United States of America Before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
ISO New England Inc. | Docket Nos. ER16-946-000
Comments of the New England States Committee on Electricity
Pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“Commission” or “FERC”) February 16, 2016 Combined Notice of Filings #2, the New England States Committee on Electricity (“NESCOE”) hereby files these comments in the above-captioned proceeding.[1] On
February 16, 2016, ISO New England Inc. (“ISO-NE” or the “ISO”) and the Participating Transmission Owners filed with the Commission proposed revisions to the ISO-NE Open Access Transmission Tariff (“OATT”) to improve the generator interconnection process (the “Interconnection Filing”).[2] The Interconnection Filing refers to these proposed changes as the “Interconnection Process Improvements.”[3]
- COMMENTS
The Interconnection Filing describes the foundational structure of ISO-NE’s interconnection rules—rooted in the Commission’s directives regarding the pro forma procedures and agreements—and the revisions made over the last decade to account for emerging regional needs.[4] The Interconnection Process Improvements are informed by experiences in implementing the interconnection rules.[5] These include (1) delays in studying wind resources seeking to interconnect due to an existing exemption from reactive power requirements,[6] (2) increased study time resulting from submission of technical data that failed to capture sufficient plant design information for wind and inverter-based generators early in the study process, as well as project modifications initiated after a study has commenced,[7] and (3) various features of the current rules creating inefficiencies in processing interconnection requests.[8] In short, the Interconnection Process Improvements are expected to make wind generation projects “more ‘study ready,’ similar to conventional generators.”[9]
NESCOE supports the Interconnection Process Improvements. These enhancements to the current rules, grounded in the region’s experiences, are designed to reduce study times by addressing a range of core issues that have caused delays and created inefficiencies in the interconnection process. In doing so, the new rules would facilitate the continued integration of wind resources into the ISO-NE system, enhancing competition in the energy markets and furthering state laws that foster the growth of renewable resources.
Importantly, as the Interconnection Filing explains, the proposed improvements to the interconnection process are not a panacea.[10] ISO-NE has committed to initiating a second phase of work on interconnection issues this year, with a focus on infrastructure, cluster studies, and cost allocation.[11] NESCOE looks forward to the commencement of this phase II work and to participating actively in regional discussions in the development of further critical improvements to the interconnection process.
- CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated herein, NESCOE respectfully requests that the Commission consider the above comments in this proceeding.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Jason Marshall
Jason Marshall
General Counsel
New England States Committee on Electricity
655 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Tel: (617) 913-0342
jasonmarshall@nescoe.com
Date: March 8, 2016