Figure: 16 TAC §25.211(p)
AGREEMENT FOR INTERCONNECTION AND PARALLEL OPERATION
OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
This Interconnection Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into this ________ day
of ________________, ____, by _______________________________, (“Company”), and
__________________________________________
(“Customer”),
a
___________________________________ [specify whether corporation, and if so name state,
municipal corporation, cooperative corporation, or other], each hereinafter sometimes referred to
individually as “Party” or both referred to collectively as the “Parties.” In consideration of the
mutual covenants set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Scope of Agreement -- This Agreement is applicable to conditions under which
Company and Customer agree that one or more generating facility or facilities of ten megawatts
or less and related interconnecting facilities to be interconnected at less than 60 kilovolts
(“Facilities”) may be interconnected to Company’s facilities, as described in Exhibit A.
2. Establishment of Point(s) of Interconnection -- Company and Customer agree to
interconnect Facilities at the locations specified in this Agreement, in accordance with Public
Utility Commission of Texas (“Commission”) Substantive Rules 25.211, relating to
Interconnection of Distributed Generation, and 25.212, relating to Technical requirements for
Interconnection and Parallel Operation of On-Site Distributed Generation (16 Texas
Administrative Code §25.211 and §25.212) (the “Rules”) or any successor rule addressing
distributed generation and as described in the attached Exhibit A (the “Point(s) of
Interconnection”).
3. Responsibilities of Company and Customer -- Customer shall, at its own cost and
expense, operate, maintain, repair, and inspect, and shall be fully responsible for, Facilities
specified on Exhibit A. Customer shall conduct operations of Facilities in compliance with all
aspects of the Rules, and Company shall conduct operations on its facilities in compliance with
all aspects of the Rules, and as further described and mutually agreed to in the applicable Facility
Schedule.
Maintenance of Facilities shall be performed in accordance with the applicable
manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. Customer agrees to cause Facilities to be
constructed in accordance with specifications equal to or greater than those provided by the
National Electrical Safety Code, approved by the American National Standards Institute, in
effect at the time of construction.
Each Party covenants and agrees to design, install, maintain, and operate, or cause the design,
installation, maintenance, and operation of, its facilities so as to reasonably minimize the
likelihood of a disturbance, originating in the facilities of one Party, affecting or impairing the
facilities of the other Party, or other facilities with which Company is interconnected.
Company shall notify Customer if there is evidence that operation of Facilities causes disruption
or deterioration of service to other utility customers or if the operation of Facilities causes
damage to Company’s facilities or other facilities with which Company is interconnected.
Company and Customer shall work cooperatively and promptly to resolve the problem.
Customer shall notify Company of any emergency or hazardous condition or occurrence with
Facilities which could affect safe operation of Company’s facilities or other facilities with which
Company is interconnected.
Customer shall provide Company at least 14 days’ written notice of a change in ownership or
cessation of operations of one or more Facilities.
4. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
a. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, with respect to Company’s
provision of electric service to Customer other than the interconnections service
addressed by this Agreement, Company’s liability to Customer shall be limited as set
forth in ______ of Company’s Commission-approved tariffs, which are incorporated
herein by reference.
b. Neither Company nor Customer shall be liable to the other for damages for anything
that is beyond such Party's control, including an act of God, labor disturbance, act of a
public enemy, war, insurrection, riot, fire, storm or flood, explosion, breakage or
accident to machinery or equipment, a curtailment, order, or regulation or restriction
imposed by governmental, military, or lawfully established civilian authorities, or the
making of necessary repairs upon the property or equipment of either party.
c. Notwithstanding Paragraph 4.b of this Agreement, Company shall assume all liability
for and shall indemnify Customer for any claims, losses, costs, and expenses of any
kind or character to the extent that they result from Company’s negligence in
connection with the design, construction, or operation of its Facilities as described on
Exhibit A; provided, however, that Company shall have no obligation to indemnify
Customer for claims brought by claimants who cannot recover directly from Company.
Such indemnity shall include, but is not limited to, financial responsibility for: (a)
Customer’s monetary losses; (b) reasonable costs and expenses of defending an action
or claim made by a third person; (c) damages related to the death or injury of a third
person; (d) damages to the property of Customer; (e) damages to the property of a third
person; (f) damages for the disruption of the business of a third person. In no event
shall Company be liable for consequential, special, incidental, or punitive damages,
including, without limitation, loss of profits, loss of revenue, or loss of production. The
Company does not assume liability for any costs for damages arising from the
disruption of the business of Customer or for Customer’s costs and expenses of
prosecuting or defending an action or claim against Company. This paragraph does
not create a liability on the part of Company to Customer or a third person, but
requires indemnification where such liability exists.
The limitations of liability
provided in this paragraph do not apply in cases of gross negligence or intentional
wrongdoing.
d. Please check the appropriate box.
Private Entity
Notwithstanding Paragraph 4.b of this Agreement, Customer shall assume all liability for
and shall indemnify Company for any claims, losses, costs, and expenses of any kind or
character to the extent that they result from Customer’s negligence in connection with the
design, construction, or operation of Facilities as described on Exhibit A; provided,
however, that Customer shall have no obligation to indemnify Company for claims
brought by claimants who cannot recover directly from Customer. Such indemnity shall
include, but is not limited to, financial responsibility for: (a) Company’s monetary losses;
(b) reasonable costs and expenses of defending an action or claim made by a third person;
(c) damages related to the death or injury of a third person; (d) damages to the property of
Company; (e) damages to the property of a third person; (f) damages for the disruption of
the business of a third person. In no event shall Customer be liable for consequential,
special, incidental, or punitive damages, including, without limitation, loss of profits, loss
of revenue, or loss of production. The Customer does not assume liability for any costs for
damages arising from the disruption of the business of Company or for Company’s costs
and expenses of prosecuting or defending an action or claim against Customer. This
paragraph does not create a liability on the part of Customer to Company or a third
person, but requires indemnification where such liability exists. The limitations of liability
provided in this paragraph do not apply in cases of gross negligence or intentional
wrongdoing.
Federal Agency
Notwithstanding Paragraph 4.b of this Agreement, the liability, if any, of Customer
relating to this Agreement, for injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death shall
be governed exclusively by the provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. §§
1346, and 2671-2680). Subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, each Party’s
liability to the other for any loss, cost, claim, injury, liability, or expense, including
reasonable attorney’s fees, relating to or arising from any act or omission in its
performance of this Agreement shall be limited to the amount of direct damages actually
incurred, and in no event shall either Party be liable to the other for any indirect, special,
consequential, or punitive damages.
e. Company and Customer shall each be responsible for the safe installation,
maintenance, repair, and condition of their respective facilities on their respective sides
of the Points of Interconnection. Company does not assume any duty of inspecting
Customer’s Facilities.
f. For the mutual protection of Customer and Company, only with Company prior
authorization are the connections between Company’s service wires and Customer’s
service entrance conductors to be energized.
5.
Right of Access, Equipment Installation, Removal & Inspection -- Upon reasonable
notice, Company may send a qualified person to the premises of Customer at or immediately
before the time Facilities first produce energy to inspect the interconnection, and observe
Facilities’ commissioning (including any testing), startup, and operation for a period of up to
three days after initial startup of Facilities.
Following the initial inspection process described above, at reasonable hours, and upon
reasonable notice, or at any time without notice in the event of an emergency or hazardous
condition, Company shall have access to Customer’s premises for any reasonable purpose in
connection with the performance of the obligations imposed on it by this Agreement or if
necessary to meet its legal obligation to provide service to its customers.
6. Disconnection of Facilities -- Customer retains the option to disconnect from
Company’s facilities. Customer shall notify Company of its intent to disconnect by giving
Company at least thirty days’ written notice. Such disconnection shall not be a termination of
this Agreement unless Customer exercises rights under Section 7.
Customer shall disconnect Facilities from Company’s facilities upon the effective date of any
termination under Section 7.
Subject to Commission Rule, for routine maintenance and repairs of Company’s facilities,
Company shall provide Customer with seven business days’ notice of service interruption.
Company shall have the right to suspend service in cases where continuance of service to
Customer will endanger persons or property. During the forced outage of Company’s facilities
serving Customer, Company shall have the right to suspend service to effect immediate repairs
of Company’s facilities, but Company shall use its best efforts to provide Customer with
reasonable prior notice.
7. Effective Term and Termination Rights -- This Agreement becomes effective when
executed by both Parties and shall continue in effect until terminated. The Agreement may be
terminated for the following reasons: (a) Customer may terminate this Agreement at any time,
by giving Company sixty days’ written notice; (b) Company may terminate upon failure by
Customer to generate energy from Facilities in parallel with Company’s facilities within twelve
months after completion of the interconnection; (c) either Party may terminate by giving the
other Party at least sixty days’ written notice that the other Party is in default of any of the
material terms and conditions of the Agreement, so long as the notice specifies the basis for
termination and there is reasonable opportunity to cure the default; or (d) Company may
terminate by giving Customer at least sixty days’ written notice if possible in the event that there
is a material change in an applicable rule or statute that necessitates termination of this
Agreement.
8. Governing Law and Regulatory Authority -- Please check the appropriate box.
Private Entity: This Agreement was executed in the State of Texas and must in all respects
be governed by, interpreted, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws thereof.
This Agreement is subject to, and the Parties’ obligations hereunder include, operating in full
compliance with all valid, applicable federal, state, and local laws or ordinances, and all
applicable rules, regulations, orders of, and tariffs approved by, duly constituted regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction.
Federal Agency: This Agreement was executed in the State of Texas and, to the extent not
inconsistent with all applicable federal law (including, but not limited to: (a) the AntiDeficiency Acts, 31 USC §§1341, 1342 and 1501-1519; (b) the Tort Claims Act, 28 USC
Chapter 171, §§2671-2680, and 28 CFR Part 14; and (c) the Contract Disputes Act of 1978,
as amended, 41 USC §§601-613), must in all respects be governed by, interpreted, construed,
and enforced in accordance with the laws thereof. This Agreement is subject to, and the
Parties’ obligations hereunder include, operating in full compliance with all valid, applicable
federal, state, and local laws or ordinances, and all applicable rules, regulations, orders of,
and tariffs approved by, duly constituted regulatory authorities having jurisdiction.
9. Amendment -- This Agreement may be amended only upon mutual agreement of the
Parties, which amendment will not be effective until reduced to writing and executed by the
Parties.
10. Entirety of Agreement and Prior Agreements Superseded -- This Agreement,
including the attached Exhibit A and Facility Schedules, which are expressly made a part hereof
for all purposes, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with
regard to the interconnection of the facilities of the Parties at the Points of Interconnection
expressly provided for in this Agreement. The Parties are not bound by or liable for any
statement, representation, promise, inducement, understanding, or undertaking of any kind or
nature (whether written or oral) with regard to the subject matter hereof not set forth or provided
for herein. This Agreement replaces all prior agreements and undertakings, oral or written,
between the Parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, including without limitation
________________________________________________ [specify any prior agreements being
superseded], and all such agreements and undertakings are agreed by the Parties to no longer be
of any force or effect. It is expressly acknowledged that the Parties may have other agreements
covering other services not expressly provided for herein, which agreements are unaffected by
this Agreement.
11. Written Notices -- Written notices given under this Agreement are deemed to have been
duly delivered if hand delivered or sent by United States certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, to:
(a)
If to Company:
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
(b)
If to Customer:
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
The above-listed names, titles, and addresses of either Party may be changed by written
notification to the other, notwithstanding Section 10.
12. Invoicing and Payment -- Invoicing and payment terms for services associated with this
agreement shall be consistent with applicable Substantive Rules of the Commission.
13. No Third-Party Beneficiaries -- This Agreement is not intended to and does not create
rights, remedies, or benefits of any character whatsoever in favor of any persons, corporations,
associations, or entities other than the Parties, and the obligations herein assumed are solely for
the use and benefit of the Parties, their successors in interest and, where permitted, their assigns.
14. No Waiver -- The failure of a Party to this Agreement to insist, on any occasion, upon
strict performance of any provision of this Agreement will not be considered to waive the
obligations, rights, or duties imposed upon the Parties.
15. Headings -- The descriptive headings of the various parts of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be afforded no significance in the
interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
16. Multiple Counterparts -- This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which is deemed an original but all constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
respective duly authorized representatives.
[COMPANY NAME]
[CUSTOMER NAME]
BY:_____________________________
BY:___________________________________
PRINTED NAME
PRINTED NAME
________________________________
______________________________________
TITLE:__________________________
TITLE:_________________________________
DATE:___________________________
DATE:_________________________________
AGREEMENT FOR INTERCONNECTION AND PARALLEL OPERATION
OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF FACILITY SCHEDULES AND POINTS OF INTERCONNECTION
Facility Schedule No.
Name of Point of Interconnection
[Insert Facility Schedule number and name for each Point of Interconnection]
FACILITY SCHEDULE NO.
[The following information is to be specified for each Point of Interconnection, if applicable.]
1. Customer Name:
2. Premises Owner Name:
3. Facility location:
4. Delivery voltage:
5. Metering (voltage, location, losses adjustment due to metering location, and other):
6. Normal Operation of Interconnection:
7. One line diagram attached (check one): ______ Yes /_______ No
If Yes, then the one-line drawing should show the most current drawing(s) available as of the
signing of this Schedule. Company and Customer agree drawing(s) may be updated to meet asbuilt or design changes that occur during construction. Customer understands and agrees that
any changes that substantially affect the protective or functional requirements required by the
Company will need to be reviewed and accepted by Company.
8. Equipment to be furnished by Company:
(This section is intended to generally describe equipment to be furnished by Company to
effectuate the interconnection and may not be a complete list of necessary equipment.)
9. Equipment to be furnished by Customer:
(This section is intended to describe equipment to be furnished by Customer to effectuate the
interconnection and may not be a complete list of necessary equipment.)
10. Cost Responsibility and Ownership and Control of Company Facilities:
Unless otherwise agreed or prescribed by applicable regulatory requirements or other law, any
payments received by Company from Customer will remain the property of Company. Company
shall at all times have title and complete ownership and control over facilities installed by
Company.
11. Modifications to Customer Facilities.
Customer understands and agrees that, before making any modifications to its Facilities that
substantially affect the protective or interconnection parameters or requirements used in the
interconnection process (including in an Pre-interconnection Study performed by Company),
Customer will both notify Company of, and receive approval by Company for, such
modifications.
Customer further understands and agrees that, if required pursuant to
Commission Substantive Rule 25.211(m)(5), it will submit a new Application for
Interconnection and Parallel Operation request for the desired modifications.
12. Supplemental terms and conditions attached (check one): _____ Yes / ______ No
[COMPANY NAME]
[CUSTOMER NAME]
BY:_____________________________
BY:___________________________________
TITLE:__________________________
TITLE:_________________________________
DATE:___________________________
DATE:_________________________________
