nNet Metering
Requirements for Grid Connection
nof Renewable
Resources
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nMontana Power
Company (MPC) customer owned generation may be interconnected to MPC’s distribution
system using a technique known as “Net Metering”.
A net metering system is one which: 1. Uses as it’s fuel
renewable resources; defined to be solar, wind or hydropower. 2.
Has a generating capacity of not more than 50 (fifty) kilowatts. 3. Is located on the customer-generators premises. 4. Operates in parallel with the MPC distribution system. 5. Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the
customer-generator’s requirements for electricity. Parallel generation is covered in the MPC Electric Service
Requirements and Guidelines section 7.08 . Systems generating more than 50 kilowatts will be handled on
an individual basis and will require a special contract between the customer
and the utility.
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nAny net metered
system interconnected with MPC’s distribution system is expected to use MPC’s distribution system for backup power, and so
shall not employ any non-renewable resource to provide power, e.g. propane fired engine
generator. These types of
generator interconnections are addressed in the MPC Electric Service
requirements and Guidelines section 7.07.
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nThese
requirements are designed to ensure that the generating facility will meet the
utility’s safety and power quality requirements. In particular, the requirements are
designed to prevent back-feeding of power from the generating facility
to the utility grid during power outages, and to match the utility’s own power characteristics with respect to
voltage and frequency.
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