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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2012-32 - Residential Distributed Generation Rider�- • a � i i- � 1. i:. WHEREAS, The current Distributed Generation Rider was established in 2006; and WHEREAS, The current rider is no longer adequate to effectively regulate and manage the distributed generation process; and WHEREAS, The City of Georgetown wishes to develop a more comprehensive ordinance that addresses the wider range of options that new technology has made available; and WHEREAS, The City of Georgetown recognizes the benefits of renewable generation and wishes to incentivize Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no its use ordinance, effective on based on its efficiency; and WHEREAS, The City of Georgetown wishes to strive to make this process self- supporting through the sale of Renewable Energy Credits; and WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to amend the current Distributed Generation Rider Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no and adopt proposed ordinance, effective on May 22, 2012 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, THAT; SECTION 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby fOUnd and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance complies with the Vision Statement of the City of Georgetown 2030 Comprehensive Plan. SECTION 2. Chapter 13.04.83 "DISTRIBUTED GENERATION RIDER" of the Cade of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown, Texas is hereby amended as stated on the attached Exhibit A. SECTION 3. All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and resolutions, in conflict Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any force and effect. with this SECTION TION 4. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or -Ord No. "r' f circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to attest. This ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect in (10) ten days on and after publication in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Georgetown. PASSED AND APPROVED. on First Reading on the 8t" day of May, 2012. PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the 22 t day of May, 2012. ATTEST: AS TO et Chapmn, CyAttorney By: Ge THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN: • / s REBATE ORDINANCE EXHIBIT A Sec. 13.04.083 Distributed Renewable Electric Generation. A. Availability: Available only to Residential and Small Commercial customers that own distributed renewable electric generation (D -REG) facilities of 10 kW or less that are located within the Georgetown Utility System's (GUS) electric service area and are connected to GUS's electric distribution system. The D -REG facility shall exclusively serve a single residential or small commercial premise connected to the GUS electric distribution system 1. Customers shall be required to review and complete the City's Interconnection Package and execute a distributed generation contract with the City to install a D -REG system. 2. Non -Residential customers that are 10 kW or larger may purchase or install a D -REG system, but must negotiate -a more comprehensive contract with the City, before construction can begin. B. Application: Available to customers with a solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydrogen fuel cell or any renewable energy powered device that generates ten kW or less of electric power at a voltage of 600 volts or less from a residential or small commercial electric service at a customer's premise or at an off-site location that is connected to the City's electric distribution system. C. METHOD OF CHARGE. i. Definitions. NET Meter = City generated kWh less D -REG generated kWh that is used at the premise DEL = City generated kWh that is Delivered to and used at the premise RCVD = D -REG generated kWh that is Not used at the premise and pushed out to the grid REC = Total renewable kWh generated by the D -REG system STANDARD RATE: The current adopted electric rate for the applicable rate class for which the electric service qualifies. 2. Aggregated Meter Rate: Customers installing a D -REG system will pay the sum of the following calculations a. The customer will be charged at the standard electric rate for all kWh consumed at the premise: DEL + (REC-RCVD) x standard rate b. The customer will be credited the embedded power cost for all kWh generated by the D -REG system: REC x embedded power cost 3. Customers that choose to invest in a D -REG system that does not qualify for a City provided incentive, but does qualify for system installation (i.e. a low efficiency rating) will pay the Aggregated Meter Rate. No incentive will be provided. D. INCENTIVES. To encourage the installation of qualifying renewable generation, there are incentive programs for which qualifying applicants may apply, in order to defray a portion of the costs associated with the installation of a D -REG system. i. RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS. a. In order to qualify for a renewable energy incentive, customers must assign all rights to any and all environmental attributes and/or credits, including any renewable energy credits (RECs,) carbon off -set credits, or similar environmental credits derived from the renewable energy production associated with this rebate, to the City for the City's use, as it may choose. b. Customers may petition, in writing, to retain the environmental attributes and/or credits, including any RECs, carbon off -set credits, or similar environmental credits derived from the renewable energy production in order to achieve or maintain LEED Certification or any other energy efficiency designation requiring the retirement of RECs in the customer's name. c. Revenue from the sale of RECs, by the City, is designated for renewable energy incentive programs sponsored by the City. 2, NET METERING. Net Metering is an incentive program that is available to qualifying customers that have signed a distributed generation contract with the City and have successfully connected a D, -REG system to GUS's electric distribution system. a. Customer must purchase the REC meter that is installed and used by the City to register the renewable kWh generated at the premise. b. If a premise uses more electricity than the D -REG system produces, within a single billing month, the customer pays for the non -netted, GUS provided electricity at the standard rate: (DEL kWh - RCVD kWh) x standard rate C, If a premise uses less electricity than the D -REG system produces, the customer is provided a credit equal to the embedded power cost for every D -REG generated kWh that flow back to the City's electric distribution system: (DEL kWh - RCVD kWh) x embedded power cost d. Payment for D -REG power is only.available in the form of a credit against the customer's utility bill at the upgraded premise. Cash will not be paid for D -REG generated kWh. e. D -REG credit balances for excess generation, still due when a customer disconnects all utilities from the City of Georgetown, and is not transferring to another City account, will forfeit the credit amount. e. Net metering is effective for the life of the D -REG system. f. Net metering is not available to D -REG systems that are awarded a GUS rebate. 3. REBATE. A rebate is an incentive that is available to qualifying customers that have signed a distributed generation contract with the City and have successfully connected a D -REG system to GUS's electric distribution system. a. Funding for rebates is limited to availability. Rebate offerings will be announced as they become available, and will remain active until the allotted funding is depleted or until the program is discontinued by the City. b. Calculation of Rebate. i. The GUS Rebate Application must be completed, signed and returned to the City before a rebate will be issued. ii. The rebate is based on the smaller of the Panel Rating and the Inverter Rating (if they are different) and the efficiency of the system currently being installed. His Payment to customer will not exceed a total, cumulative system rebate of $7,500. c. The City may, at any time, discontinue a program or any of its components, change guidelines, or increase / decrease rebate calculation methods, without prior notice. d. Once funds are depleted, no additional applications for participation will be accepted until the next fiscal year, or until more funding becomes available. e. There is no waiting list for inactive or future programs. Applications that are submitted, but not addressed, before program funding is depleted, must resubmit the following year. i. Rebates are paid on a first come basis, within the pool of qualifying 'applicants. ii. Application for rebate will not be accepted retroactively to any offering period. f. Rebates are for residential and small commercial customers, only. g. Rebates are applicable for retrofits, only. New construction does not qualify for this rebate. h. All system equipment must be purchased. No leased or lease/purchase equipment will qualify for a rebate. i. The rebate application form must include a copy of the itemized and dated invoice from the contractor or retailer. j. D -REG systems,;will only qualify for this rebate once per 12 -month period. After 12 months, an application for rebate may be submitted for expansion of the D -REG system. k. Customers that receive a Rebate will pay the Aggregated Meter Rate. E. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS. i. The contractor that installs the prescribed and approved D -REG system must be registered as a City Authorized Contractor, at the time of the installation. 2. To become a registered program installer, the contractor must submit a GUS Rebate Program Contractor Registration Form, which includes the installer's NABCEP certification, to the Program Manager, F. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCONNECTON. 1. Applicant must be the homeowner or property owner at the location being improved. 2. A D -REG system will not be designed to generate more energy than the average annual usage of the home for which it provides power. 3. All installations and improvements must be at locations with electric service provided by GUS and must meet all applicable national, local, and manufacturers' codes and specifications. 4. All necessary permits must be acquired from the City prior to installation. 5. The City does not compensate the installer for the equipment installation or for processing the necessary paperwork. 6. A pre -inspection by the City that entails a site evaluation of the proposed location for the D -REG system may be required. 7. Post -inspections by the GUS Building Inspection department are required on all installations, before the issuance of the rebate. Failure to follow these or other requirements of the City building code may render the system ineligible for the incentive and the system will not be allowed to interconnect with the City electrical grid. G. REGULATIONS SPECIFIC TO PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEMS: 1. Customers must provide a copy of their system design analysis, as calculated by PV Watts, the online calculation tool used for estimating the energy production and cost savings of grid connected PV systems. (This analysis is used to verify the optimal placement of the panels.) a. 100% - 80% of optimal placement = Full per DC Watt rebate b. 79% - 70% of optimal placement = Full per DC Watt rebate x .66 c. No incentive is provided for efficiency less than 70% 2. The City Interconnect package must be reviewed, completed and approved by City staff, prior to installation PV system. 3. A pre -inspection site evaluation of the proposed location for the PV system to verify that the orientation and shading of the buildings are appropriate for adequate solar energy capture and conversion may be required. This evaluation may be performed on-site or by using the Google Maps satellite and street view applications or an equivalent online mapping service. 4. All equipment must be new when installed and must come with, at the least, a five (5) year warranty on the inverter and a (15) fifteen year warranty on the panels. 5. The itemized and dated invoice from the contractor or retailer that is included with the application form must include the serial numbers for all panels and inverters. 6. Requests for rebates must be received by the City within thirty (30) days of installation. 7. Payments will be made to the property owner that purchased the qualified equipment, unless authorized, in writing, by the program manager and the property owner.