Renewable Gas Interconnection Rule Proposal The Joint Utilities Pacific Gas and Electric Company San Diego Gas & Electric Company Southern California Gas Company Southwest Gas Corporation
Joint Utility Introductions Pacific Gas and Electric Company San Diego Gas & Electric Company Southern California Gas Company Southwest Gas Corporation
Renewable Gas (RG) Interconnection Rule Pu Purpose Goal al Obj bjectiv ives Process Pr Working S Ses essions •Encourage and facilitate •Reduce carbon in the gas •Increase receipt of RG •Work Plan •Definitions the interconnection of RG system to contribute to into utility pipelines for •Pre-work •Applicability/Open Access supplies in California California’s short-lived transportation and •Working Sessions •Interconnection Process climate pollutant and stationary end-uses •Consistent access to and •Action Items •Final Design, greenhouse gas (GHG) better understanding of •Standardize Construction, Acceptance •Review Sessions reduction goals. the utility pipeline RG interconnection and Delivery •Progress Updates interconnection process process in California •Costs for RG developers and •Provide a path for RG •Gas Quality Specifications producers produced from various & Testing processes and •Municipalities technologies to be •Blending injected into utility pipelines •Application Withdrawal & Discontinued Service •Dispute Resolution 3
RG Rule Applicability Who does this rule apply to? •Any party interconnecting with the Utility and effectuating the delivery of Renewable Gas
RG Interconnection Rule Organization Section Description A Contents B Definitions C Applicability/Open Access D-H Interconnection Process I Costs J Local Government Entity Renewable Gas Interconnector K Renewable Gas Quality and Specifications L Pipeline Blending Exception Process M Discontinuance and Termination N Dispute Resolution
New Rule Sections for RG Local Government Entities (Section J) Pipeline Blending Exception Study (Section L) • Interconnector may request Blending Study • Blending study will evaluate gas conditions after blending has occurred • Accepted if blended gas is interchangeable with no safety concerns • Interconnector pays the cost of the study • If accepted, Utility reserves the right to rescind later based on system or condition changes Discontinuance and Termination (Section M) Dispute Resolution (Section N)
Definitions: Renewable Gas vs. Renewable Methane The proposed rule uses the term "Renewable Gas" Allows for the Joint Utilities’ receipt of RG produced from various processes and technologies Inclusive of all viable renewable gas sources that may be injected into utility pipelines Using the term "Renewable Methane " could limit some forms of renewable gas, such as renewable hydrogen
Renewable Gas definition B.36 - Gas from biogenic or other renewable sources, such as Biogas, biomass, or power to Gas from renewable electricity that has been conditioned or upgraded to comply with this Rule’s Gas quality specifications, including Biomethane.
Interconnection Process (Sections D-H) Request by Potential Interconnector Interconnection Screening Study (no charge to interconnector) Preliminary Engineering Study Detailed Engineering Study Construction and Installation Options (by utility or interconnector) Interconnection Request Withdrawal
Costs (Section I) Interconnector Cost Incentive Programs (I5) Responsibility (I1-4) • Initial installation, expansion, • Propose providing monetary repair, upgrade, modification incentive to third party pipelines and replacement of Utility costs to maximize existing incurred to provide, operate and infrastructure's potential, to maintain Interconnector access cost effectively increase IOU biomethane receipts • Unique IOU Operation and Maintenance fees
RG Gas Quality and Specifications (Section K) Unique Base Utility Gas RG Source Certification Updated RG Constituents Specifications (siloxanes) and Testing • System and customer • Add carbon monoxide trigger • Utilities may do additional equipment set differently level 0.03% as an Integrity siloxanes tests at their own (historical gas, air district Protective Constituents to discretion and cost limits, sulfur or odorant enable receipt of Gasified • Any siloxane results above levels, appliances) Organic Waste Lower Action Level (LAL) then • Existing producers will be no reduced siloxane testing impacted if the specifications • Integrity Protective change Constituents (IPC) are tested quarterly if above Trigger, then reduced to annually when there are 4 consecutive tests below Trigger Level. • If IPC results are above LAL 3 times in 12 months, then shut-in
Forms and Interconnection Agreements Drafting common forms and agreements Challenges • Systems and Process differences • Unique CPUC regulated transmission / distribution / storage system operational, gas control and business model • Interconnector Design and Install provisions Motion for 5/1/20 Extension Approval • Provides IOUs time needed to increase standardization while supporting market development
Additional discussion items • Updates to other IOU rules and schedules: • All IOUs will be removing biomethane provisions from existing rules since they will be addressed in the RG Rule • Other tariff updates • PG&E: Rule 1 updates to definitions • SoCalGas / SDG&E: Rule 1's California Producer definition needs to be expanded to include RG to provide RG interconnectors the same backbone transportation service (Schedule G-BTS) set-aside preference and default use of the California Producer interconnection form agreements • Development of a Jt. IOU interconnection agreement after a Jt. IOU RG Rule may necessitate updates to the RG Rule as the Jt. IOUs and other stakeholders develop a Jt. IOU interconnection agreement
Recommend
More recommend
