HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-28 Electric Utility Renewable Resource Purchase Policy
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-28
A RESOLUTION UPDATING THE ELECTRIC UTILITY RENEWABLE
RESOURCE PURCHASE POLICY
RECITALS:
A. The City of Ashland, through its Municipal Electric Utility supports and encourages
customer interest and installation of local, renewable electricity generation
B. The City of Ashland established its first renewable resource purchase policy in October of
1996, which subsequent amendments in 2001, 2008 and 2010 through resolutions 96-42,
2001-10, 2008-31 and 2010-29.
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Ashland supports and encourages citizens and businesses:
A. To invest in renewable electric energy generation systems; and
B. For those who generate electricity, to remain on the local electric grid to use it as a
backup supply
SECTION 2. The City of Ashland will purchase solar, wind, fuel cell or hydroelectric generated
electricity from a customer-generator subject to the following conditions:
A. All systems will be installed so as to comply with the Ashland Municipal Electric
Utility Design Requirements for Interconnection of Customer owned, Grid Connected
Renewable Generating Facilities as set forth in Exhibit A of this resolution
B. Systems will utilize a single electric meter, supplied by the Municipal Electric Utility
which moves in both directions, measuring the net of consumption and generation.
C. All excess kilowatt-hours (kWh) generated each month from the approved renewable
resource system will be credited to the customer's utility account. On the next
available billing cycle after March 31, all excess kWh accumulated on the customer
account will be purchased as a customer credit at the Municipal Electric Utility's
current total wholesale rate.
SECTION 3. The City of Ashland will facilitate the distribution of solar, wind, fuel cell or
hydroelectric generated electricity from a customer-generator, called Virtual Net Metering
(VNM) subject to the following conditions:
A. All systems will be installed so as to comply with the Ashland Municipal Electric
Utility Design Requirements for Interconnection of Customer owned, Grid Connected
Renewable Generating Facilities as set forth in Attachment A of this resolution
B. Systems will utilize a separate production meter for the generating system supplied by
the Municipal Electric Utility to measure the total electricity generated from the
system.
C. Owners of VNM systems must provide the Municipal Electric Utility with a
completed VNM Allocation Agreement describing the percentages of the monthly
generation allocated to each of the benefitting accounts within the Municipal Electric
Utility service territory.
Reso No. Page 1 of 3
SECTION 4. Resolution 2010-29 is repealed in its entirety
This resolution was duly PASSED and ADOPTED this 16rll' day of, ,
2017, and takes effect upon signing by the Mayor.
Melissa Huhtala, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this day of J)A C,^n , 2017.
kqlj~ Stro berg, Mayor
Reviewed as to form:
David H. Lohman, City Attorney
Reso No. Page 2 of 3
Exhibit A
Design Requirements for Interconnection of Customer-Owned, Grid-Connected Solar,
Wind, Fuel Cell or Hydroelectric Generating Facilities
All inverter based systems shall comply with the following standards:
• Installation shall be in accordance with all applicable local electrical and building
codes, the National Electrical Code (NEC), National Electrical Safety Code
(NESC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic (IEEE) standards and American
National Standards Institute (ANSI).
• Systems must be designed and installed using UL or ETL listed components.
• Inverters must comply with the following requirements:
IEEE 1547 and 1547.1 "Recommended Practice and Utility Interface of
Photovoltaic (PU) systems" and UL subject 1741 "standards for State Inverters
and Charge Controllers for use in Photovoltaic Power Systems".
Each system, except as exempted below, in addition to the automatic disconnection shall have a
UL approved safety disconnect switch on the Customer-Generator side of the meter capable of
fully disconnecting the Customer-Generator energy generating equipment from the City of
Ashland's electric system.
The disconnect switch shall be clearly visible from the Kilowatt-hour meter and located within
10 feet of the meter base. The disconnect switch shall be of the visible break type in a metal
enclosure, shall be clearly labeled "Generator Disconnect Switch" and shall be readily accessible
to City of Ashland Electric Utility Personnel at all times.
Exemption to the disconnect switch requirements are as follows:
For customer services of 600 volts or less, a disconnect switch is not required in the
following instances:
Service Type Maximum Net Metering Facility Size
240 volts, single-phase, 3 wire 7.2kW
120/208 volts, 3-phase, 4 wire 10.5kW
120/240 volts, 3-phase, 4 wire 12.5 kW
277/480 volts, 3-phase, 4 wire 25 kW
Any proposed renewable resource generation system with a nameplate production of 200kW or
greater requires prior consultation and approval by the Municipal Electric Utility.
Reso No. Page 3 of 3