Descripción

In November 2004, Colorado voters approved Amendment 37, a ballot initiative that created a renewables portfolio standard (RPS) that applies to all of the state’s utilities. Discussions pertaining to the implementation of Amendment 37 are under way. It is expected that the new law will lead to changes in the way Colorado utilities address interconnection to the grid by small generators. Currently, Colorado does not have statewide interconnection or net metering rules. However, five of the state’s utilities — including its largest, Xcel Energy — have net-metering rules with corresponding interconnection procedures or standards.

Xcel’s net metering policy covers systems with a maximum capacity of 10 kW. Customers must complete the utility’s “Net Metered Generation Interconnection Agreement” to participate in the program. The specifics of the program are covered in Xcel’s “Small Power Production and Cogeneration Facility Policy,” which is part of Xcel’s complete retail energy tariff. This section of the tariff on small power covers rules and rates for systems up to 10 kW and systems 10 kW – 100 kW.

Xcel’s tariff specifies that system owners must pay Xcel for reviews or inspections that require more than four hours. Furthermore, Xcel specifies that system owners must pay for any increase in Xcel’s income taxes as a result of any reimbursements paid to the company for interconnection review or installation costs.

While the tariff addresses interconnection rules in general, Xcel also has developed complete set of interconnection rules (“Safety, Interference, and Interconnection Guidelines for Cogenerators, Small Power Producers and Customer-Owned Generators”) for all customer-owned generation. This 1997 document is available in hard-copy format from Xcel. These rules apply to both net-metered and non-net-metered systems.