Distributed Generation applications that have been determined to be complete and that meet the following criteria may be combined:
(a) the applications must be sequential in the utility’s queue on both the circuit and substation bus, or non-sequential combined applications may proceed with the lower queue position;
(b) there can be no non-SIR applications in the utility’s queue between the applications that propose to aggregate;
(c) the proposed projects must be located on the same or adjacent parcels;
(d) both applications must be compensated at the same rate and; and
(e) the size of the combined projects may not exceed an AC nameplate rating of 5 MW.
If none of the applications has reached the deadline for payment of 25% of the estimated utility construction costs necessary for its interconnection, the applicant(s) may ask the utility to perform a technical review of the applications as a combined project. The applicant(s) shall submit its request in writing to the utility. The utility shall cease any ongoing work on the individual applications and notify the applicant(s) within ten (10) Business Days of any additional information that is needed to perform the requested analysis and of the fee that will be charged. The utility shall apply any unspent study fees related to the individual applications to the charge for the new study. The applicant(s) shall pay the fee and provide the information sought by the utility within ten (10) Business Days of the notification. The construction cost payment due dates for the applications that are proposed to combine will be suspended until a new due date is established pursuant to this Section.
If any of the applications proposed to be combined has made a payment for estimated utility construction costs, the applicant(s) may still submit a request to study them as a combined project as provided above. Any additional payment due dates associated with the applications shall be suspended until a new due date is established. The utility shall cease work on the individual applications and shall cancel any procurements that the applicant(s) agree should be cancelled. The applicant(s) shall bear any cost associated with such cancellations. The utility shall notify the applicant(s) of any information that is needed to perform the requested analysis and of the fee that will be charged for the study within ten (10) Business Days of receiving the request. The applicant(s) shall pay the fee and provide the information sought by the utility within ten (10) Business Days of the notification.
The utility shall have sixty (60) Business Days from receipt of the fee and the project information to perform the technical review of the combined applications. The utility’s report of -16- the results shall provide the information specified in Step 6 of Section I-C to the applicant(s). The applicant(s) may:
(1) proceed to construct the combined project;
(2) resume the interconnection of the separate applications; or
(3) withdraw one or more of the applications.
If the applicant(s) selects option (1), payment for the full amount of the estimated utility construction costs shall be due sixty (60) Business Days after receipt of the results of the technical review. If the applicant(s) selects either option (2) or (3), full payment of the construction cost associated with the applications that are to continue to interconnect shall be due within the same time period. If the applicant(s) does not meet these deadlines, the applications shall be deemed withdrawn with no further action required by the utility.