ReMAT Webinar 1 Questions and Answers
August 8, 2013: 10:00 am – noon
Program Details
1) What are product types specifically as it relates to solar?
An As-Available Facility is defined as being powered by solar energy as well as other sources in Appendix A of the ReMAT PPA. Section N of the ReMAT Tariff defines As-Available Peaking, As-Available Non-Peaking, and Baseload.
2) On Slide 14 – there was a .250MW project that accepted the Re-MAT price, and was within the 4.5MW capacity available, was a PPA not executed because the project size was below 1MW? I did not see a minimum size noted on the program requirement slide, but have seen the 1-3MW range elsewhere.
This question appears to be related to slide 13. For the As-Available Peaking Product Type, there are 5.00 MWs available in Program Period 1. PG&E must award PPAs to PPRs that have accepted the price in order of ReMAT Queue Number and cannot skip over these PPRs, because it would result in exceeding the available capacity to award PPAs to smaller-sized PPRs further down in the ReMAT Queue Number sequence. PG&E is able to select the first two projects that accepted the price for PPA execution: a 3.00 MW project and a 1.50 MW project for a total of 4.50 MW. The next project, per ReMAT Queue Number, to accept the price is 3.00 MW, which would bring the total to 7.50 MW, exceeding the capacity for the Program Period. Thus, PG&E does not select the 3.00 MW project a PPA and does not skip it to award a PPA to the 0.25 MW project. The Program Period is Deemed Fully Subscribed, as defined in Section I .3 of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
3) Follow up to the last question: you mentioned that a project cannot be skipped, even if there was excess capacity – is this accurate and where can I read more on this provision? Say there is a 3MW project that accepts the PPA, the next in line is another 3MW, followed by two 1MW projects. If I understand your response correctly, only 3MW will be allocated, because the next 3MW project would take the capacity over the 5MW limit, and that 3MW project cannot be skipped in order to allow the other two 1MW projects to participate.
Correct. See Section I.3 of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
4) So, if I'm offered a contract but do not accept the contract, do I keep my place in the Queue for the next program period?
No. If a PPR is offered a PPA and the Applicant does not return an executed PPA within 10 business days, the Applicant will be deemed to have rejected the PPA and the queue number will be revoked. See Section I.5 of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
5) Did we understand correctly that if an applicant rejects a PPA offer, the applicant loses ReMAT queue position and is removed from the process?
Yes. See Section I.5 of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
Key Requirements
6) Is the ReMAT program available to existing facilities completing their current PG&E PURPA PPA? If so, is the Rule 21 version under which they interconnected still applicable?
Existing facilities are eligible. However, the expiration date (or the effective date of the exercise of a Seller termination right) of the existing contract must occur within 24 months of the execution date of a ReMAT PPA.
Many existing facilities may have an interconnection agreement that is part of their current PURPA PPA. A separate interconnection agreement may be necessary. We encourage owners of existing facilities to inquire with PG&E’s Electric Generation Interconnection (EGI) group whether the current interconnection agreement is satisfactory under a new PPA. The interconnection agreement must be deemed satisfactory by EGI prior to achieving Commercial Operation under the ReMAT PPA.
7) Regarding eligibility criterion #7 from the ReMAT Tariff concerning developer experience, could you please clarify how the development team is defined? For example, is a consulting engineer considered a member of the development team?
The developer experience eligibility criteria can be found in Section D.7 of the E-ReMAT Tariff. An engineering consultant would be considered a member of the development team.
8) Under the "Key Requirements Section" the $300,000 upgrade maximum is for the transmission side only correct? IE If we have a project with $200,000 of distribution upgrades and $250,000 of transmission upgrades that project is acceptable?
Yes, the project is acceptable. The transmission system Network Upgrades are below $300,000. See Section D.4 of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
Interconnection & Deliverability
9) What is distribution and transmission?
PG&E’s distribution system is less than 60 kV. PG&E’s transmission system, which is controlled by the CAISO, is 60 kV and above.
10) For existing projects that plan to submit a PPR, what interconnection documentation is required? Some projects have QF contracts with PG&E that cover both power sales and interconnection so there is currently no separate interconnection agreement.
If you have an existing interconnection agreement, you would provide that in your PPR, whether it’s combined with a PPA or a standalone interconnection agreement. If you have made or intend to make modifications, EGI may require a new study. Please inquire with PG&E’s Electric Generation Interconnection (EGI) group. Legacy QFs have an appendix to their QF PPAs that cover the special facilities that PG&E built to facilitate that interconnection. It is important that you provide the documentation related to your existing interconnection in order for PG&E to evaluate your project. For new interconnections, please refer to the Wholesale Generator Interconnection website at http://www.pge.com/wholesale/ for information on the required documents for the Rule 21 or WDT online applications.
11) Can projects less than 3MW in capacity be deemed Full Capacity Deliverability or must they be Energy-Only?
The interconnection process does not have size limitations in order to apply for Full Capacity or Energy-Only. Please inquire with the CAISO if you have further questions.
12) What is the difference between Rule 21 and WDT? Why would I choose on over the other?
Which interconnection process to enter is the project owner’s choice. As mentioned on slide 20, it is important to note that you must have a PURPA PPA to be eligible for Rule 21 (Note: the ReMAT PPA qualifies a PURPA PPA). The process and technical reviews completed under Rule 21 or WDT, the Fast Track process or Independent Study process are identical. The Rule 21 process has specific eligibility requirements.
13) The allocation payment factors are different for the 2 options available. Please advise on the difference between "Energy Only" Option and "Full Capacity Deliverability" Option for Re-Mat.
See Appendix C and Section 4.43 of the ReMAT PPA. At PPA execution, a project is defaulted into the Energy-Only Payment Allocation Factors. If the project achieves Full Capacity Deliverability status, there is a one-time option for the Seller to elect the Full Capacity Deliverability factors.
14) Who conducts interconnection? Does PG&E have a preferred vendor list?
For distribution upgrades and network upgrades beyond the point of interconnection, i.e. where you plan to inject power to PG&E and upstream to our distribution and transmission systems, PG&E owns the process of constructing, engineering, and procuring all of the upgrades that are required for your project. PG&E, at its sole discretion, may contract out the work with our preferred vendors.
Application Process and PPA
15) Is the TOD listed in the PPA set for the program, or is there potential variability? If variable, what are the factors/constraints?
See Appendix C and Section 4.43 of the ReMAT PPA.
16) Isn’t the expected participation much greater than 5MW per period for As-Available Peaking (solar)?
The available capacity per Product Type is a maximum of 5 MW per bi-monthly Program Period. This was established by a CPUC Decision. See Section G.2 of the E-ReMAT Tariff. PG&E cannot predict the number of applicants or MWs that choose to participate in any Product Type or Program Period. The market will drive participation.
17) Can you explain the initial application process in more detail?
PG&E will host a second webinar on Friday, August 16, to go over the application process and online platform in more detail. Also, see Section E of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
18) When will the forms be released?
The Applicant and PPR forms will be available online no later than October 1, the Initial PPR Submission Date. See Section F.1 of the E-ReMAT Tariff.
Logistics
19) We would like to review the webinar and study more. Is the webinar recorded? Can we download the recorded audio? Also, can we download the slides?
Yes. The presentation and audio portion of the webinar are available on PG&E’s ReMAT webpage at www.pge.com/rfo/remat .
20) Is the next webinar slated for Friday, August 16 at 10am?
Yes. See PG&E’s ReMAT webpage at www.pge.com/rfo/remat.