38.5.1904    OBLIGATIONS OF QUALIFYING FACILITIES TO UTILITIES

(1) A qualifying facility shall specify in its contract with a utility the nature of the purchases undertaken in the contract, including:

(a) The technology used in the production of energy or capacity by the qualifying facility;

(b) The qualifying facility's best estimate of the facility's energy and/or capacity supply characteristics, including its availability during utility system daily and seasonal peak periods and during system emergencies.

(2) A qualifying facility shall be fully responsible for interconnection costs and shall:

(a) Submit, for written approval prior to actual installation equipment specifications and detailed plans to the utility for the installation of its interconnection facilities, control and protective devices, and facilities to accommodate utility meter(s) .

(b) Provide and install necessary meter socket and enclosure equipment at or near the point of interconnection, unless the utility has agreed to install the equipment and the facility has agreed to pay for this service;

(c) Reimburse the utility for special or additional interconnection facilities, including control or protective devices, time of delivery metering, and reinforcement of the utility's system to receive or continue to receive the power delivered under the contract. Such reimbursement may be accomplished by means of amortization over a reasonable period of time within the term of the contract and such costs must be reasonable according to industry standards.

(3) Interconnection costs undertaken by the utility shall be reimbursed by the qualifying facility on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to other customers with similar load characteristics.

(4) A qualifying facility shall be required to provide power to a utility during a system emergency only to the extent specified in the contract between the facility and the utility, unless the qualifying facility is able to supply additional power and agrees to do so.

History: 69-3-103, MCA; IMP, 69-3-102, MCA; NEW, 1981 MAR p. 459, Eff. 5/15/81.