18 CFR Part 292, in eCFR as of 4/1/2019

e-CFR data is current as of April 1, 2019
Title 18 → Chapter I → Subchapter K → Part 292

Title 18: Conservation of Power and Water Resources

PART 292—REGULATIONS UNDER SECTIONS 201 AND 210 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES ACT OF 1978 WITH REGARD TO SMALL POWER PRODUCTION AND COGENERATION

Contents

Subpart A—General Provisions

§292.101   Definitions.

Subpart B—Qualifying Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities

§292.201   Scope.
§292.202   Definitions.
§292.203   General requirements for qualification.
§292.204   Criteria for qualifying small power production facilities.
§292.205   Criteria for qualifying cogeneration facilities.
§292.207   Procedures for obtaining qualifying status.
§292.208   Special requirements for hydroelectric small power production facilities located at a new dam or diversion.
§292.209   Exceptions from requirements for hydroelectric small power production facilities located at a new dam or diversion.
§292.210   Petition alleging commitment of substantial monetary resources before October 16, 1986.
§292.211   Petition for initial determination on whether a project has a substantial adverse effect on the environment (AEE petition).

Subpart C—Arrangements Between Electric Utilities and Qualifying Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities Under Section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

§292.301   Scope.
§292.302   Availability of electric utility system cost data.
§292.303   Electric utility obligations under this subpart.
§292.304   Rates for purchases.
§292.305   Rates for sales.
§292.306   Interconnection costs.
§292.307   System emergencies.
§292.308   Standards for operating reliability.
§292.309   Termination of obligation to purchase from qualifying facilities.
§292.310   Procedures for utilities requesting termination of obligation to purchase from qualifying facilities.
§292.311   Reinstatement of obligation to purchase.
§292.312   Termination of obligation to sell to qualifying facilities.
§292.313   Reinstatement of obligation to sell.
§292.314   Existing rights and remedies.

Subpart D—Implementation

§292.401   Implementation of certain reporting requirements.
§292.402   Waivers.

Subpart E [Reserved]

Subpart F—Exemption of Qualifying Small Power Production Facilities and Cogeneration Facilities from Certain Federal and State Laws and Regulations

§292.601   Exemption to qualifying facilities from the Federal Power Act.
§292.602   Exemption to qualifying facilities from the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 and certain State laws and regulations.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r, 2601-2645; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.

Subpart A—General Provisions

§292.101   Definitions.

(a) General rule. Terms defined in the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) shall have the same meaning for purposes of this part as they have under PURPA, unless further defined in this part.

(b) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this part.

(1) Qualifying facility means a cogeneration facility or a small power production facility that is a qualifying facility under Subpart B of this part.

(i) A qualifying facility may include transmission lines and other equipment used for interconnection purposes (including transformers and switchyard equipment), if:

(A) Such lines and equipment are used to supply power output to directly and indirectly interconnected electric utilities, and to end users, including thermal hosts, in accordance with state law; or

(B) Such lines and equipment are used to transmit supplementary, standby, maintenance and backup power to the qualifying facility, including its thermal host meeting the criteria set forth in Union Carbide Corporation, 48 FERC ¶61,130, reh'g denied, 49 FERC ¶61,209 (1989), aff'd sub nom., Gulf States Utilities Company v. FERC, 922 F.2d 873 (D.C. Cir. 1991); or

(C) If such lines and equipment are used to transmit power from other qualifying facilities or to transmit standby, maintenance, supplementary and backup power to other qualifying facilities.

(ii) The construction and ownership of such lines and equipment shall be subject to any applicable Federal, state, and local siting and environmental requirements.

(2) Purchase means the purchase of electric energy or capacity or both from a qualifying facility by an electric utility.

(3) Sale means the sale of electric energy or capacity or both by an electric utility to a qualifying facility.

(4) System emergency means a condition on a utility's system which is likely to result in imminent significant disruption of service to customers or is imminently likely to endanger life or property.

(5) Rate means any price, rate, charge, or classification made, demanded, observed or received with respect to the sale or purchase of electric energy or capacity, or any rule, regulation, or practice respecting any such rate, charge, or classification, and any contract pertaining to the sale or purchase of electric energy or capacity.

(6) Avoided costs means the incremental costs to an electric utility of electric energy or capacity or both which, but for the purchase from the qualifying facility or qualifying facilities, such utility would generate itself or purchase from another source.

(7) Interconnection costs means the reasonable costs of connection, switching, metering, transmission, distribution, safety provisions and administrative costs incurred by the electric utility directly related to the installation and maintenance of the physical facilities necessary to permit interconnected operations with a qualifying facility, to the extent such costs are in excess of the corresponding costs which the electric utility would have incurred if it had not engaged in interconnected operations, but instead generated an equivalent amount of electric energy itself or purchased an equivalent amount of electric energy or capacity from other sources. Interconnection costs do not include any costs included in the calculation of avoided costs.

(8) Supplementary power means electric energy or capacity supplied by an electric utility, regularly used by a qualifying facility in addition to that which the facility generates itself.

(9) Back-up power means electric energy or capacity supplied by an electric utility to replace energy ordinarily generated by a facility's own generation equipment during an unscheduled outage of the facility.

(10) Interruptible power means electric energy or capacity supplied by an electric utility subject to interruption by the electric utility under specified conditions.

(11) Maintenance power means electric energy or capacity supplied by an electric utility during scheduled outages of the qualifying facility.

(Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15 U.S.C. 791 et seq. Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267)

[45 FR 12233, Feb. 25, 1980, as amended by Order 575, 60 FR 4856, Jan. 25, 1995]

Subpart B—Qualifying Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities

Authority: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, (16 U.S.C. 2601, et seq.), Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, (15 U.S.C. 791 et seq.), Federal Power Act, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 792, et seq.), Department of Energy Organization Act, (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267, Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, (15 U.S.C. 3301, et seq.).

§292.201   Scope.

This subpart applies to the criteria for and manner of becoming a qualifying small power production facility and a qualifying cogeneration facility under sections 3(17)(C) and 3(18)(B), respectively, of the Federal Power Act, as amended by section 201 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).

[45 FR 17972, Mar. 20, 1980]

§292.202   Definitions.

For purposes of this subpart:

(a) Biomass means any organic material not derived from fossil fuels;

(b) Waste means an energy input that is listed below in this subsection, or any energy input that has little or no current commercial value and exists in the absence of the qualifying facility industry. Should a waste energy input acquire commercial value after a facility is qualified by way of Commission certification pursuant to §292.207(b), or self-certification pursuant to §292.207(a), the facility will not lose its qualifying status for that reason. Waste includes, but is not limited to, the following materials that the Commission previously has approved as waste:

(1) Anthracite culm produced prior to July 23, 1985;

(2) Anthracite refuse that has an average heat content of 6,000 Btu or less per pound and has an average ash content of 45 percent or more;

(3) Bituminous coal refuse that has an average heat content of 9,500 Btu per pound or less and has an average ash content of 25 percent or more;

(4) Top or bottom subbituminous coal produced on Federal lands or on Indian lands that has been determined to be waste by the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or that is located on non-Federal or non-Indian lands outside of BLM's jurisdiction, provided that the applicant shows that the latter coal is an extension of that determined by BLM to be waste.

(5) Coal refuse produced on Federal lands or on Indian lands that has been determined to be waste by the BLM or that is located on non-Federal or non-Indian lands outside of BLM's jurisdiction, provided that applicant shows that the latter is an extension of that determined by BLM to be waste.

(6) Lignite produced in association with the production of montan wax and lignite that becomes exposed as a result of such a mining operation;

(7) Gaseous fuels, except:

(i) Synthetic gas from coal; and

(ii) Natural gas from gas and oil wells unless the natural gas meets the requirements of §2.400 of this chapter;

(8) Petroleum coke;

(9) Materials that a government agency has certified for disposal by combustion;

(10) Residual heat;

(11) Heat from exothermic reactions;

(12) Used rubber tires;

(13) Plastic materials; and

(14) Refinery off-gas.

(c) Cogeneration facility means equipment used to produce electric energy and forms of useful thermal energy (such as heat or steam), used for industrial, commercial, heating, or cooling purposes, through the sequential use of energy;

(d) Topping-cycle cogeneration facility means a cogeneration facility in which the energy input to the facility is first used to produce useful power output, and at least some of the reject heat from the power production process is then used to provide useful thermal energy;

(e) Bottoming-cycle cogeneration facility means a cogeneration facility in which the energy input to the system is first applied to a useful thermal energy application or process, and at least some of the reject heat emerging from the application or process is then used for power production;

(f) Supplementary firing means an energy input to the cogeneration facility used only in the thermal process of a topping-cycle cogeneration facility, or only in the electric generating process of a bottoming-cycle cogeneration facility;

(g) Useful power output of a cogeneration facility means the electric or mechanical energy made available for use, exclusive of any such energy used in the power production process;

(h) Useful thermal energy output of a topping-cycle cogeneration facility means the thermal energy:

(1) That is made available to an industrial or commercial process (net of any heat contained in condensate return and/or makeup water);

(2) That is used in a heating application (e.g., space heating, domestic hot water heating); or

(3) That is used in a space cooling application (i.e., thermal energy used by an absorption chiller).

(i) Total energy output of a topping-cycle cogeneration facility is the sum of the useful power output and useful thermal energy output;

(j) Total energy input means the total energy of all forms supplied from external sources;

(k) Natural gas means either natural gas unmixed, or any mixture of natural gas and artificial gas;

(l) Oil means crude oil, residual fuel oil, natural gas liquids, or any refined petroleum products; and

(m) Energy input in the case of energy in the form of natural gas or oil is to be measured by the lower heating value of the natural gas or oil.

(n) Electric utility holding company means a holding company, as defined in section 2(a)(7) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, 15 U.S.C. 79b(a)(7) which owns one or more electric utilities, as defined in section 2(a)(3) of that Act, 15 U.S.C. 79b(a)(3), but does not include any holding company which is exempt by rule or order adopted or issued pursuant to sections 3(a)(3) or 3(a)(5) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, 15 U.S.C. 79c(a)(3) or 79c(a)(5).

(o) Utility geothermal small power production facility means a small power production facility which uses geothermal energy as the primary energy resource and of which more than 50 percent is owned either:

(1) By an electric utility or utilities, electric utility holding company or companies, or any combination thereof.

(2) By any company 50 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of which of which are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held with power to vote by an electric utility, electric utility holding company, or any combination thereof.

(p) New dam or diversion means a dam or diversion which requires, for the purposes of installing any hydroelectric power project, any construction, or enlargement of any impoundment or diversion structure (other than repairs or reconstruction or the addition of flashboards of similar adjustable devices);

(q) Substantial adverse effect on the environment means a substantial alteration in the existing or potential use of, or a loss of, natural features, existing habitat, recreational uses, water quality, or other environmental resources. Substantial alteration of particular resource includes a change in the environment that substantially reduces the quality of the affected resources; and

(r) Commitment of substantial monetary resources means the expenditure of, or commitment to expend, at least 50 percent of the total cost of preparing an application for license or exemption for a hydroelectric project that is accepted for filing by the Commission pursuant to §4.32(e) of this chapter. The total cost includes (but is not limited to) the cost of agency consultation, environmental studies, and engineering studies conducted pursuant to §4.38 of this chapter, and the Commission's requirements for filing an application for license exemption.

(s) Sequential use of energy means:

(1) For a topping-cycle cogeneration facility, the use of reject heat from a power production process in sufficient amounts in a thermal application or process to conform to the requirements of the operating standard; or

(2) For a bottoming-cycle cogeneration facility, the use of reject heat from a thermal application or process, at least some of which is then used for power production.

(Energy Security Act, Pub. L. 96-294, 94 Stat. 611 (1980) Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601, et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15 U.S.C. 791 et seq., Federal Power Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267)

[45 FR 17972, Mar. 20, 1980, as amended at 45 FR 33958, May 21, 1980; 45 FR 66789, Oct. 8, 1980; Order 135, 46 FR 19231, Mar. 30, 1981; 46 FR 32239, June 22, 1981; Order 499, 53 FR 27002, July 18, 1988; Order 575, 60 FR 4857, Jan. 25, 1995]

§292.203   General requirements for qualification.

(a) Small power production facilities. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a small power production facility is a qualifying facility if it:

(1) Meets the maximum size criteria specified in §292.204(a);

(2) Meets the fuel use criteria specified in §292.204(b); and

(3) Unless exempted by paragraph (d), has filed with the Commission a notice of self-certification, pursuant to §292.207(a); or has filed with the Commission an application for Commission certification, pursuant to §292.207(b)(1), that has been granted.

(b) Cogeneration facilities. A cogeneration facility, including any diesel and dual-fuel cogeneration facility, is a qualifying facility if it:

(1) Meets any applicable standards and criteria specified in §§292.205(a), (b) and (d); and

(2) Unless exempted by paragraph (d), has filed with the Commission a notice of self-certification, pursuant to §292.207(a); or has filed with the Commission an application for Commission certification, pursuant to §292.207(b)(1), that has been granted.

(c) Hydroelectric small power production facilities located at a new dam or diversion. (1) A hydroelectric small power production facility that impounds or diverts the water of a natural watercourse by means of a new dam or diversion (as that term is defined in §292.202(p)) is a qualifying facility if it meets the requirements of:

(i) Paragraph (a) of this section; and

(ii) Section 292.208.

(2) [Reserved]

(d) Exemptions and waivers from filing requirement. (1) Any facility with a net power production capacity of 1 MW or less is exempt from the filing requirements of paragraphs (a)(3) and (b)(2) of this section.

(2) The Commission may waive the requirement of paragraphs (a)(3) and (b)(2) of this section for good cause. Any applicant seeking waiver of paragraphs (a)(3) and (b)(2) of this section must file a petition for declaratory order describing in detail the reasons waiver is being sought.

[Order 732, 75 FR 15965, Mar. 30, 2010]

§292.204   Criteria for qualifying small power production facilities.

(a) Size of the facility—(1) Maximum size. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, the power production capacity of a facility for which qualification is sought, together with the power production capacity of any other small power production facilities that use the same energy resource, are owned by the same person(s) or its affiliates, and are located at the same site, may not exceed 80 megawatts.

(2) Method of calculation. (i) For purposes of this paragraph, facilities are considered to be located at the same site as the facility for which qualification is sought if they are located within one mile of the facility for which qualification is sought and, for hydroelectric facilities, if they use water from the same impoundment for power generation.

(ii) For purposes of making the determination in clause (i), the distance between facilities shall be measured from the electrical generating equipment of a facility.

(3) Waiver. The Commission may modify the application of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, for good cause.

(4) Exception. Facilities meeting the criteria in section 3(17)(E) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796(17)(E)) have no maximum size, and the power production capacity of such facilities shall be excluded from consideration when determining the maximum size of other small power production facilities within one mile of such facilities.

(b) Fuel use. (1)(i) The primary energy source of the facility must be biomass, waste, renewable resources, geothermal resources, or any combination thereof, and 75 percent or more of the total energy input must be from these sources.

(ii) Any primary energy source which, on the basis of its energy content, is 50 percent or more biomass shall be considered biomass.

(2) Use of oil, natural gas and coal by a facility, under section 3(17)(B) of the Federal Power Act, is limited to the minimum amounts of fuel required for ignition, startup, testing, flame stabilization, and control uses, and the minimum amounts of fuel required to alleviate or prevent unanticipated equipment outages, and emergencies, directly affecting the public health, safety, or welfare, which would result from electric power outages. Such fuel use may not, in the aggregate, exceed 25 percent of the total energy input of the facility during the 12-month period beginning with the date the facility first produces electric energy and any calendar year subsequent to the year in which the facility first produces electric energy.

(Energy Security Act, Pub. L. 96-294, 94 Stat. 611 (1980) Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601, et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15, U.S.C. 791, et seq., Federal Power Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101, et seq.; E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267)

[45 FR 17972, Mar. 20, 1980, as amended by Order 135, 46 FR 19231, Mar. 30, 1981; Order 575, 60 FR 4857, Jan. 25, 1995; Order 732, 75 FR 15966, Mar. 30, 2010]

§292.205   Criteria for qualifying cogeneration facilities.

(a) Operating and efficiency standards for topping-cycle facilities—(1) Operating standard. For any topping-cycle cogeneration facility, the useful thermal energy output of the facility must be no less than 5 percent of the total energy output during the 12-month period beginning with the date the facility first produces electric energy, and any calendar year subsequent to the year in which the facility first produces electric energy.

(2) Efficiency standard. (i) For any topping-cycle cogeneration facility for which any of the energy input is natural gas or oil, and the installation of which began on or after March 13, 1980, the useful power output of the facility plus one-half the useful thermal energy output, during the 12-month period beginning with the date the facility first produces electric energy, and any calendar year subsequent to the year in which the facility first produces electric energy, must:

(A) Subject to paragraph (a)(2)(i)(B) of this section be no less than 42.5 percent of the total energy input of natural gas and oil to the facility; or

(B) If the useful thermal energy output is less than 15 percent of the total energy output of the facility, be no less than 45 percent of the total energy input of natural gas and oil to the facility.

(ii) For any topping-cycle cogeneration facility not subject to paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section there is no efficiency standard.

(b) Efficiency standards for bottoming-cycle facilities. (1) For any bottoming-cycle cogeneration facility for which any of the energy input as supplementary firing is natural gas or oil, and the installation of which began on or after March 13, 1980, the useful power output of the facility during the 12-month period beginning with the date the facility first produces electric energy, and any calendar year subsequent to the year in which the facility first produces electric energy must be no less than 45 percent of the energy input of natural gas and oil for supplementary firing.

(2) For any bottoming-cycle cogeneration facility not covered by paragraph (b)(1) of this section, there is no efficiency standard.

(c) Waiver. The Commission may waive any of the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section upon a showing that the facility will produce significant energy savings.

(d) Criteria for new cogeneration facilities. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, any cogeneration facility that was either not a qualifying cogeneration facility on or before August 8, 2005, or that had not filed a notice of self-certification or an application for Commission certification as a qualifying cogeneration facility under §292.207 of this chapter prior to February 2, 2006, and which is seeking to sell electric energy pursuant to section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 824a-1, must also show:

(1) The thermal energy output of the cogeneration facility is used in a productive and beneficial manner; and

(2) The electrical, thermal, chemical and mechanical output of the cogeneration facility is used fundamentally for industrial, commercial, residential or institutional purposes and is not intended fundamentality for sale to an electric utility, taking into account technological, efficiency, economic, and variable thermal energy requirements, as well as state laws applicable to sales of electric energy from a qualifying facility to its host facility.

(3) Fundamental use test. For the purpose of satisfying paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the electrical, thermal, chemical and mechanical output of the cogeneration facility will be considered used fundamentally for industrial, commercial, or institutional purposes, and not intended fundamentally for sale to an electric utility if at least 50 percent of the aggregate of such output, on an annual basis, is used for industrial, commercial, residential or institutional purposes. In addition, applicants for facilities that do not meet this safe harbor standard may present evidence to the Commission that the facilities should nevertheless be certified given state laws applicable to sales of electric energy or unique technological, efficiency, economic, and variable thermal energy requirements.

(4) For purposes of paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section, a new cogeneration facility of 5 MW or smaller will be presumed to satisfy the requirements of those paragraphs.

(5) For purposes of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, where a thermal host existed prior to the development of a new cogeneration facility whose thermal output will supplant the thermal source previously in use by the thermal host, the thermal output of such new cogeneration facility will be presumed to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (d)(1).

[45 FR 17972, Mar. 20, 1980, as amended by Order 478, 52 FR 28467, July 30, 1987; Order 575, 60 FR 4857, Jan. 25, 1995; Order 671, 71 FR 7868, Feb. 15, 2006; Order 732, 75 FR 15966, Mar. 30, 2010; 76 FR 50663, Aug. 16, 2011]

§292.207   Procedures for obtaining qualifying status.

(a) Self-certification. The qualifying facility status of an existing or a proposed facility that meets the requirements of §292.203 may be self-certified by the owner or operator of the facility or its representative by properly completing a Form No. 556 and filing that form with the Commission, pursuant to §131.80 of this chapter, and complying with paragraph (c) of this section.

(b) Optional procedure—(1) Application for Commission certification. In lieu of the self-certification procedures in paragraph (a) of this section, an owner or operator of an existing or a proposed facility, or its representative, may file with the Commission an application for Commission certification that the facility is a qualifying facility. The application must be accompanied by the fee prescribed by part 381 of this chapter, and the applicant for Commission certification must comply with paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) General contents of application. The application must include a properly completed Form No. 556 pursuant to §131.80 of this chapter.

(3) Commission action. (i) Within 90 days of the later of the filing of an application or the filing of a supplement, amendment or other change to the application, the Commission will either: Inform the applicant that the application is deficient; or issue an order granting or denying the application; or toll the time for issuance of an order. Any order denying certification shall identify the specific requirements which were not met. If the Commission does not act within 90 days of the date of the latest filing, the application shall be deemed to have been granted.

(ii) For purposes of paragraph (b) of this section, the date an application is filed is the date by which the Office of the Secretary has received all of the information and the appropriate filing fee necessary to comply with the requirements of this Part.

(c) Notice requirements—(1) General. An applicant filing a self-certification, self-recertification, application for Commission certification or application for Commission recertification of the qualifying status of its facility must concurrently serve a copy of such filing on each electric utility with which it expects to interconnect, transmit or sell electric energy to, or purchase supplementary, standby, back-up or maintenance power from, and the State regulatory authority of each state where the facility and each affected electric utility is located. The Commission will publish a notice in the Federal Register for each application for Commission certification and for each self-certification of a cogeneration facility that is subject to the requirements of §292.205(d).

(2) Facilities of 500 kW or more. An electric utility is not required to purchase electric energy from a facility with a net power production capacity of 500 kW or more until 90 days after the facility notifies the facility that it is a qualifying facility or 90 days after the utility meets the notice requirements in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(d) Revocation of qualifying status. (1)(i) If a qualifying facility fails to conform with any material facts or representations presented by the cogenerator or small power producer in its submittals to the Commission, the notice of self-certification or Commission order certifying the qualifying status of the facility may no longer be relied upon. At that point, if the facility continues to conform to the Commission's qualifying criteria under this part, the cogenerator or small power producer may file either a notice of self-recertification of qualifying status pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, or an application for Commission recertification pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, as appropriate.

(ii) The Commission may, on its own motion or on the motion of any person, revoke the qualifying status of a facility that has been certified under paragraph (b) of this section, if the facility fails to conform to any of the Commission's qualifying facility criteria under this part.

(iii) The Commission may, on its own motion or on the motion of any person, revoke the qualifying status of a self-certified or self-recertified qualifying facility if it finds that the self-certified or self-recertified qualifying facility does not meet the applicable requirements for qualifying facilities.

(2) Prior to undertaking any substantial alteration or modification of a qualifying facility which has been certified under paragraph (b) of this section, a small power producer or cogenerator may apply to the Commission for a determination that the proposed alteration or modification will not result in a revocation of qualifying status. This application for Commission recertification of qualifying status should be submitted in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

[45 FR 17972, Mar. 20, 1980]

Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting §292.207, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§292.208   Special requirements for hydroelectric small power production facilities located at a new dam or diversion.

(a) A hydroelectric small power production facility that impounds or diverts the water of a natural watercourse by means of a new dam or diversion (as that term is defined in §292.202(p)) is a qualifying facility only if it meets the requirements of:

(1) Paragraph (b) of this section;

(2) Section 292.203(c); and

(3) Part 4 of this chapter.

(b) A hydroelectric small power production described in paragraph (a) is a qualifying facility only if:

(1) The Commission finds, at the time it issues the license or exemption, that the project will not have a substantial adverse effect on the environment (as that term is defined in §292.202(q)), including recreation and water quality;

(2) The Commission finds, at the time the application for the license or exemption is accepted for filing under §4.32 of this chapter, that the project is not located on any segment of a natural watercourse which:

(i) Is included, or designated for potential inclusion in, a State or National wild and scenic river system; or

(ii) The State has determined, in accordance with applicable State law, to possess unique natural, recreational, cultural or scenic attributes which would be adversely affected by hydroelectric development; and

(3) The project meets the terms and conditions set by the appropriate fish and wildlife agencies under the same procedures as provided for under section 30(c) of the Federal Power Act.

(c) For the Commission to make the findings in paragraph (b) of this section an applicant must:

(1) Comply with the applicable hydroelectric licensing requirements in Part 4 of this chapter, including:

(i) Completing the pre-filing consultation process under §4.38 of this chapter, including performing any environmental studies which may be required under §§4.38(b)(2)(i)(D) through (F) of this chapter; and

(ii) Submitting with its application an environmental report that meets the requirements of §4.41(f) of this chapter, regardless of project size;

(2) State whether the project is located on any segment of a natural watercourse which:

(i) Is included in or designated for potential inclusion in:

(A) The National Wild and Scenic River System (28 U.S.C. 1271-1278 (1982)); or

(B) A State wild and scenic river system;

(ii) Crosses an area designated or recommended for designation under the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1132) as:

(A) A wilderness area; or

(B) Wilderness study area; or

(iii) The State, either by or pursuant to an act of the State legislature, has determined to possess unique, natural, recreational, cultural, or scenic attributes that would be adversely affected by hydroelectric development.

(d) If the project is located on any segment of a natural watercourse that meets any of the conditions in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the applicant must provide the following information in its application:

(1) The date on which the natural watercourse was protected;

(2) The statutory authority under which the natural watercourse was protected; and

(3) The Federal or state agency, or political subdivision of the state, that is in charge of administering the natural watercourse.

[Order 499, 53 FR 27003, July 18, 1988]

§292.209   Exceptions from requirements for hydroelectric small power production facilities located at a new dam or diversion.

(a) The requirements in §§292.208(b)(1) through (3) do not apply if:

(1) An application for license or exemption is filed for a project located at a Government dam, as defined in section 3(10) of the Federal Power Act, at which non-Federal hydroelectric development is permissible; or

(2) An application for license or exemption was filed and accepted before October 16, 1986.

(b) The requirements in §§292.208(b) (1) and (3) do not apply if an application for license or exemption was filed before October 16, 1986, and is accepted for filing by the Commission before October 16, 1989.

(c) The requirements in §292.208(b)(3) do not apply to an applicant for license or exemption if:

(1) The applicant files a petition pursuant to §292.210; and

(2) The Commission grants the petition.

(d) Any application covered by paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section is excepted from the moratorium imposed by section 8(e) of the Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-495.

[Order 499, 53 FR 27003, July 18, 1988]

§292.210   Petition alleging commitment of substantial monetary resources before October 16, 1986.

(a) An applicant covered by §292.203(c) whose application for license or exemption was filed on or after October 16, 1986, but before April 16, 1988, may file a petition for exception from the requirement in §292.208(b)(3) and the moratorium described in §292.203(c)(2). The petition must show that prior to October 16, 1986, the applicant committed substantial monetary resources (as that term is defined in §292.202(r)) to the development of the project.

(b) Subject to rebuttal under paragraph (d)(7)(ii) of this section, a showing of the commitment of substantial monetary resources will be presumed if the applicant held a preliminary permit for the project and had completed environmental consultations pursuant to §4.38 of this chapter before October 16, 1986.

(c) Time of filing petition—(1) General rule. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the applicant must:

(i) File the petition with the application for license or exemption; or

(ii) Submit with the application for license or exemption a request for an extension of time, not to exceed 90 days or April 16, 1988, whichever occurs first, in which to file the petition.

(2) Exception. If the application for license or exemption was filed on or after October 16, 1986, but before March 23, 1987, the petition must have been filed by June 22, 1987.

(d) Filing requirements. A petition filed under this section must include the following information or refer to the pages in the application for license or exemption where it can be found:

(1) A certificate of service, conforming to the requirements set out in §385.2010(h) of this chapter, certifying that the applicant has served the petition on the Federal and State agencies required to be consulted by the applicant pursuant to §4.38 of this chapter;

(2) Documentation of any issued preliminary permits for the project;

(3) An itemized statement of the total costs expended on the application;

(4) An itemized schedule of costs the applicant expended, or committed to be expended, before October 16, 1986, on the application, accompanied by supporting documentation including but not limited to:

(i) Dated invoices for maps, surveys, supplies, geophysical and geotechnical services, engineering services, legal services, document reproduction, and other items related to the preparation of the application, and

(ii) Written contracts and other written documentation demonstrating a commitment made before October 16, 1986, to expend monetary resources on the preparation of the application, together with evidence that those monetary resources were actually expended; and

(5) Correspondence or other documentation to support the items listed in paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) of this section to show that the expenses presented were directly related to the preparation of the application.

(6) The applicant must include in its total cost statement and in its schedule of the costs expended or committed to be expended before October 16, 1986, the value of services that were performed by the applicant itself instead of contracted out.

(7)(i) If the applicant held a preliminary permit for the project and had completed pre-filing consultation pursuant to §4.38 of this chapter prior to October 16, 1986, the applicant may, instead of submitting the information listed in paragraphs (d)(3), (d)(4), and (d)(5) of this section, submit a statement identifying the preliminary permit by project number.

(ii) If any interested person objects (pursuant to §385.211 of this chapter) to the presumption in paragraph (b) of this section, the applicant must supply the information listed in paragraphs (d)(3), (d)(4), and (d)(5) of this section.

(8) If the application is deficient pursuant to §4.32(e) of this chapter, the applicant must include with the information correcting those deficiencies a statement of the costs expended to make the corrections.

(e) Processing of petition. (1) The Commission will issue a notice of the petition filed under this section and publish the notice in the Federal Register. The petition will be available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in the Public Reference Room maintained by the Division of Public Information.

(2) Comments on the petition. The Commission will provide the public 45 days from the date the notice of the petition is issued to submit comments. The applicant for license or exemption has 15 days after the expiration of the public comment period to respond to the comments filed with the Commission.

(3) Commission action on petition. The Director of the Office of Energy Projects will determine whether or not the applicant for license or exemption has made the showing required under this section.

[Order 499, 53 FR 27003, July 18, 1988, as amended by Order 699, 72 FR 45325, Aug. 14, 2007]

§292.211   Petition for initial determination on whether a project has a substantial adverse effect on the environment (AEE petition).

(a) An applicant that has filed a petition under §292.210 may also file an AEE petition with the Commission for an initial determination on whether the project satisfies the requirement that it has no substantial adverse effect on the environment as specified in §292.208(b)(1).

(b) The filing of the AEE petition does not relieve the applicant of the filing requirements of §292.208(c).

(c) The Commission will act on the AEE petition only if the Commission has granted the applicant's commitment of resources petition under §292.210.

(d) Time of filing petition. The applicant may file the AEE petition with the application for license or exemption or at any time before the Commission issues the license or exemption.

(e) Contents of petition. The AEE petition must identify the project and request that the Commission make an initial determination on the adverse environmental effects requirements in §292.208(b)(1).

(f) The Director of the Office of Energy Projects will make the initial determination on the AEE petition. In making this determination, the Director will consider the following:

(1) Any proposed mitigative measures;

(2) The consistency of the proposal with local, regional, and national resource plans and programs;

(3) The mandatory terms and conditions of fish and wildlife agencies under section 210(j) of PURPA, or section 30(c) of the Federal Power Act; or the recommended terms and conditions of fish a wildlife agencies under Section 10(j) of the Federal Power Act, whichever is appropriate; and

(4) Any other information which the Director believes is relevant to consider.

(g) Initial finding on the petition. The Director of the Office of Energy Projects will make the initial determination on the AEE petition after the close of the public notice period for the accepted application. If the Director's initial determination finds:

(1) No substantial adverse effect on the environment, the Commission must wait at least 45 days before making a final determination that the project satisfies the requirements of §292.208(b)(1).

(2) A substantial adverse effect on the environment, the applicant may file, within 90 days of the initial finding that the project does not satisfy the requirements in §292.208(b)(1), proposed measures to mitigate the adverse environmental effects found.

(3)(i) The Commission will provide written notice of the Director's initial finding on the petition to the applicant, to the federal and state agencies that the applicant must consult under §4.38 of this chapter and to any intervenors in the proceeding.

(ii) The Commission will publish notice of the Director's initial finding in the Federal Register.

(h) Notice and comment on the mitigative measures. (1) The Commission will issue notice of the mitigative measures filed by an applicant under paragraph (g)(2) of this section and will publish the notice in the Federal Register. The mitigative measures will be on file and available for inspection or copying during regular business hours in the Public Reference Room maintained by the Division of Public Information;

(2) The Commission will provide the State and interested persons within 90 days from the date the notice is issued to review and submit comments on the mitigative measures. The applicant for license or exemption has 15 days after the expiration of the public comment period to respond to the comments filed with the Commission.

(i) Material amendments to application. The proposed mitigative measures filed under paragraph (g)(2) of this section will not be considered a material amendment to the application unless the Commission finds that the proposed measures are unnecessary to, or exceed the scope of, mitigating substantial adverse effects. If the Commission finds the proposed mitigative measures constitute a material amendment, the application will be considered filed with the Commission on the date on which the applicant filed the proposed mitigative measures, and all other provisions of §4.35(a) of this chapter will apply.

(j) Final determination on the petition. The Commission will make a final determination on the petition at the time the Commission issues a license or exemption for the project.

(k) Presumption. (1) If, between the Commission's initial and final findings on the AEE petition, the State does not take any action under §292.208(b)(2), the failure to take action can be the basis for a presumption that there is not substantial adverse effect on the environment (as that term is defined in §292.202(q)).

(2) If the presumption in paragraph (k)(1) of this section comes into effect, it:

(i) Is only available for those adverse effects related to the natural, recreational, cultural, or scenic attributes of the environment;

(ii) Can only operate during the time between the Commission's initial and final findings on the AEE petition; and

(iii) Has no affect on the Commission's independent obligation to find that the project will not have a substantial adverse effect on the environment under §292.208(b)(1).

(3) The presumption in paragraph (k)(1) of this section does not take effect if the State, the Commission or an interested person demonstrates that the State has acted to protect the natural watercourse under §292.208(b)(2).

(4) The presumption in paragraph (k)(1) of this section can be rebutted if:

(i) The Commission determines that the project will have a substantial adverse effect on the environment related to the environmental attributes listed in paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section; or

(ii) Any interested person, including a State, demonstrates that the project will have a substantial adverse effect on the environment related to the environmental attributes listed in paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section.

[Order 499, 53 FR 27004, July 18, 1988, as amended by Order 499-A, 53 FR 40724, Oct. 18, 1988; Order 699, 72 FR 45325, Aug. 14, 2007]

Subpart C—Arrangements Between Electric Utilities and Qualifying Cogeneration and Small Power Production Facilities Under Section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

Authority: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15 U.S.C. 791 et seq. Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267.

Source: Order 69, 45 FR 12234, Feb. 25, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

§292.301   Scope.

(a) Applicability. This subpart applies to the regulation of sales and purchases between qualifying facilities and electric utilities.

(b) Negotiated rates or terms. Nothing in this subpart:

(1) Limits the authority of any electric utility or any qualifying facility to agree to a rate for any purchase, or terms or conditions relating to any purchase, which differ from the rate or terms or conditions which would otherwise be required by this subpart; or

(2) Affects the validity of any contract entered into between a qualifying facility and an electric utility for any purchase.

§292.302   Availability of electric utility system cost data.

(a) Applicability. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, paragraph (b) applies to each electric utility, in any calendar year, if the total sales of electric energy by such utility for purposes other than resale exceeded 500 million kilowatt-hours during any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1975, and before the immediately preceding calendar year.

(2) Each utility having total sales of electric energy for purposes other than resale of less than one billion kilowatt-hours during any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1975, and before the immediately preceding year, shall not be subject to the provisions of this section until June 30, 1982.

(b) General rule. To make available data from which avoided costs may be derived, not later than November 1, 1980, June 30, 1982, and not less often than every two years thereafter, each regulated electric utility described in paragraph (a) of this section shall provide to its State regulatory authority, and shall maintain for public inspection, and each nonregulated electric utility described in paragraph (a) of this section shall maintain for public inspection, the following data:

(1) The estimated avoided cost on the electric utility's system, solely with respect to the energy component, for various levels of purchases from qualifying facilities. Such levels of purchases shall be stated in blocks of not more than 100 megawatts for systems with peak demand of 1000 megawatts or more, and in blocks equivalent to not more than 10 percent of the system peak demand for systems of less than 1000 megawatts. The avoided costs shall be stated on a cents per kilowatt-hour basis, during daily and seasonal peak and off-peak periods, by year, for the current calendar year and each of the next 5 years;

(2) The electric utility's plan for the addition of capacity by amount and type, for purchases of firm energy and capacity, and for capacity retirements for each year during the succeeding 10 years; and

(3) The estimated capacity costs at completion of the planned capacity additions and planned capacity firm purchases, on the basis of dollars per kilowatt, and the associated energy costs of each unit, expressed in cents per kilowatt hour. These costs shall be expressed in terms of individual generating units and of individual planned firm purchases.

(c) Special rule for small electric utilities. (1) Each electric utility (other than any electric utility to which paragraph (b) of this section applies) shall, upon request:

(i) Provide comparable data to that required under paragraph (b) of this section to enable qualifying facilities to estimate the electric utility's avoided costs for periods described in paragraph (b) of this section; or

(ii) With regard to an electric utility which is legally obligated to obtain all its requirements for electric energy and capacity from another electric utility, provide the data of its supplying utility and the rates at which it currently purchases such energy and capacity.

(2) If any such electric utility fails to provide such information on request, the qualifying facility may apply to the State regulatory authority (which has ratemaking authority over the electric utility) or the Commission for an order requiring that the information be provided.

(d) Substitution of alternative method. (1) After public notice in the area served by the electric utility, and after opportunity for public comment, any State regulatory authority may require (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority), or any non-regulated electric utility may provide, data different than those which are otherwise required by this section if it determines that avoided costs can be derived from such data.

(2) Any State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated utility which requires such different data shall notify the Commission within 30 days of making such determination.

(e) State Review. (1) Any data submitted by an electric utility under this section shall be subject to review by the State regulatory authority which has ratemaking authority over such electric utility.

(2) In any such review, the electric utility has the burden of coming forward with justification for its data.

[45 FR 12234, Feb. 25, 1980; 45 FR 24126, Apr. 9, 1980]

§292.303   Electric utility obligations under this subpart.

(a) Obligation to purchase from qualifying facilities. Each electric utility shall purchase, in accordance with §292.304, unless exempted by §292.309 and §292.310, any energy and capacity which is made available from a qualifying facility:

(1) Directly to the electric utility; or

(2) Indirectly to the electric utility in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.

(b) Obligation to sell to qualifying facilities. Each electric utility shall sell to any qualifying facility, in accordance with §292.305, unless exempted by §292.312, energy and capacity requested by the qualifying facility.

(c) Obligation to interconnect. (1) Subject to paragraph (c)(2) of this section, any electric utility shall make such interconnection with any qualifying facility as may be necessary to accomplish purchases or sales under this subpart. The obligation to pay for any interconnection costs shall be determined in accordance with §292.306.

(2) No electric utility is required to interconnect with any qualifying facility if, solely by reason of purchases or sales over the interconnection, the electric utility would become subject to regulation as a public utility under part II of the Federal Power Act.

(d) Transmission to other electric utilities. If a qualifying facility agrees, an electric utility which would otherwise be obligated to purchase energy or capacity from such qualifying facility may transmit the energy or capacity to any other electric utility. Any electric utility to which such energy or capacity is transmitted shall purchase such energy or capacity under this subpart as if the qualifying facility were supplying energy or capacity directly to such electric utility. The rate for purchase by the electric utility to which such energy is transmitted shall be adjusted up or down to reflect line losses pursuant to §292.304(e)(4) and shall not include any charges for transmission.

(e) Parallel operation. Each electric utility shall offer to operate in parallel with a qualifying facility, provided that the qualifying facility complies with any applicable standards established in accordance with §292.308.

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006; 71 FR 75662, Dec. 18, 2006]

§292.304   Rates for purchases.

(a) Rates for purchases. (1) Rates for purchases shall:

(i) Be just and reasonable to the electric consumer of the electric utility and in the public interest; and

(ii) Not discriminate against qualifying cogeneration and small power production facilities.

(2) Nothing in this subpart requires any electric utility to pay more than the avoided costs for purchases.

(b) Relationship to avoided costs. (1) For purposes of this paragraph, “new capacity” means any purchase from capacity of a qualifying facility, construction of which was commenced on or after November 9, 1978.

(2) Subject to paragraph (b)(3) of this section, a rate for purchases satisfies the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section if the rate equals the avoided costs determined after consideration of the factors set forth in paragraph (e) of this section

(3) A rate for purchases (other than from new capacity) may be less than the avoided cost if the State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) or the nonregulated electric utility determines that a lower rate is consistent with paragraph (a) of this section, and is sufficient to encourage cogeneration and small power production.

(4) Rates for purchases from new capacity shall be in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section, regardless of whether the electric utility making such purchases is simultaneously making sales to the qualifying facility.

(5) In the case in which the rates for purchases are based upon estimates of avoided costs over the specific term of the contract or other legally enforceable obligation, the rates for such purchases do not violate this subpart if the rates for such purchases differ from avoided costs at the time of delivery.

(c) Standard rates for purchases. (1) There shall be put into effect (with respect to each electric utility) standard rates for purchases from qualifying facilities with a design capacity of 100 kilowatts or less.

(2) There may be put into effect standard rates for purchases from qualifying facilities with a design capacity of more than 100 kilowatts.

(3) The standard rates for purchases under this paragraph:

(i) Shall be consistent with paragraphs (a) and (e) of this section; and

(ii) May differentiate among qualifying facilities using various technologies on the basis of the supply characteristics of the different technologies.

(d) Purchases “as available” or pursuant to a legally enforceable obligation. Each qualifying facility shall have the option either:

(1) To provide energy as the qualifying facility determines such energy to be available for such purchases, in which case the rates for such purchases shall be based on the purchasing utility's avoided costs calculated at the time of delivery; or

(2) To provide energy or capacity pursuant to a legally enforceable obligation for the delivery of energy or capacity over a specified term, in which case the rates for such purchases shall, at the option of the qualifying facility exercised prior to the beginning of the specified term, be based on either:

(i) The avoided costs calculated at the time of delivery; or

(ii) The avoided costs calculated at the time the obligation is incurred.

(e) Factors affecting rates for purchases. In determining avoided costs, the following factors shall, to the extent practicable, be taken into account:

(1) The data provided pursuant to §292.302(b), (c), or (d), including State review of any such data;

(2) The availability of capacity or energy from a qualifying facility during the system daily and seasonal peak periods, including:

(i) The ability of the utility to dispatch the qualifying facility;

(ii) The expected or demonstrated reliability of the qualifying facility;

(iii) The terms of any contract or other legally enforceable obligation, including the duration of the obligation, termination notice requirement and sanctions for non-compliance;

(iv) The extent to which scheduled outages of the qualifying facility can be usefully coordinated with scheduled outages of the utility's facilities;

(v) The usefulness of energy and capacity supplied from a qualifying facility during system emergencies, including its ability to separate its load from its generation;

(vi) The individual and aggregate value of energy and capacity from qualifying facilities on the electric utility's system; and

(vii) The smaller capacity increments and the shorter lead times available with additions of capacity from qualifying facilities; and

(3) The relationship of the availability of energy or capacity from the qualifying facility as derived in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, to the ability of the electric utility to avoid costs, including the deferral of capacity additions and the reduction of fossil fuel use; and

(4) The costs or savings resulting from variations in line losses from those that would have existed in the absence of purchases from a qualifying facility, if the purchasing electric utility generated an equivalent amount of energy itself or purchased an equivalent amount of electric energy or capacity.

(f) Periods during which purchases not required. (1) Any electric utility which gives notice pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of this section will not be required to purchase electric energy or capacity during any period during which, due to operational circumstances, purchases from qualifying facilities will result in costs greater than those which the utility would incur if it did not make such purchases, but instead generated an equivalent amount of energy itself.

(2) Any electric utility seeking to invoke paragraph (f)(1) of this section must notify, in accordance with applicable State law or regulation, each affected qualifying facility in time for the qualifying facility to cease the delivery of energy or capacity to the electric utility.

(3) Any electric utility which fails to comply with the provisions of paragraph (f)(2) of this section will be required to pay the same rate for such purchase of energy or capacity as would be required had the period described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section not occurred.

(4) A claim by an electric utility that such a period has occurred or will occur is subject to such verification by its State regulatory authority as the State regulatory authority determines necessary or appropriate, either before or after the occurrence.

§292.305   Rates for sales.

(a) General rules. (1) Rates for sales:

(i) Shall be just and reasonable and in the public interest; and

(ii) Shall not discriminate against any qualifying facility in comparison to rates for sales to other customers served by the electric utility.

(2) Rates for sales which are based on accurate data and consistent systemwide costing principles shall not be considered to discriminate against any qualifying facility to the extent that such rates apply to the utility's other customers with similar load or other cost-related characteristics.

(b) Additional services to be provided to qualifying facilities. (1) Upon request of a qualifying facility, each electric utility shall provide:

(i) Supplementary power;

(ii) Back-up power;

(iii) Maintenance power; and

(iv) Interruptible power.

(2) The State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) and the Commission (with respect to any nonregulated electric utility) may waive any requirement of paragraph (b)(1) of this section if, after notice in the area served by the electric utility and after opportunity for public comment, the electric utility demonstrates and the State regulatory authority or the Commission, as the case may be, finds that compliance with such requirement will:

(i) Impair the electric utility's ability to render adequate service to its customers; or

(ii) Place an undue burden on the electric utility.

(c) Rates for sales of back-up and maintenance power. The rate for sales of back-up power or maintenance power:

(1) Shall not be based upon an assumption (unless supported by factual data) that forced outages or other reductions in electric output by all qualifying facilities on an electric utility's system will occur simultaneously, or during the system peak, or both; and

(2) Shall take into account the extent to which scheduled outages of the qualifying facilities can be usefully coordinated with scheduled outages of the utility's facilities.

§292.306   Interconnection costs.

(a) Obligation to pay. Each qualifying facility shall be obligated to pay any interconnection costs which the State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated electric utility may assess against the qualifying facility on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to other customers with similar load characteristics.

(b) Reimbursement of interconnection costs. Each State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) and nonregulated utility shall determine the manner for payments of interconnection costs, which may include reimbursement over a reasonable period of time.

§292.307   System emergencies.

(a) Qualifying facility obligation to provide power during system emergencies. A qualifying facility shall be required to provide energy or capacity to an electric utility during a system emergency only to the extent:

(1) Provided by agreement between such qualifying facility and electric utility; or

(2) Ordered under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act.

(b) Discontinuance of purchases and sales during system emergencies. During any system emergency, an electric utility may discontinue:

(1) Purchases from a qualifying facility if such purchases would contribute to such emergency; and

(2) Sales to a qualifying facility, provided that such discontinuance is on a nondiscriminatory basis.

§292.308   Standards for operating reliability.

Any State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated electric utility may establish reasonable standards to ensure system safety and reliability of interconnected operations. Such standards may be recommended by any electric utility, any qualifying facility, or any other person. If any State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated electric utility establishes such standards, it shall specify the need for such standards on the basis of system safety and reliability.

§292.309   Termination of obligation to purchase from qualifying facilities.

(a) After August 8, 2005, an electric utility shall not be required, under this part, to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase electric energy from a qualifying cogeneration facility or a qualifying small power production facility if the Commission finds that the qualifying cogeneration facility or qualifying small power facility production has nondiscriminatory access to:

(1)(i) Independently administered, auction-based day ahead and real time wholesale markets for the sale of electric energy; and

(ii) Wholesale markets for long-term sales of capacity and electric energy; or

(2)(i) Transmission and interconnection services that are provided by a Commission-approved regional transmission entity and administered pursuant to an open access transmission tariff that affords nondiscriminatory treatment to all customers; and

(ii) Competitive wholesale markets that provide a meaningful opportunity to sell capacity, including long-term and short-term sales, and electric energy, including long-term, short-term and real-time sales, to buyers other than the utility to which the qualifying facility is interconnected. In determining whether a meaningful opportunity to sell exists, the Commission shall consider, among other factors, evidence of transactions within the relevant market; or

(3) Wholesale markets for the sale of capacity and electric energy that are, at a minimum, of comparable competitive quality as markets described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.

(b) For purposes of §292.309(a), a renewal of a contract that expires by its own terms is a “new contract or obligation” without a continuing obligation to purchase under an expired contract.

(c) For purposes of §292.309(a)(1), (2) and (3), with the exception of paragraph (d) of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that a qualifying facility has nondiscriminatory access to the market if it is eligible for service under a Commission-approved open access transmission tariff or Commission-filed reciprocity tariff, and Commission-approved interconnection rules. If the Commission determines that a market meets the criteria of §292.309(a)(1), (2) or (3), and if a qualifying facility in the relevant market is eligible for service under a Commission-approved open access transmission tariff or Commission-filed reciprocity tariff, a qualifying facility may seek to rebut the presumption of access to the market by demonstrating, inter alia, that it does not have access to the market because of operational characteristics or transmission constraints.

(d)(1) For purposes of §292.309(a)(1), (2), and (3), there is a rebuttable presumption that a qualifying facility with a capacity at or below 20 megawatts does not have nondiscriminatory access to the market.

(2) For purposes of implementing paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the Commission will not be bound by the one-mile standard set forth in §292.204(a)(2).

(e) Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (Midwest ISO), PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM), ISO New England, Inc. (ISO-NE), and New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) qualify as markets described in §292.309(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and there is a rebuttable presumption that qualifying facilities with a capacity greater than 20 megawatts have nondiscriminatory access to those markets through Commission-approved open access transmission tariffs and interconnection rules, and that electric utilities that are members of such regional transmission organizations or independent system operators (RTO/ISOs) should be relieved of the obligation to purchase electric energy from the qualifying facilities. A qualifying facility may seek to rebut this presumption by demonstrating, inter alia, that:

(1) The qualifying facility has certain operational characteristics that effectively prevent the qualifying facility's participation in a market; or

(2) The qualifying facility lacks access to markets due to transmission constraints. The qualifying facility may show that it is located in an area where persistent transmission constraints in effect cause the qualifying facility not to have access to markets outside a persistently congested area to sell the qualifying facility output or capacity.

(f) The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) qualifies as a market described in §292.309(a)(3), and there is a rebuttable presumption that qualifying facilities with a capacity greater than 20 megawatts have nondiscriminatory access to that market through Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) approved open access protocols, and that electric utilities that operate within ERCOT should be relieved of the obligation to purchase electric energy from the qualifying facilities. A qualifying facility may seek to rebut this presumption by demonstrating, inter alia, that:

(1) The qualifying facility has certain operational characteristics that effectively prevent the qualifying facility's participation in a market; or

(2) The qualifying facility lacks access to markets due to transmission constraints. The qualifying facility may show that it is located in an area where persistent transmission constraints in effect cause the qualifying facility not to have access to markets outside a persistently congested area to sell the qualifying facility output or capacity.

(g) The California Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool, Inc. satisfy the criteria of §292.309(a)(2)(i).

(h) No electric utility shall be required, under this part, to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase from or sell electric energy to a facility that is not an existing qualifying cogeneration facility unless the facility meets the criteria for new qualifying cogeneration facilities established by the Commission in §292.205.

(i) For purposes of §292.309(h), an “existing qualifying cogeneration facility” is a facility that:

(1) Was a qualifying cogeneration facility on or before August 8, 2005; or

(2) Had filed with the Commission a notice of self-certification or self-recertification, or an application for Commission certification, under §292.207 prior to February 2, 2006.

(j) For purposes of §292.309(h), a “new qualifying cogeneration facility” is a facility that satisfies the criteria for qualifying cogeneration facilities pursuant to §292.205.

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006; 71 FR 75662, Dec. 18, 2006]

§292.310   Procedures for utilities requesting termination of obligation to purchase from qualifying facilities.

(a) An electric utility may file an application with the Commission for relief from the mandatory purchase requirement under §292.303(a) pursuant to this section on a service territory-wide basis. Such application shall set forth the factual basis upon which relief is requested and describe why the conditions set forth in §292.309(a)(1), (2) or (3) have been met. After notice, including sufficient notice to potentially affected qualifying cogeneration facilities and qualifying small power production facilities, and an opportunity for comment, the Commission shall make a final determination within 90 days of such application regarding whether the conditions set forth in §292.309(a)(1), (2) or (3) have been met.

(b) Sufficient notice shall mean that an electric utility must identify with names and addresses all potentially affected qualifying facilities in an application filed pursuant to paragraph (a).

(c) An electric utility must submit with its application for each potentially affected qualifying facility: The docket number assigned if the qualifying facility filed for self-certification or an application for Commission certification of qualifying facility status; the net capacity of the qualifying facility; the location of the qualifying facility depicted by state and county, and the name and location of the substation where the qualifying facility is interconnected; the interconnection status of each potentially affected qualifying facility including whether the qualifying facility is interconnected as an energy or a network resource; and the expiration date of the energy and/or capacity agreement between the applicant utility and each potentially affected qualifying facility. All potentially affected qualifying facilities shall include:

(1) Those qualifying facilities that have existing power purchase contracts with the applicant;

(2) Other qualifying facilities that sell their output to the applicant or that have pending self-certification or Commission certification with the Commission for qualifying facility status whereby the applicant will be the purchaser of the qualifying facility's output;

(3) Any developer of generating facilities with whom the applicant has agreed to enter into power purchase contracts, as of the date of the application filed pursuant to this section, or are in discussion, as of the date of the application filed pursuant to this section, with regard to power purchase contacts;

(4) The developers of facilities that have pending state avoided cost proceedings, as of the date of the application filed pursuant to this section; and

(5) Any other qualifying facilities that the applicant reasonably believes to be affected by its application filed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.

(d) The following information must be filed with an application:

(1) Identify whether applicant seeks a finding under the provisions of §292.309(a)(1), (2), or (3).

(2) A narrative setting forth the factual basis upon which relief is requested and describing why the conditions set forth in §292.309(a)(1), (2), or (3) have been met. Applicant should also state in its application whether it is relying on the findings or rebuttable presumptions contained in §292.309(e), (f) or (g). To the extent applicant seeks relief from the purchase obligation with respect to a qualifying facility 20 megawatts or smaller, and thus seeks to rebut the presumption in §292.309(d), applicant must also set forth, and submit evidence of, the factual basis supporting its contention that the qualifying facility has nondiscriminatory access to the wholesale markets which are the basis for the applicant's filing.

(3) Transmission Studies and related information, including:

(i) The applicant's long-term transmission plan, conducted by applicant, or the RTO, ISO or other relevant entity;

(ii) Transmission constraints by path, element or other level of comparable detail that have occurred and/or are known and expected to occur, and any proposed mitigation including transmission construction plans;

(iii) Levels of congestion, if available;

(iv) Relevant system impact studies for the generation interconnections, already completed;

(v) Other information pertinent to showing whether transfer capability is available; and

(vi) The appropriate link to applicant's OASIS, if any, from which a qualifying facility may obtain applicant's available transfer capability (ATC) information.

(4) Describe the process, procedures and practices that qualifying facilities interconnected to the applicant's system must follow to arrange for the transmission service to transfer power to purchasers other than the applicant. This description must include the process, procedures and practices of all distribution, transmission and regional transmission facilities necessary for qualifying facility access to the market.

(5) If qualifying facilities will be required to execute new interconnection agreements, or renegotiate existing agreements so that they can effectuate wholesale sales to third-party purchasers, explain the requirements, charges and the process to be followed. Also, explain any differences in these requirements as they apply to qualifying facilities compared to other generators, or to applicant-owned generation.

(6) Applicants seeking a Commission finding pursuant to §292.309(a)(2) or (3), except those applicants located in ERCOT, also must provide evidence of competitive wholesale markets that provide a meaningful opportunity to sell capacity, including long-term and short-term sales, and electric energy, including long-term, short-term and real-time sales, to buyers other than the utility to which the qualifying facility is interconnected. In demonstrating that a meaningful opportunity to sell exists, provide evidence of transactions within the relevant market. Applicants must include a list of known or potential purchasers, e.g., jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional utilities as well as retail energy service providers.

(7) Signature of authorized individual evidencing the accuracy and authenticity of information provided by applicant.

(8) Person(s) to whom communications regarding the filed information may be addressed, including name, title, telephone number, and mailing address.

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006, as amended by Order 688-A, 72 FR 35892, June 29, 2007]

§292.311   Reinstatement of obligation to purchase.

At any time after the Commission makes a finding under §§292.309 and 292.310 relieving an electric utility of its obligation to purchase electric energy, a qualifying cogeneration facility, a qualifying small power production facility, a State agency, or any other affected person may apply to the Commission for an order reinstating the electric utility's obligation to purchase electric energy under this section. Such application shall set forth the factual basis upon which the application is based and describe why the conditions set forth in §292.309(a), (b) or (c) are no longer met. After notice, including sufficient notice to potentially affected electric utilities, and opportunity for comment, the Commission shall issue an order within 90 days of such application reinstating the electric utility's obligation to purchase electric energy under this section if the Commission finds that the conditions set forth in §292.309(a), (b), or (c) which relieved the obligation to purchase, are no longer met.

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006]

§292.312   Termination of obligation to sell to qualifying facilities.

(a) Any electric utility may file an application with the Commission for relief from the mandatory obligation to sell under this section on a service territory-wide basis or a single qualifying facility basis. Such application shall set forth the factual basis upon which relief is requested and describe why the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section have been met. After notice, including sufficient notice to potentially affected qualifying facilities, and an opportunity for comment, the Commission shall make a final determination within 90 days of such application regarding whether the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section have been met.

(b) After August 8, 2005, an electric utility shall not be required to enter into a new contract or obligation to sell electric energy to a qualifying small power production facility, an existing qualifying cogeneration facility, or a new qualifying cogeneration facility if the Commission has found that;

(1) Competing retail electric suppliers are willing and able to sell and deliver electric energy to the qualifying cogeneration facility or qualifying small power production facility; and

(2) The electric utility is not required by State law to sell electric energy in its service territory.

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006; 71 FR 75662, Dec. 18, 2006]

§292.313   Reinstatement of obligation to sell.

At any time after the Commission makes a finding under §292.312 relieving an electric utility of its obligation to sell electric energy, a qualifying cogeneration facility, a qualifying small power production facility, a State agency, or any other affected person may apply to the Commission for an order reinstating the electric utility's obligation to purchase electric energy under this section. Such application shall set forth the factual basis upon which the application is based and describe why the conditions set forth in Paragraph (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section are no longer met. After notice, including sufficient notice to potentially affected utilities, and opportunity for comment, the Commission shall issue an order within 90 days of such application reinstating the electric utility's obligation to sell electric energy under this section if the Commission finds that the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section are no longer met.

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006]

§292.314   Existing rights and remedies.

Nothing in this section affects the rights or remedies of any party under any contract or obligation, in effect or pending approval before the appropriate State regulatory authority or non-regulated electric utility on or before August 8, 2005, to purchase electric energy or capacity from or to sell electric energy or capacity to a qualifying cogeneration facility or qualifying small power production facility under this Act (including the right to recover costs of purchasing electric energy or capacity).

[Order 688, 71 FR 64372, Nov. 1, 2006]

Subpart D—Implementation

Authority: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15 U.S.C. 791 et seq., Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267.

Source: Order 69, 45 FR 12236, Feb. 25, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

§292.401   Implementation of certain reporting requirements.

Any electric utility which fails to comply with the requirements of §292.302(b) shall be subject to the same penalties to which it may be subjected for failure to comply with the requirements of the Commission's regulations issued under section 133 of PURPA.

[45 FR 12236, Feb. 25, 1980. Redesignated by Order 541, 57 FR 21734, May 22, 1992]

§292.402   Waivers.

(a) State regulatory authority and nonregulated electric utility waivers. Any State regulatory authority (with respect to any electric utility over which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated electric utility may, after public notice in the area served by the electric utility, apply for a waiver from the application of any of the requirements of subpart C (other than §292.302 thereof).

(b) Commission action. The Commission will grant such a wavier only if an applicant under paragraph (a) of this section demonstrates that compliance with any of the requirements of subpart C is not necessary to encourage cogeneration and small power production and is not otherwise required under section 210 of PURPA.

[45 FR 12236, Feb. 25, 1980. Redesignated by Order 541, 57 FR 21734, May 22, 1992]

Subpart E [Reserved]

Subpart F—Exemption of Qualifying Small Power Production Facilities and Cogeneration Facilities from Certain Federal and State Laws and Regulations

§292.601   Exemption to qualifying facilities from the Federal Power Act.

(a) Applicability. This section applies to qualifying facilities, other than those described in paragraph (b) of this section. This section also applies to qualifying facilities that meet the criteria of section 3(17)(E) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796(17)(E)), notwithstanding paragraph (b).

(b) Exclusion. This section does not apply to a qualifying small power production facility with a power production capacity which exceeds 30 megawatts, if such facility uses any primary energy source other than geothermal resources.

(c) General rule. Any qualifying facility described in paragraph (a) of this section shall be exempt from all sections of the Federal Power Act, except:

(1) Sections 205 and 206; however, sales of energy or capacity made by qualifying facilities 20 MW or smaller, or made pursuant to a contract executed on or before March 17, 2006 or made pursuant to a state regulatory authority's implementation of section 210 the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 824a-1, shall be exempt from scrutiny under sections 205 and 206;

(2) Section 1-18, and 21-30;

(3) Sections 202(c), 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 220, 221 and 222;

(4) Sections 305(c); and

(5) Any necessary enforcement provision of part III of the Federal Power Act (including but not limited to sections 306, 307, 308, 309, 314, 315, 316 and 316A) with regard to the sections listed in paragraphs (c)(1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section.

(Energy Security Act, Pub. L. 96-294, 94 Stat. 611 (1980) Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601, et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15 U.S.C. 791, et seq., Federal Power Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101, et seq.; E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267)

[Order 135, 46 FR 19232, Mar. 30, 1981, as amended by Order 569, 59 FR 40470, Aug. 9, 1994; Order 671, 71 FR 7868, Feb. 15, 2006; 72 FR 29063, May 24, 2007; Order 732, 75 FR 15966, Mar. 30, 2010]

§292.602   Exemption to qualifying facilities from the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 and certain State laws and regulations.

(a) Applicability. This section applies to any qualifying facility described in §292.601(a), and to any qualifying small power production facility with a power production capacity over 30 megawatts if such facility produces electric energy solely by the use of biomass as a primary energy source.

(b) Exemption from the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. A qualifying facility described in paragraph (a) of this section or a utility geothermal small power production facility shall be exempt from the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. 16,451-63.

(c) Exemption from certain State laws and regulations. (1) Any qualifying facility described in paragraph (a) of this section shall be exempted (except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section) from State laws or regulations respecting:

(i) The rates of electric utilities; and

(ii) The financial and organizational regulation of electric utilities.

(2) A qualifying facility may not be exempted from State laws and regulations implementing subpart C.

(3) Upon request of a state regulatory authority or nonregulated electric utility, the Commission may consider a limitation on the exemptions specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(4) Upon request of any person, the Commission may determine whether a qualifying facility is exempt from a particular State law or regulation.

(Energy Security Act, Pub. L. 96-294, 94 Stat. 611 (1980) Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2601, et seq., Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, 15 U.S.C. 791, et seq., Federal Power Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq., Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101, et seq.; E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267)

[45 FR 12237, Feb. 25, 1980, as amended by Order 135, 46 FR 19232, Mar. 30, 1981; Order 671, 71 FR 7869, Feb. 15, 2006; Order 671-A, 71 FR 30589, May 30, 2006; Order 732, 75 FR 15966, Mar. 30, 2010; 77 FR 9842, Feb. 21, 2012]