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Ontario's MicroFIT Program
Ontario's FIT Program
MicroFIT (10 kW or less)
The MicroFIT program is designed for renewable projects that can generate 10 kilowatts (kW) of electricity or less.
If you are a homeowner or small business owner, you have the opportunity to develop a very small or “micro” renewable electricity generation project (10 kilowatts or less in size) on your property. Under the MicroFIT Program, you will be paid a guaranteed, premium price for all the electricity you project produces for at least 20 years.
Once you’ve selected a renewable energy technology and developed a project plans, signing up for the MicroFIT program is straightforward. There is minimal paperwork and there’s no application fee.
Listed below are the steps that need to be carried out to ensure timely connection of renewable micro-generation projects to NOW Inc.’s distribution system.
STEPS:
Initial Contact
Customer submits Application to Connect – MicroFIT and Single Line Diagram.
Provision of Information
The customer must ensure compliance with the OPA rules and with Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) guidelines. NOW Inc. reviews the Single Line Diagram to ensure compliance with NOW’s safe utility practices and provides connection details to the customer.
Generator Develops Plan
Customer reviews information obtained from NOW Inc. and ESA and develops installation plan.
MicroFIT Contract
Customer must apply with the OPA for a MicroFIT contract.
Offer to Connect
Once NOW Inc. reviews and approves a Single Line Diagram, the customer will be given an Offer to Connect.
Implementation
Customer proceeds with project implementation.
Authorization to Connect
Customer is responsible for arranging and receiving Authorization to Connect from ESA.
Connection Agreement
Once all of the required customer work and approvals are completed, a MicroFIT Connection Agreement will be signed by the customer and NOW Inc.
Commissioning and Verification
NOW Inc. may inspect generation facility at any time.
Completion
Once the ESA’s Authorization to Connect is received, NOW Inc. will proceed with completing the connection of generation facility to NOW’s distribution system.
FIT (greater than 10 kW)
The FIT Program is designed for renewable projects that can generate more than 10 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. Listed below are steps that need to be carried out to ensure timely connection of renewable generation projects to NOW’s distribution system.
Initial Contact
Customer submits Application to Connect – FIT and Single Line Diagram (SLD).
Provision of Information
The customer must ensure compliance with the OPA rules and with Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) guidelines. NOW Inc. reviews the Single Line Diagram to ensure compliance with NOW’s safe utility practices and provides connection details to the customer.
Generator Develops Plan
Customer reviews information obtained from OPA, ESA and NOW Inc. and develops installation plan.
Initial Consultation
Preliminary meeting with customer to discuss project feasibility, connection details and broad time and cost estimates.
FIT Contract
Customer must apply with the OPA for a FIT contract.
Application for Connection Impact Assessment
Upon FIT contract award from the OPA, customer will ensure that is applies with NOW Inc. using Connection Impact Assessment Application.
Complete CIA application consists of completed and signed CIA, a possible CIA fee and SLD. All technical documentation must be sealed and signed by a licensed Ontario Professional Engineer.
Offer to Connect
CIA will typically be completed with 60 days (with no system modification or expansion) and 90 days (with modification and expansion). Customer will be notified of both CIA results. Upon success completion of both CIAs, customer will be allocated capacity.
Decision to Proceed and Install
If modification to NOW Inc.’s distribution system is required, the customer sign an Offer to Connect – Cost Recovery Agreement (CCRA).
Implementation
Customer proceeds with generation facility design an the detailed engineering drawings and plans will be submitted by the customer to ESA for plan approval.
Customer also submits information to NOW Inc. for design review (SLD, metering details, protection, etc.)
Authorization to Connect
Customer is responsible for arranging and receiving Authorization to Connect from ESA.
Connection Agreement
Once all of the required customer work and approvals are completed, a FIT Connection Agreement will be signed by the customer and NOW Inc. prior to energization.
Commissioning and Verification
NOW Inc. may inspect generation facility at any time.
Completion
Once the ESA’s Authorization to Connect is received, NOW Inc. will proceed with completing the connection of generation facility to NOW’s distribution system.
Connection Impact Assessment (CIA)
Under the Distribution System Code, all local distribution companies (LDC) are required to complete impact assessment of generation facilities prior to connecting to the distribution grid. The customer must apply for the FIT contract, before applying for a CIA.
The CIA will define the impact of the proposed embedded generation facility to NOW’s system, which includes and is not limited to:
· Any voltage impacts on current loading settings and impacts on fault currents;
· The connection feasibility;
· The need for any line or equipment upgrades;
· The need for system protection modifications;
· Any metering requirements.
All technical submissions (CIA, Single Line Diagram, etc.) must be sealed and signed by a licensed Ontario Professional Engineer.
Forms
Below are some sample documents from different local distribution companies (LDC).
Each LDC have different forms. (Hydro1, Toronto Hydro, PowerStream, Mississaga
Application to Connect – MicroFIT
Sample Single Line Diagram
Sample Offer to Connect – MicroFIT
Sample Connection Agreement – MicroFIT
Authorization to Connect – Link to ESA
Application to Connect – FIT
Connection Impact Assessment
Offer to Connect – Cost Recovery Agreement (CCRA) - not yet available
Sample Connection Agreement - FIT
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