Interconnection and Parallel Operations Agreement for Distributed Generation

This Interconnection and Parallel Operation Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by Clarksville Department of Electricity, (“CDE”), a municipal corporation created and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Tennessee, and ______________________ (Participant Name), who has elected to participate in the following distributed generation program

  • [ ] Self Generation/SG (using output onsite and providing any excess to grid without compensation)
  • [ ] Self Generation with Dispersed Power Production/SGDPP (bidirectional metered, using outputonsite and selling any excess to TVA. There is a $5.00 monthly fee with this option)
  • [ ] Dispersed Power Production/DPP (dual metered, selling 100% of output to TVA)
  • [ ]CDE Lightband Power Partner Agreement (no monthly fee, simple payback for excessgeneration up to 1000 kwh)

and who is hereinafter referred to as “Participant”, and

WHEREAS, the Participant has requested interconnection services for distributed generation that is owned by the Participant or a third party (see attached Application for Interconnection of Distributed Generation) at the Participant’s location, which is _________________________ (Participant Location).

Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:

1. Scope of Agreement

  • 1.1. This Agreement is applicable to conditions under which CDE and the Participant agree that one ormore generating systems and all related interconnection equipment (described in the Application for Interconnection of Distributed Generation attached to this agreement and hereinafter referred to as “Qualifying System”) located at Participant’s location with gross power rating of ____ kW DC may be interconnected to CDE’s electric power distribution system (“System”). Execution of this agreement allows the Participant to proceed with procurement and installation of the system but Participant is not allowed to proceed with parallel operation until Code Enforcement has approved the installation and CDE has: installed appropriate metering, conducted an onsite acceptance test, and given Participant written authorization to proceed with parallel operation, via a CDE-executed copy of the Distributed Generation System Acceptance Form.

2. Establishment of Point of Interconnection

  • 2.1. CDE and Participant agree to interconnect at a point to be determined by CDE, based on each Participant’s unique situation, in accordance with the CDE Operating Policies and CDE Distributed Generation Interconnection Procedures (the “Rules”), which are incorporated herein by reference. The generator and all related interconnection equipment will comply with the Rules.

3. General Responsibilities of the Parties

  • 3.1. CDE has reviewed the proposed generation and related equipment as described in the Application for compliance with CDE’s Distributed Generation Interconnection Procedures and approved the Qualifying System for interconnection based on one of the following conditions:
    • 3.1.1. Qualifying System has been certified as meeting the applicable CDE and TVA standards and has passed the Fast Track Screening Process, or
    • 3.1.2. CDE, in agreement with Participant, has conducted any additional engineering evaluations and/or detailed impact studies required for interconnection and any necessary System upgrades or changes identified by these additional studies have been implemented and Participant has paid for such changes where necessary;
  • 3.2. Participant shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations, zoning codes, building codes, safety rules and environmental restrictions, including the latest version of the National Electrical Code applicable to the design, installation, operation and maintenance of its Qualifying System.
  • 3.3. Participant must pay interconnection costs for the Qualifying System, including all required metering equipment. Exact metering communication needs will be determined during the Customer Engineering work request process. A monthly customer charge will be billed, per the prevailing CDE Operating Policy.
  • 3.4. After Code Enforcement has completed applicable inspections and notified CDE of acceptance, CDE will install the necessary metering equipment. Once this process is complete, CDE will schedule an onsite System Acceptance Test, during which the installer, Participant, or Participant’s representative must be present. CDE must provide written authorization, via a CDE-executed copy of the Distributed Generation System Acceptance Form, before Participant can begin parallel operation. Inspection or authorization by CDE shall not relieve Participant of any responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement.
  • 3.5. Participant shall conduct operations of its Qualifying System in compliance with all aspects of the Rules and in accordance with industry standard prudent engineering practice and must comply with the latest version of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards 519 and 1547.
  • 3.6. Participant shall be responsible for protecting its distributed generation equipment, inverters, protective devices, and other system components from damage from the normal and abnormal conditions and operations that occur on the System in delivering and restoring power; and shall be responsible for ensuring that the Qualifying System is inspected, maintained, and tested on an ongoing basis in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that it is operating correctly and safely. Participant shall provide to CDE, upon CDE’s reasonable request, copies of all maintenance records and test results related to inspections and maintenance of the Qualifying System.

4. Inspection and On-Going Compliance

  • 4.1. CDE will provide Participant with as much notice as reasonably practicable, either in writing, by email, facsimile or telephone, as to when CDE may conduct inspection and/or document review. Upon reasonable notice, or at any time without notice in the event of an emergency or hazardous condition, CDE shall have access to the Participant's premises for the purpose of accessing the manual AC disconnect switch, performing an inspection or disconnection, or, if necessary, to meet CDE’s legal obligation to provide service to its customers.

5. Manual Disconnect Switch

  • 5.1. Participant must install an exterior manual, lockable, visible load break AC disconnect switch between the inverter and CDE’s meter socket. For Qualifying Systems using micro-inverters, a fused AC disconnect switch must be used. (An optional DC disconnect switch is recommended between the generation source and inverter.) The AC switch must be visibly marked “Generation Disconnect”. The switch should remain in the “off” (open) position after installation, until CDE performs the System Acceptance Test. Upon successful completion, the AC disconnect switch will be left in the “on” (closed) position to allow the flow of generation. The Participant shall ensure that the AC manual disconnect switch shall remain readily accessible to CDE and be capable of being locked in the open position with a single CDE utility padlock. A permanent, weatherproof single line diagram of the renewable generation facility must be located adjacent to the AC disconnect switch. Names and current telephone numbers of at least two persons authorized to provide access to the facility and who have authority to make decisions regarding the interconnection and operation of the Qualifying System must be posted.

6. Disconnection / Reconnection

  • 6.1. CDE may open the manual disconnect switch or disconnect the Participant’s generation meter, pursuant to the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 below, isolating the Qualifying System, without prior notice to the Participant. To the extent practicable, however, prior notice shall be given. If prior notice is not given, CDE shall at the time of disconnection notify the Participant that the Qualifying System has been disconnected through direct contact or written notification left onsite. As soon as practicable after the conditions necessitating disconnection have been remedied, CDE will unlock the disconnect switch so Participant may reenergize the Qualifying System.
  • 6.2. CDE has the right to disconnect the Participant’s Qualifying System at any time. Some examples of situations that may require disconnection are, but are not limited to:
    • 6.2.1. Emergencies or maintenance requirements on CDE’s System;
    • 6.2.2. Hazardous conditions existing on CDE’s System due to the operation of the Participant’s generating or protective equipment as determined by CDE; and
    • 6.2.3. Adverse electrical effects, such as power quality problems, on the electrical equipment of CDE’s other electric consumers caused by the Participant’s Qualifying System, as determined by CDE.

7. Modifications/Additions to Participant-owned Generation

  • 7.1. If the Qualifying System is subsequently modified in order to increase or decrease its gross power rating or any components are changed, the Participant must provide CDE with written notification that fully describes the proposed modifications at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the desired modification date. At such time, CDE will either notify Participant of approval or will notify Participant that such changes are not authorized.

8. Indemnity

  • 8.1. Participant agrees to release, indemnify, and save harmless CDE, TVA, the United States of America, and their respective agents and employees from all liability, claims, demands, causes of action, costs, including CDE’s attorney fees and expenses, or losses for personal injuries, property damage, or loss of life or property, sustained by Participant, Participant’s agents and family, or third parties arising out of or in any way connected with the installation, testing, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, removal, defect, or failure of Participant’s Qualifying System. The obligations of this section 8.1 shall survive termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall serve to limit the Participant’s obligation under this section 8.1, Indemnity.

9. Assignment

  • 9.1. The Interconnection and Parallel Operations Agreement for Renewable Generation shall not be assignable by either party without thirty (30) calendar days written notice to the other Party and written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
  • 9.2. An assignee to this Agreement shall be required to assume in writing the Participant’s rights, responsibilities, and obligations under this Agreement and to execute any and all such documents as CDE may require to confirm the assumption by the third party of Participant’s obligations under this Agreement.

10. Insurance

  • 10.1. In support of applicant’s obligations to indemnify and hold harmless CDE, Participant shall provide to CDE when executing this Agreement an original certificate of insurance from a company acceptable to CDE, licensed to do business in Tennessee and having an A.M. BEST FPR rating of no less than A:IX and shall maintain public liability and property damage liability insurance covering all operations of the Qualifying System under this Agreement. Limits for bodily injury or death shall be not less than Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) for any one (1) person in any one (1) accident, occurrence or act; not less than Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000) for bodily injury or death of all persons in any one (1) accident, occurrence or act; Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) for injury and destruction of property of others in any one (1) accident, occurrence or act.

11. Effective Term and Termination Rights

  • 11.1. This Agreement becomes effective when executed by both Parties and shall continue in effect as long as the Qualifying System operates. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon the breach of terms of the Agreement and failure to remedy within 30 days of the notice by the non-breaching party to the breaching party.

12. Entirety of Agreement and Prior Agreements Superseded

  • 12.1. This Agreement, including the Rules, CDE Application for Interconnection of Distributed Generation, any applicable CDE or TVA agreement , and all attachments are expressly made a part hereof for all purposes, and constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with regard to the interconnection of the Qualifying System of the Parties at the Point of Interconnection expressly provided for in this Agreement. The Parties are not bound by or liable for any statement, representation, promise, inducement, understanding, or undertaking of any kind or nature (whether written or oral) with regard to the subject matter hereof not set forth or provided for herein, in the Participant’s Application for Interconnection of Distributed Generation, any CDE or TVA agreement, or other written information provided by the Participant.

13. Notices

  • 13.1. Notices given under this Agreement are deemed to have been duly delivered if hand delivered or sent by United States certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to:

    (a) If to CDE:
    Clarksville Department of Electricity
    ATTN: John Jackson, Energy Services Manager
    2021 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
    Clarksville, TN 37040

    (b) If to Participant:
    ____________________________
    ____________________________
    ____________________________

    The above-listed names, titles, and addresses of either Party may be changed by written notification to the other.
14. Applicable Law
  • 14.1. The Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee.
15. Severability
  • 15.1. If one or more of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall not be affected.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized representatives.

Participant Fields

Participant Name(Required)
Elected to participate in the following distributed generation program:(Required)
(Select one.)
kW DC
Participant Mailing Address(Required)
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