Dakota Electric Association distributed generation

The screens that decide it

• Below the 40 kW point where net energy billing ends Limit 39.999 kW.

  The net energy billing rate is available to qualifying facilities with capacity of less than 40 kW. Facilities over 100 kW may negotiate or take the time of day rate. The 40 kW figure is stated without an AC or DC qualifier in the tariff itself.

• Below the 60 kW point where distribution standby charges begin Limit 60 kW.

  A member requiring contracted distribution standby service of more than 60 kW, or delivery to a third party, is charged for those distribution services at the rate in the cooperative’s standby service rider.

• Within the 10 MW application scope Limit 10000 kW.

  The interconnection application covers systems rated 10 MW or less of total nameplate generation.

Ask the utility this, before you sell it

1. Is the 40 kW compensation threshold measured in AC or DC? The tariff states it bare and defers every definition to the cooperative’s branded interconnection agreement and process documents, which are not published on the website.
2. What insurance is required, and what screens apply? Neither appears in the rider, Schedule 55, the application or the summary letter; both live in the branded agreement and process that could not be retrieved.
3. What will the metering cost? The member is charged an up front lump sum for the installed cost of the metering equipment.
4. What does Great River Energy Rate Rider T pay? The rider routes all purchases to the wholesale supplier, which buys the energy and capacity under its own rates, terms and conditions rather than the cooperative’s.

Worth knowing before you quote

The buyback under Schedule 55 is generous by cooperative standards and depends on the rate class: 14.94 cents per kWh residential, 14.78 small general service, 9.10 general service and 6.68 commercial and industrial interruptible. Dakota also publishes dedicated pilot battery energy storage buyback rates, 9.35 cents per kWh full and 11.64 cents limited, which is unusual among cooperatives. Fees match the Minnesota cooperative process: fast track $100 plus $1 per kW certified or $2 per kW non certified, study $1,000 plus $2 per kW down payment with additional study fees possible, all non refundable. Published clocks are in business days: contact within 10 of the application and fee, applicant cure within 10, and a coordinator response within 15. Nothing is published on time to permission to operate. A visible and lockable disconnect isolating the distribution system from the generation is required. An Energy Storage Application must accompany the interconnection application, and where export capacity is limited the applicant must include material explaining the limiting capability. A monthly service charge to recover incremental metering, operation and maintenance costs may be applied upon Commission approval, which is further confirmation of the regulated status.

All Minnesota interconnection rules