Illinois Administrative Code|Section 466.80 Determining the Review Level

                                                
  
An EDC shall determine whether an interconnection request should be processed under the Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 procedures by using the following screens:
  
a)         An EDC shall use Level 1 procedures to evaluate all interconnection requests to connect a distributed generation facility when:
  
1)         The applicant has filed a Level 1 application; and
  
2)         The distributed generation facility has a nameplate capacity of 25 kW or less; and
  
3)         The distributed generation facility is inverter-based; and
  
4)         The customer interconnection equipment proposed for the distributed generation facility is lab-certified.
  
b)         An EDC shall use Level 2 procedures for evaluating interconnection requests when:
  
1)         The applicant has filed a Level 2 application; 
  
2)         For certified inverter-based systems, the size limit varies according to the voltage of the line at the proposed point of interconnection:
  
 
 
 
Line Voltage
 
 
 
Level 2 Eligibility
 
 
 
 
 
< 5 kV
 
 
 
≤ 500 kW
 
 
 
 
 
≥ 5 kV and < 15 kV
 
 
 
≤ 3 MW
 
 
 
 
 
≥ 15 kV and < 30 kV
 
 
 
≤ 4 MW
 
 
 
 
 
≥ 30 kV and ≤ 69 kV
 
 
 
≤ 5 MW
 
 
 
   
3)         All distributed generation facilities connecting to lines greater than 69 kV are ineligible for Level 2 review regardless of size.  All synchronous and induction machines must be no larger than 2 MW to be eligible;
  
4)         The interconnection equipment proposed for the distributed generation facility is lab-certified; and
  
5)         The proposed interconnection is to a radial distribution circuit or a spot network limited to serving one customer.
  
c)         An EDC shall use Level 3 review procedures for evaluating interconnection requests to area networks and radial distribution circuits where power will not be exported based on the following criteria.
  
1)         For interconnection requests to the load side of an area network, the following criteria shall be satisfied to qualify for a Level 3 expedited review:
  
A)        The applicant has filed a Level 3 application; and
  
B)        The nameplate capacity of the distributed generation facility is less than or equal to 50 kW; and
  
C)        The proposed distributed generation facility uses a lab-certified inverter-based equipment package; and 
  
D)        The distributed generation facility uses reverse power relays and/or other protection functions that prevent the export of power into the area network; and 
  
E)        The aggregate of all generation on the area network does not exceed the lower of 5% of an area network's maximum load or 50 kilovolt amperes (kVA).
  
2)         For interconnection requests to a radial distribution circuit, the following criteria shall be satisfied to qualify for a Level 3 expedited review:
  
A)        The applicant has filed a Level 3 application; and
  
B)        The aggregated total of the nameplate capacity of all of the generators on the circuit, including the proposed distributed generation facility, is 10 MVA or less; and
  
C)        The distributed generation facility will use reverse power relays or other protection functions that prevent power flow onto the electric distribution system; and
  
D)        The distributed generation facility is not served by a shared transformer.
  
d)         An EDC shall use the Level 4 study review procedures for evaluating interconnection requests when:
  
1)         The applicant has filed a Level 4 application; and
  
2)         The nameplate capacity of the small generation facility is 10 MVA or less; and
  
3)         Not all of the interconnection equipment or distributed generation facilities being used for the application is lab-certified.