Renewable Gas Interconnection Rule Proposal The Joint Utilities - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

• Encourage and facilitate

the interconnection of RG supplies in California

• Consistent access to and

better understanding of the utility pipeline interconnection process for RG developers and producers

Goal al

• Reduce carbon in the gas

system to contribute to California’s short-lived climate pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals.

Obj bjectiv ives

• Increase receipt of RG

into utility pipelines for transportation and stationary end-uses

• Standardize

RG interconnection process in California

• Provide a path for RG

produced from various processes and technologies to be injected into utility pipelines

Pr Process

• Work Plan
• Pre-work
• Working Sessions
• Action Items
• Review Sessions
• Progress Updates

Working S Ses essions

• Definitions
• Applicability/Open Access
• Interconnection Process
• Final Design,

Construction, Acceptance and Delivery

• Costs
• Gas Quality Specifications

& Testing

• Municipalities
• Blending
• 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

• f 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 Responsibility (I1-4)

• Initial installation, expansion,

repair, upgrade, modification and replacement of Utility costs incurred to provide, operate and maintain Interconnector access

• Unique IOU Operation and

Maintenance fees Incentive Programs (I5)

• Propose providing monetary

incentive to third party pipelines to maximize existing infrastructure's potential, to cost effectively increase IOU biomethane receipts

RG Gas Quality and Specifications (Section K)

Unique Base Utility Gas Specifications

• System and customer

equipment set differently (historical gas, air district limits, sulfur or odorant levels, appliances)

• Existing producers will be

impacted if the specifications change Updated RG Constituents

• Add carbon monoxide trigger

level 0.03% as an Integrity Protective Constituents to enable receipt of Gasified Organic Waste RG Source Certification (siloxanes) and Testing

• Utilities may do additional

siloxanes tests at their own discretion and cost

• Any siloxane results above

Lower Action Level (LAL) then no reduced siloxane testing

• Integrity Protective

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