(A-1) NYS STD CONTRACT
FOR USE WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES

Delivery Service means the services the Utility may provide to deliver capacity or energy generated by the Interconnection Customer to a buyer to a delivery point(s), including related ancillary services.

Energy Storage System (ESS) means a commercially available mechanical, electrical, or electro-chemical means to store and release electrical energy, and its associated electrical inversion device and control functions that may be stand-alone or paired with a distributed generator at a point of common coupling.

Interconnection Customer means that the owner of the Unit is a Federal agency, defined by the Federal Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2671 et seq., to include the executive departments, the judicial and legislative branches, the military departments, independent establishments of the United States, and corporations primarily acting as instrumentalities or agencies of the United States, but does not include any contractor with the United States (U.S.).

Interconnection Facilities means the equipment and facilities on the Utility’s system necessary to permit operation of the Unit in parallel with the Utility’s system.

Material Modification means a Modification to a Unit that may have adverse impacts on the Utility’s system, Utility customers, other projects, or applications in the interconnection queue.

Modification means a change to the ownership, equipment, equipment ratings, equipment configuration, or operating conditions of the Unit.

Premises means the real property where the Unit is located.

SIR means the New York State Standardized Interconnection Requirements for new distributed generation units with a nameplate capacity of 5 MW or less connected in parallel with the Utility’s distribution system.

Unit means the distributed generation, stand-alone ESS, or combined generation and ESS facilities approved by the Utility for operation in parallel with the Utility’s system. This Agreement relates only to such Unit, but a new agreement shall not be required if the Interconnection Customer makes physical alterations to the Unit that do not result in an increase in its nameplate generating capacity. The nameplate generating capacity or inverter/converter rating of the Unit shall not exceed 5 MW.

Utility means [insert legal name of the interconnecting utility].

1.1 Term: This Agreement shall become effective when executed by both Parties and shall continue in effect until terminated.

1.2 Termination: This Agreement may be terminated as follows:

a. The Interconnection Customer may terminate this Agreement at any time, by giving the Utility sixty (60) days' written notice.

b. Failure by the Interconnection Customer to seek final acceptance by the Utility within twelve (12) months after completion of the utility construction process described in the SIR shall automatically terminate this Agreement.

c. Either Party may, by giving the other Party at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice, terminate this Agreement in the event that the other Party is in default of any of the material terms and conditions of this Agreement. The terminating Party shall specify in the notice the basis for the termination and shall provide a reasonable opportunity to cure the default.

d. The Utility may, by giving the Interconnection Customer at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice, terminate this Agreement for cause. The Interconnection Customer's non-compliance with an upgrade to the SIR, unless the Interconnection Customer's installation is "grandfathered," shall constitute good cause.

1.3 Disconnection and Survival of Obligations: Upon termination of this Agreement the Unit will be disconnected from the Utility's electric system. The termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either Party of its liabilities and obligations, owed or continuing at the time of the termination.

1.4 Suspension: This Agreement will be suspended during any period in which the Interconnection Customer is not eligible for Delivery Service from the Utility

Scope of Agreement: This Agreement relates solely to the conditions under which the Utility and the Interconnection Customer agree that the Unit may be interconnected to and operated in parallel with the Utility’s system.

The Utility shall have no duty under this Agreement to account for, pay for, deliver, or return in kind any electricity produced by the Facility and delivered into the Utility’s System unless the system is net metered as described in Public Service Law Section 66-l.

3.1 Compliance with SIR: Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Utility shall be required to interconnect the Unit to the Utility’s system, for purposes of parallel operation, if the Utility accepts the Unit as in compliance with the SIR. The Interconnection Customer shall have a continuing obligation to maintain and operate the Unit in compliance with the SIR.

3.2 Observation of the Unit - Construction Phase: The Utility may, in its discretion and upon reasonable notice, perform reasonable on-site verifications during the construction of the Unit. Whenever the Utility chooses to exercise its right to perform observations herein it shall specify to the Interconnection Customer its reasons for its decision to perform the observation. For purposes of this paragraph and paragraphs 3.3 through 3.5, the term "on-site verification” shall not include testing of the Unit, and verification tests shall not be required except as provided in paragraphs

3.3 Observation of the Unit - Ten-day Period: The Utility may perform on-site verifications of the Unit and observe the execution of verification testing within a reasonable period of time, not exceeding ten (10) business days after system installation. The Unit will be allowed to commence parallel operation upon satisfactory completion of the verification test. The Interconnection Customer must have complied with and must continue to comply with all contractual and technical requirements.

3.4 Observation of the Unit - Post-Ten-day Period: If the Utility does not perform an on-site verification of the Unit and observe the execution of verification testing within the ten-day period, the Interconnection Customer will send the Utility within five (5) days of the verification testing a written notification certifying that the Unit has been installed and tested in compliance with the SIR, the utility-accepted design and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions. The Interconnection Customer may begin to produce energy upon satisfactory completion of the verification test. After receiving the verification test notification, the Utility will either issue to the Interconnection Customer a formal letter of acceptance for interconnection, or may request that the applicant and utility set a date and time to perform an on-site verification of the Unit and make reasonable inquiries of the Interconnection Customer, but only for purposes of determining whether the verification tests were properly performed. The Interconnection Customer shall not be required to perform the verification tests a second time, unless irregularities appear in the verification test report or there are other objective indications that the tests were not properly performed in the first instance.

3.5 Observation of the Unit - Operations: The Utility may perform on-site verification of the operations of the Unit after it commences operations if the Utility has a reasonable basis for doing so based on its responsibility to provide continuous and reliable utility service or as authorized by the provisions of the Utility’s Retail Electric Tariff relating to the verification of Interconnection Customer installations generally.

3.6 Costs of Interconnection Facilities: During the term of this Agreement, the Utility shall design, construct and install the Interconnection Facilities. The Interconnection Customer shall be responsible for paying the incremental capital cost of such Interconnection Facilities attributable to the Interconnection Customer’s Unit. All costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the Dedicated Facilities after the Unit first produces energy shall be the responsibility of the Utility.

3.7 Modifications to the Unit: The Interconnection Customer may request a Modification at any time after commencement of parallel operation. The Utility shall evaluate the request and determine whether the proposed change is a Material Modification in accordance with the rules for requesting changes to applications in the SIR. A Material Modification will be studied pursuant to the procedures in the SIR for new applications. In the case of a non-material modification that is accepted by the Utility, the parties will execute an amendment to this Agreement describing the Unit changes that have been approved.

4.1 Emergency Disconnection: The Utility may disconnect the Unit, without prior notice to the Interconnection Customer (a) to eliminate conditions that constitute a potential hazard to Utility personnel or the general public; (b) if pre-emergency or emergency conditions exist on the Utility system; (c) if a hazardous condition relating to the Unit is observed by a Utility inspection; or (d) if the Interconnection Customer has tampered with any protective device. The Utility shall notify the Interconnection Customer of the emergency if circumstances permit. The Interconnection Customer shall notify the Utility promptly when it becomes aware of an emergency condition that affects the Unit that may reasonably be expected to affect the Utility EPS.

4.2 Non-Emergency Disconnection Due to Unit Performance: The Utility may disconnect the Unit, after notice to the responsible party has been provided and a reasonable time to correct, consistent with the conditions, has elapsed, if (a) the Interconnection Customer has failed to make available records of verification tests and maintenance of his protective devices; (b) the Unit system interferes with Utility equipment or equipment belonging to other customers of the Utility; (c) the Unit adversely affects the quality of service of adjoining customers; (d) the ESS does not operate in compliance with the operating parameters and limits described in Attachment 1 to this Agreement.

4.3 Non-Emergency Disconnection for Utility Work: The Utility may disconnect the Unit after notice to Interconnection Customer when necessary for routine maintenance, construction, and repairs on the Utility EPS. The Interconnection Customer may request to reconnect its service prior to the completion of the Utility’s work. The Utility shall accommodate such requests, provided that the Interconnection Customer shall be responsible for the costs of the Utility’s review and any system modifications required to reconnect the Unit ahead of schedule.

4.4 Disconnection by Interconnection Customer: The Interconnection Customer may disconnect a Unit with an AC nameplate rating above 300 kW upon 18 hours advance notice to the Utility if the planned shutdown will last 8 hours or more. For non-emergency forced outages lasting 8 hours or more, the Interconnection Customer shall notify the Utility within 24 hours of the commencement of the shutdown.

4.5 Utility Obligation to Cure Adverse Effect: If, after the Interconnection Customer meets all interconnection requirements, the operations of the Utility are adversely affecting the performance of the Unit or the Customer’s premises, the Utility shall immediately take appropriate action to eliminate the adverse effect. If the Utility determines that it needs to upgrade or reconfigure its system, the Interconnection Customer will not be responsible for the cost of new or additional equipment beyond the point of common coupling between the Interconnection Customer and the Utility.

5.1 Access to Premises: The Utility shall have access to the disconnect switch of the Unit at all times. At reasonable hours and upon reasonable notice consistent with Section III of this Agreement, or at any time without notice in the event of an emergency (as defined in paragraph 4.1), the Utility shall have access to the Premises.

5.2 Utility and Interconnection Customer Representatives: The Utility shall designate, and shall provide to the Interconnection Customer, the name and telephone number of a representative or representatives who can be reached at all times to allow the Interconnection Customer to report an emergency and obtain the assistance of the Utility. For the purpose of allowing access to the premises, the Interconnection Customer shall provide the Utility with the name and telephone number of a person who is responsible for providing access to the Premises.

5.3 Utility Right to Access Utility-Owned Facilities and Equipment: If necessary for the purposes of this Agreement, the Interconnection Customer shall allow the Utility access to the Utility’s equipment and facilities located on the Premises. To the extent that the Interconnection Customer does not own all or any part of the property on which the Utility is required to locate its equipment or facilities to serve the Interconnection Customer under this Agreement, the Interconnection Customer shall secure and provide in favor of the Utility the necessary rights to obtain access to such equipment or facilities, including easements if the circumstances so require.

6.1 Good Faith Resolution of Disputes: Each Party agrees to attempt to resolve all disputes arising hereunder promptly, equitably and in a good faith manner.

6.2 Mediation: If a dispute arises under this Agreement, and if it cannot be resolved by the Parties within ten (10) business days after written notice of the dispute, the parties agree to submit the dispute to mediation by a mutually acceptable mediator, in a mutually convenient location in New York State, in accordance with the then current International Institute for Conflict prevention & Resolution Procedure, or to mediation by a mediator provided by the New York Public Service Commission. The Parties agree to participate in good faith in the mediation for a period of up to 90 days. If the Parties are not successful in resolving their disputes through mediation, then the parties may refer the dispute for resolution to the New York Public Service Commission, which shall maintain continuing jurisdiction over this Agreement.

6.3 Escrow: If there are amounts in dispute of more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), the Interconnection Customer shall, within 30 working days of written request from the Utility and subject to the availability of appropriations, provide the Utility with a Letter of Assurance confirming that the Interconnection Customer (a U.S. Federal Agency) has adequate funds available under the full faith and credit of the United States to cover the potential costs of the dispute, if it is resolved in the Utility’s favor.

7.1 Self-Insurance: The Interconnection Customer is self-insured as an agency of the United States of America pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2671 et seq.

7.2 Utility Obligation to Maintain Insurance: The Utility agrees to maintain general liability insurance or self-insurance consistent with its existing commercial practice. Such insurance or self-insurance shall not exclude coverage for the Utility’s liabilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

7.3 Notification Obligations: The Parties further agree to notify each other whenever an accident or incident occurs resulting in any injuries or damages that are included within the scope of coverage of such insurance, whether or not such coverage is sought.

8.1 Each Party's liability to the other Party 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 damage actually incurred. In no event shall either Party be liable to the other Party for any indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind whatsoever. Nothing herein is meant to limit the liability of a Party to an unaffiliated third-party claimant. The liability, if any, of the Interconnection Customer 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. 2671, et seq.

The liability, if any, of the Interconnection Customer 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(b).

a. Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) shall at all times indemnify, defend, and hold the other Party (the “Indemnified Party”) harmless from any and all damages, losses, claims, including claims and actions relating to injury to or death of any person or damage to property, demands, suits, recoveries, costs and expenses, court costs, attorney fees, and all other obligations by or to third parties, to the extent arising out of or resulting from the Indemnifying Party's action or failure to meet its obligations under this Agreement, except in cases of negligence, gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing by the Indemnified Party.

b. If a Party is obligated to indemnify and hold the Indemnified Party harmless under this section, the amount owing to the Indemnified Party shall be the amount of such Indemnified Party’s actual loss, as adjudicated by the Indemnifying Party’s insurance carrier, net of any insurance or other recovery.

c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party of any claim or notice of the commencement of any action or administrative or legal proceeding or investigation as to which the indemnity provided for in this section may apply, the Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party of such fact. Any unintentional failure of or delay in such notification shall not affect a Party's indemnification obligation unless such failure or delay is materially prejudicial to the Indemnifying Party.

Other than as expressly provided for in this Agreement or pursuant to the utility tariff, neither Party shall be liable to the other Party under any provision of this Agreement for any losses, damages, costs, or expenses for any special, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profit or revenue, loss of the use of equipment, cost of capital, cost of temporary equipment or services, whether based in whole or in part in contract, in tort, including negligence, strict liability, or any other theory of liability; provided, however, that damages for which a Party may be liable to the other Party under another agreement will not be considered to be special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages hereunder.

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

Interconnection Customer 

Signature:

Printed Name:

Title: 

Date:

Utility Signature: 

Printed Name: 

Title:

Date:

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION OF OPERATING PARAMETERS AND LIMITS