---------------------- Forwarded by Christi L Nicolay/HOU/ECT on 01/18/2001 
03:58 PM ---------------------------
   
	
	
	From:  Christi L Nicolay                           01/18/2001 04:01 PM
	

To: Barbara N Gray/HOU/ECT@ECT, Steve Van Hooser/HOU/ECT@ECT, Jeffrey T 
Hodge/HOU/ECT@ECT
cc: James D Steffes/NA/Enron@Enron 

Subject: Interconnection Information

Barbara, Steve and Jeff--Below is information I sent out last year (as 
updated today) dealing with some interconnection issues.  I look forward to 
working with you on interconnection and other power transmission issues.  
Thanks.  Christi





This is a brief primer to assist you with current policy regarding 
interconnecting generation plants in the East.  Please forward this to your 
groups.  Thanks.  Christi Nicolay 37007  EB3132a.   I am available for your 
federal/FERC regulatory questions and can point you to the correct 
state/regional regulatory people.

When initially deciding where to site a plant, there are several federal 
regulatory issues to consider:  

First, you will need to obtain the utility's interconnection policy and a pro 
forma interconnection agreement from the utility.  For most utilities, you 
will need to call them to obtain their policy and agreement.  Some utilities 
have this available on their OASIS computer site or web page.  The OASIS 
sites have areas that do not require a password, but if the information is 
not available in that area, you should contact the power trading desk 
transmission personnel to assist in locating the information.  If a utility 
says it does not have a policy, you can let me know.

The interconnection procedures typically require you to send in a request for 
the utility to study the interconnection (Typically, app. $10,000).  When you 
return the money and the request (which is usually an agreement that must be 
initialled by ENA legal), the project will be placed in the "queue."  The 
queue is usually available on the OASIS.  If the utility does not post the 
queue, let me know.  

Many times the procedures require the project to meet "milestones" in order 
to remain in the queue.  If the milestones look unreasonable, let me know.

FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) recently issued an order 
(Tennessee Power case) in which FERC stated that asking for "interconnection" 
is separate from a request for "transmission" under a utility's Open Access 
Transmission Tariff (OATT).  Enron and others had lobbied FERC to issue an 
order dealing with interconnection.  Many utilities will try to charge 
additional "network upgrade" costs, not simply the costs to interconnect.  
This is not necessary allowed under the new FERC rule, because such costs 
should be charged when a separate request for transmission is made  (Note: 
PJM and NEPOOL have different rules due to their pool structure).  

In addition, in the Tennessee Power case, FERC stated that utilities are 
required to abide by certain timelines during the interconnection study 
process.  Generally, these timelines are in the attachment below.  Most of 
the interconnection policies I have seen have timelines significantly longer 
than what FERC is now requiring.  You should probably first call the utility 
to ask if they are planning to revise the deadlines to comply with FERC's new 
order.  If that doesn't work, you can call me.   FERC has approved some 
longer deadlines in certain utility specific filings.

There are several utilities that have filed their interconnection procedures 
at FERC:  for example PJM, NEPOOL, VEPCO, Ameren, Entergy, ComEd, Arizona 
Pub. Serv., CP&L.  FERC has issued orders in most of the filings.

An ENA attorney must sign off on the interconnection agreement.  Generally, I 
review the interconnection agreement from a regulatory perspective.  It is 
important to have someone in Enron's Genco review it if Enron will own or 
operate it after in-service or if EPMI plans to purchase power from the 
plant.  The interconnection agreement usually contains operational 
provisions, including imbalance provisions, that are typically very one sided 
toward the utility, so it is important to have Enron technical input before 
the agreement is executed.

Asking for interconnection and getting in a queue is not a request for 
transmission.  You should consult the power trading desk transmission people 
in order to determine whether a request for firm or non-firm transmission 
needs to be made.  The desk can make the request if necessary.  While the 
desk may choose to use daily/hourly non-firm transmission for some of the 
Enron plants, the decision is made on a case-by-case basis.  You do not want 
your plant to be "stranded" without the ability to wheel electricity away 
from the busbar, unless you are building a plant in order to sell power 
directly to the interconnected utility, and even then, you may want to wheel 
power around at times.

If the utility does not have enough transmission capability to wheel power 
from the plant, the plant/Enron may have to pay "network upgrades."  You want 
to make sure that you are reserving transmission on a firm (priority) basis 
if you pay for network upgrades.  Some utilities simply provide "transmission 
credits" when requiring network upgrades.  These are not as valuable to Enron 
because there may be no opportunity to ever wheel the power if Enron doesn't 
have a "reservation" for the transmission.  The Eastern interconnection is 
prone to curtailments of transmission called "TLRs," especially in the 
summer.  The Power Trading desk can assist in obtaining the transmission.

In order to sell power to the grid, the plant must apply to FERC for "Exempt 
Wholesale Generator" (EWG) status and also obtain a FERC Power Marketer 
license with "Market Based Rates."  These filings make the on-site generator 
a "utility" for FERC purposes and subjects the "power marketer" to periodic 
filings at FERC.  These generally must be filed at least 60 days before the 
plant will start producing any power.  The filings take several weeks to 
prepare.

Do not assume that you can sell ancillary services from the plant.  The plant 
may not be able to sell ancillary services into the market.  EPMI has the 
FERC authorization to sell certain ancillary services in California and 
NEPOOL, but EPMI cannot, at this time, sell in other areas (absent a FERC 
filing and setting up an OASIS web page).  Be aware that many utilities add 
language in their interconnection agreements that allow them to "take" the 
ancillary services from your plant, without compensation.

If you are dealing with an industrial that has a plant on-site, additional 
issues are involved.  You can check on the Enron home page under "Sites", 
"Intranet", "Government Affairs", "State Restructuring Reports" for 
information on the status of retail open access in that state.  If you need 
additional assistance, contact Elizabeth Linnell 33896.  

Generally, the state must have retail open access in order for Enron to sell 
power to a plant.  In order for an on-site plant to sell power to the grid,  
it must apply to FERC for "Exempt Wholesale Generator" (EWG) status and also 
obtain a FERC Power Marketer license with "Market Based Rates."  These 
filings make the on-site generator a "utility" for FERC purposes and subject 
the "power marketer" to periodic filings at FERC.  Because some industrials 
may not want to be FERC regulated, ENA may be able to use a "Special Purpose 
Vehicle" (SPV) so that ENA may own part of the generator.  There are also 
options to establish a "Qualified Facility" (QF) that sells power to the 
interconnected utility.  The interconnected utility may also have a program 
in which it purchases excess power from the on-site plant.  Please contact 
Bob Frank 33180 for help on possible regulatory structures.

There may also be issues if the plant is connecting to a lower voltage line, 
such as a 69kv or 138kv.  Some utilties have filed to put these lines into 
their distribution systems, rather than in the wholesale transmission system, 
which may take them out of FERC jurisdiction for wheeling purposes.  We have 
not fully examined this type of situation, but can if necessary.

There are other regulatory issues, such as site permitting, political 
assistance, environmental permits, that must also be addressed.  The regional 
regulatory people in Rick Shapiro's government affairs group can assist you.