ Industrial customer to interconnect a 400kW system to the grid, and staff wishes to amend the current policy to allow case-by-case consideration and evaluation for system interconnection requests which exceed the maximum 200kW limit.
Body
Legislative History
Ordinance # 14-153, an ordinance establishing an interconnection policy for the connection of residential and/or commercial solar power generation systems to the city of Hudson's power grid through authorization of a model interconnection agreement and fees therefor.
Ordinance # 22-25, an ordinance amending ordinance # 14-153 establishing an interconnection policy for the connection of residential and/or commercial solar power generation systems to the city of Hudson's power grid through authorization of a model interconnection agreement and fees therefor.
Purpose & Explanation
The current interconnection policy included increased size limits (kW) for both residential and commercial solar generation systems to interconnect to the City’s electric grid. This change was passed with Ordinance # 22-25 in March of 2022.
Since this policy amendment, HPP staff has received a request for the interconnection of a 400kW solar generation system to the City’s power grid. As the current policy limits commercial and industrial systems to 200kW, staff would like to amend the current policy language to include the flowing as it relates to the commercial / industrial interconnection requirements:
“NOTE: Requests for Commercial / Industrial system interconnections that exceed the 200kW output limit will be considered and evaluated as to the feasibility of the request on a case-by-case basis and approved by Hudson Public Power.”
This added language will allow HPP to determine if a request for a system interconnection exceeding the max limit is feasible and if the electric system can accommodate.
Note: This does not apply to residential home system limits as the current 25kW is the max limit to be considered based on the economics of a home system and the typical residential transformer size.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted (Account #, $)
Supplemental Appropriation Required (Account #, $)
X Appropriation Not Required
Does this legislation require use of an emergency clause?
Yes [if so, explain why]
X No
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends City Council approve this ordinance amending ordinance No. 22-25 and inserting language allowing customer requests for commercial and industrial private generating systems interconnection to the City’s power grid which exceed 200kW to be considered and evaluated on a case-by-case basis and approved by Hudson Public Power
Submitted by,
Thom Sheridan, Interim City Manager
Frank J. Comeriato, Jr., Asst. City Manager-Operations
Kevin Powell, Asst. Public Works Director-Utilities