I am unable to attach a PDF file.. so copying text from a PDF file and pasting it here... following are the rules and regulations around installation of such systems...
NEPRA ARE (Alternative & Renewable Energy)
Distributed Generation/Net Metering Rules
October, 2014
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 46 of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission,
and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 (XL of 1997), the National Electric Power
Regulatory Authority, with the approval of Federal Government, is pleased to make the
following Rules namely:-
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement: - (1) These Rules may be called the National Electric Power
Regulatory Authority ARE Distributed Generation/Net Metering Rules 2014.
(2) These shall come into force at once:-
2. Definitions:-
2.1 “ARE” means Alternative & Renewable Energy;
2.2 “DG” means Distributed Generation;
2.3 “Distributed Generation” means electrical power generation by Solar or Wind that is
interconnected to DISCO’s distribution system at interconnection point;
2.4 “DG Facility” means a distributed generating facility using Solar or Wind energy resource
for generation of electricity up to 1 MW;
2.5 “Distributed Generator” means a person who is DISCO’s 3 phase 400V or 11kV consumer
i.e. Domestic, Commercial or Industrial and who owns and/or operates the DG facility, and is
responsible for the rights and obligations related to the Agreement;
2.6 “Applicant” means a person who is registered with the Authority as Distributed Generator
and applies to a DISCO to interconnect a DG facility to the DISCO’s distribution system;
2.7 “Application” means the application submitted by a Distributed Generator to DISCO on
Authority’s approved format (Annexed-B) for interconnection of a DG facility to the DISCO’s
distribution system;
2.8 “Test Report” means a report provided by the Electric Inspector;
2.9 “Authority” means National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) established
under section 3 of Regulation of Generation, Transmission, & Distribution of Electric Power Act
(XL of 1997);
2.10 “Distribution Facilities/ Distribution System” means electrical facilities/system operating
at distribution voltage and used for the movement or delivery of electric power;
2.11 “DISCO” means a Distribution Company;
2.12 “Distribution Company” means the person engaged in the distribution of electric power;
2.13 “Licensee” means a holder of a licence;
2.14 “Person” means an association of persons, concern, company, firm or undertaking;
2.15 “Interconnection Point” means the point where the metering, installation and protection
apparatus of the distributed generator is connected to the DISCO’s distribution facilities;
2.16 “Agreement” means the agreement between the DISCO and the distributed generator on
the Authority’s approved format (Annex-C);
2.17 “Interconnection Facilities” means the equipment, including, without limitation, electrical
lines or circuits, transformers, switch gear, safety and protective devices, meters or electrical
plant, used for interconnection services;
2.18 “Fault” means an equipment failure, conductor failure, short circuit, or other condition
resulting from abnormally high amounts of current from the power system;
2.19 “Net Metering Facility” means a facility comprising of one or two meters for measuring
the kWh generated by Distributed Generator and supplied by DISCO and determining the net
energy;
2.20 “Net Energy” means a balance (positive or negative) of the kWh generated by Distributed
Generator against the kWh supplied by DISCO at the end of billing cycle;
2.21 “Net Energy Billing” means a billing and metering practice under which a Distributed
Generator is billed on the basis of net energy over the billing cycle;
2.22 “Billing Cycle” means energy recorded by the meters in a period of thirty days;
2.23 “Tariff” means the rates, charges, terms and conditions for sale of electric power to
consumers as approved by the Authority and duly notified by Government of Pakistan from time
to time.
2.24 “kWh” means kilowatt hour;
2.25 “MW” means megawatt;
2.26 "Applicable Tariff" means tariff approved by NEPRA for the relevant period and category
of consumers of the Disco;
2.27 Words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meaning as
in the Regulation of Generation, Transmission, & Distribution of Electric Power Act (XL of
1997)
PART II
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
4. General Rules, Rights and Obligations:-
(1) A Distributed Generator who intends to sell electrical power to a DISCO shall be
registered with the Authority as per procedure given below;
i) The request for registration shall be submitted to the Authority on the approved
format (Annex-A) along with the fee of rupees 500/- (non-refundable) drawn
through a cross cheque in favor of Authority.
ii) The request for registration may be examined by Authority and either is registered
or returned to the Distributed Generator with objections within fifteen days of its
receipt.
(2) A DISCO, shall allow any of its consumers to establish Distributed Generating facilities
to be interconnected with the DISCO’s Distribution facilities using either (a) a standard
meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions, or (b) two separate
meters one is for selling electricity to the DISCO and other is for purchasing electricity
from the DISCO.
(3) A Distributed Generator shall enter into an Agreement (Annex-C) with the DISCO, and
receive DISCO’s express written approval for interconnection. The DISCO shall not
unreasonably withhold its approval to interconnect DG facility with DISCO’s
Distribution System.
(4) The Distributed Generator shall not have any right to utilize DISCO’s interconnection
facilities for the sale of electricity to any other person.
(5) DISCO shall have the right to review the design of a DG facility and interconnection
facilities and to inspect the DG facilities and interconnection facilities prior to the
commencement of parallel operation with DISCO’s Distribution System. DISCO may
require the Distributed Generator to make modifications as necessary to comply with the
requirements of these Rules.
(6) A Distributed Generator shall operate and maintain its DG facility and interconnection
facilities in accordance with Prudent Electrical Practices.
(7) DISCO may limit the operation and/or disconnect or require the disconnection of a DG
facility from DISCO’s Distribution System at any time, with or without notice, in the
event of fault. DISCO may also limit the operation and/or disconnect or require the
disconnection of DG facility from DISCO’s Distribution System upon the provision of
thirty days written notice for the conditions which include as follows:
1) To allow for routine maintenance, repairs or modifications to DISCO’s Distribution
System;
2) Upon DISCO’s determination that DG facility is not in compliance with these Rules;
3) Upon termination of the Agreement.
PART III
APPLICATION AND INTERCONNECTION PROCESS
5. Application Process for Interconnecting DG facilities:-
(1) The DISCO shall provide information and Authority’s approved documents in response
to the request from Applicant free of cost within three working days.
(2) Application along with necessary documents shall be submitted by Distributed Generator
to DISCO.
(3) Within ten working days of receiving an application, the DISCO shall normally
acknowledge its receipt and intimate to the Applicant whether the Application has been
completed adequately. In case of any missing information or documents the Applicant
shall provide the same to DISCO within ten working days of the receipt of intimation
from DISCO.
(4) Upon receipt of a satisfactory completed Application, the DISCO shall perform an initial
review. The initial review determines if the Applicant qualifies for interconnection, or
may qualify subject to additional requirements. The DISCO shall complete its initial
review within twenty working days.
(5) If an initial review reveals that the proposed facility is not technically feasible, the
DISCO shall return the application and communicate the reasons to applicant within
seven working days after the completion of initial review.
(6) If the DISCO is satisfied that the applicant qualifies as Distributed Generator, then the
DISCO and the Applicant shall enter into an agreement within twenty working days.
DISCO shall send a copy of the Agreement to the Authority within seven working days
of the signing of the agreement.
(7) Within seven working days of execution of the Agreement, the DISCO shall issue the
Connection Charge Estimate to the applicant for deposition of the charges for the
proposed interconnection facility up to the interconnection point including the metering
installation.
(8) The Applicant shall make the payment of Connection Charge Estimate within thirty days
of its issuance.
(9) The DISCO shall install and commission the proposed interconnection facility within
thirty eight days of the payment of demand notice by the Applicant.
PART IV
DG FCAILITY DESIGN AND OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
6. Protection Requirements:-
(1) The Distributed Generator’s protection and control diagrams for the interconnection shall
be in accordance with the provisions of the Grid and Distribution Codes and approved by
the DISCO prior to commissioning of the proposed interconnection facilities. A typical
single line diagram is shown as Figure.
(2) Applicant shall be responsible for the installation of equipment, including, without
limitation, electrical lines or circuits, transformers, switch gear, safety and protective
devices, meters or electrical plant, used for interconnection.
Provided however, if the applicant is unable to install equipment, including, without
limitation, electrical lines or circuits, transformers, switch gear, safety and protective
devices, meters or electrical plant, used for interconnection, the DISCO may execute the
requisite work in case applicant offers to deposit the cost to be incurred on the requisite
work at mutually agreed terms.
(3) Protective functions shall be equipped with automatic means to prevent reconnection of
the DG facility with the DISCO’s Distribution facilities unless the Distribution facilities
service voltage and frequency is of specified setting and is stable for time to be mutually
agreed.
(4) The Distributed Generator will furnish and install a manual disconnect device that has a
visual break to isolate the DG facility from the Distribution facilities.
(5) The grid connected inverters and generators shall comply with Underwriter Laboratories
UL 1741 standard (Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System
Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources) which addresses the electrical
interconnection design of various forms of generating equipment, IEEE 1547 2003, IEC
61215 or other international standards.
7. Prevention of Interference: - The Distributed Generator shall not operate such equipment
that superimposes upon the Distribution System a voltage or current that interferes with DISCO
operations, service to DISCO consumers, or DISCO communication facilities. If such
interference occurs, the Distributed Generator must diligently pursue and take corrective action
at its own expense after being given notice and reasonable time to do so by DISCO. If the
Distributed Generator does not take timely corrective action, the DISCO may, without liability,
disconnect the DG facility from the Distribution System, in accordance with sub rule (7) of Rule
4 of these Rules.
8. Voltage and Frequency Range: - A variation of ±5% and ±1% are permissible to the
nominal voltage and frequency respectively.
PART V
INTERCONNECTION FACILITY FINANCING
9. Responsibility for Costs of Interconnecting a DG facility:-
(1) A Distributed Generator shall be responsible for all costs associated with interconnection
facilities.
(2) The Distributed Generator shall also be responsible for any costs reasonably incurred by
DISCO in providing, operating, or maintaining Interconnection facilities and Distribution
System improvements required solely for the interconnection of the DG facility with
DISCO’s Distribution System.
PART VI
NET ENERGY METERING SERVICES
10. Metering Requirements:-
(1) The equipment installed for net metering may be single meter or two separate meters. In
case of single meter the equipment installed for net energy metering shall be capable of
accurately measuring the flow of electricity in two directions.
(2) If the two separate meters are installed, as described above, the net energy metering
calculation shall yield the same result as when a single meter is used.
(3) The Net Energy Metering Facility, at the Distributed Generator’s expense, shall meet all
safety and protection requirements that are necessary to assure safe and reliable operation
of the DG facility when connected to the DISCO’s Distribution facilities and that have
been approved by the Authority.
11. Billing for Net Metering:-
(1) At the end of each billing cycle following the date of final interconnection of DG facility
to the DISCO’s Distribution facilities, the DISCO shall net off the kWh supplied by
Distributed Generator against the kWh supplied by the DISCO.
(2) If the kWh supplied by DISCO exceed the kWh supplied by Distributed Generator, the
Distributed Generator shall be billed by DISCO for the net kWh in accordance with the
Applicable Tariff.
(3) If the kWh supplied by Distributed Generator exceed the kWh supplied by DISCO, the
net kWh shall be credited against Distributed Generator’s next billing cycle for future
consumption, or shall be paid by the DISCO to the Distributed Generator annually in
accordance with the Applicable Tariff at the option of Distributed Generator.
(4) The tariff applicable for purchase of electricity from the Distributed Generator shall be
the same at which the Distributed Generator has been billed by the DISCO for electric
power sold to the Distributed Generator.
PART VII
Terms of Agreement, Termination of Agreement and Dispute Resolution
16. Terms of Agreement:-
(1) The term of Agreement between Distributed Generator and DISCO shall be three years
with effect from commissioning of DG facility.
(2) At the expiry of initial term, the Agreement may be automatically renewed by the mutual
understanding between Distributed Generator and DISCO for another term of three years
and so on.
17. Termination of Agreement:-
(1) The Agreement may be terminated in accordance with the sub rule (7) of Rule 4 of these
Rules.
(2) The Distributed Generator may terminate the Agreement upon thirty days written notice
if the Distributed Generator decides to discontinue the sale of electricity to the DISCO.
(3) The DISCO shall not terminate the Agreement on any event without prior approval of the
Authority.
(4) All rights and obligations accrued up to termination shall continue in force upon
termination.
18. Dispute Resolution: - Any dispute in relation to this Agreement shall be referred to the
Authority. The decision of the Authority in the referred matter shall be final.
