City of Palo Alto Utilities

Initial Status: Utility follows CA standard (CPUC Rule 21 and IEEE 1547)

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Small systems are fast tracked and large systems are not net metered, but are on Feed in Tariff

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Interconnection process information online

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice. Interconnection process information at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/28893

Initial Status: Process takes 7 days on average for residential and commercial projects

Guidance: City currently at market best practice. The FERC standard is to review systems <2MW satisfying the technical screens within 15 business days. Ideally, policy is to review within 5 business days of submittal for residential systems.

Initial Status: No fees for net metering

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Net meters should also be bi-directional and have a time of use rate.

Initial Status: Interconnection fee information available online, but not directly linked to on PV Partners page.

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice, but consider providing information in an easily accessible location. Interconnection fees available at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/8083.

Initial Status: All net-metered solar projects are $0.

Guidance: Interconnection fee is less than or equal to FERC SGIP standard: The FERC standard fee for inverter based systems under 10kW satisfying the technical screens is $100. The FERC standard fee for systems under 2MW passing the technical screens is $500. The FERC standard for systems not passing the screens and going through the study process is based on actual costs, is invoiced to the applicant after the study is completed, and includes a summary of professional time. The customer shall submit a deposit not to exceed $1,000 towards the study cost.

Initial Status: Fee schedule for supplemental engineering review is online.

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice, but consider providing information in an easily accessible location. Available at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/28893 (Pg 4).

Initial Status: Information posted online

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice, but consider providing information in an easily accessible location. Available at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/28893 (Pg 7).

Initial Status: Process takes 7 days on average for residential and commercial

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice. Inspection time from receipt of certificate of completion (or inspection request) to issue of approval/denial meets or exceeds FERC standard. The FERC standard is to complete inspection process within 10 business days. Ideally, policy is to inspect within 5 business days of request for residential systems.

Initial Status: Provide a specific appointment time and can be done in conjunction with building inspection

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Option to have both inspections done at the same time by calling in 3 business days ahead

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice. City should make it standard to have a single inspection which covers both the building permit and permission to interconnect. If installer not required to be on site for more than one inspection, no action necessary.

Initial Status: All generator types qualify

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Standard goes up to 1 MW, but can interconnect larger systems. No hard cap.

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Required for all systems

Guidance: Disconnect switch is not required for qualifying inverter-based systems using UL listed equipment up to 10kW.

Initial Status: UL1741 and IEEE1547 standards used for certification

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No additional insurance required

Guidance: Utility currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Net metering program available to DG customers that gives retail value for delivered energy

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: Feed-in-Tariff available for commercial projects as compensation for DG systems

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: Residential system size cap is based on annual on-site demand

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: 5% of peak demand with a cumulative cap of 9 MW

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: Excess generation can rollover indefinitely and true up at wholesale rate

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: No TOU for Residential; TOU with segregated time periods for Commercial

Guidance: Eliminate standby charges or other fees targeted specifically at DG customers. Consider developing safe harbor language protecting DG customers from unspecified additional equipment, fees, requirements to change tariffs, or other prohibitive provisions.

Initial Status: RECs owned by system owner

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: All customer classes, retail choice customers, as well as third party owned systems are allowed

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: Aggregation allowed under state law, but this has not been applicable yet.

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Initial Status: Billing statements only show net consumption.

Guidance: Provide monthly billing statements that clearly describe customer consumption and generation, as well as compensation for DG if applicable.

Initial Status: No community solar program in place

Action Taken: Receieved approval to create community solar program. City will release RFP soon.

Guidance: Utility at best practice.

Guidance: Utility at best practice. Solar resources can be found at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/utl/residents/sustainablehome/pvpartners.asp

Initial Status: No such mapping tool exists.

Guidance: Develop a solar map on the utility website showing installed solar systems. Include details on system sizes, locations, and total capacity.

Initial Status: Renewable energy plans are incorporated into Utility's Integrated Resource Planning.

Guidance: Utility at best practice.