16 U.S.C. § 824i : US Code - Section 824I: Interconnection authority

Search 16 U.S.C. § 824i : US Code - Section 824I: Interconnection authority

(a) Powers of Commission; application by State regulatory authority
(1) Upon application of any electric utility, Federal power
marketing agency, geothermal power producer (including a producer
which is not an electric utility), qualifying cogenerator, or
qualifying small power producer, the Commission may issue an order
requiring -
(A) the physical connection of any cogeneration facility, any
small power production facility, or the transmission facilities
of any electric utility, with the facilities of such applicant,
(B) such action as may be necessary to make effective any
physical connection described in subparagraph (A), which physical
connection is ineffective for any reason, such as inadequate
size, poor maintenance, or physical unreliability,
(C) such sale or exchange of electric energy or other
coordination, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of
any order under subparagraph (A) or (B), or
(D) such increase in transmission capacity as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of any order under subparagraph (A) or
(B).
(2) Any State regulatory authority may apply to the Commission
for an order for any action referred to in subparagraph (A), (B),
(C), or (D) of paragraph (1). No such order may be issued by the
Commission with respect to a Federal power marketing agency upon
application of a State regulatory authority.
(b) Notice, hearing and determination by Commission
Upon receipt of an application under subsection (a) of this
section, the Commission shall -
(1) issue notice to each affected State regulatory authority,
each affected electric utility, each affected Federal power
marketing agency, each affected owner or operator of a
cogeneration facility or of a small power production facility,
and to the public.
(2) afford an opportunity for an evidentiary hearing, and
(3) make a determination with respect to the matters referred
to in subsection (c) of this section.
(c) Necessary findings
No order may be issued by the Commission under subsection (a) of
this section unless the Commission determines that such order -
(1) is in the public interest,
(2) would -
(A) encourage overall conservation of energy or capital,
(B) optimize the efficiency of use of facilities and
resources, or
(C) improve the reliability of any electric utility system or
Federal power marketing agency to which the order applies, and
(3) meets the requirements of section 824k of this title.
(d) Motion of Commission
The Commission may, on its own motion, after compliance with the
requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of this
section, issue an order requiring any action described in
subsection (a)(1) of this section if the Commission determines that
such order meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this
section. No such order may be issued upon the Commission's own
motion with respect to a Federal power marketing agency.
(e) Definitions
(1) As used in this section, the term "facilities" means only
facilities used for the generation or transmission of electric
energy.
(2) With respect to an order issued pursuant to an application of
a qualifying cogenerator or qualifying small power producer under
subsection (a)(1) of this section, the term "facilities of such
applicant" means the qualifying cogeneration facilities or
qualifying small power production facilities of the applicant, as
specified in the application. With respect to an order issued
pursuant to an application under subsection (a)(2) of this section,
the term "facilities of such applicant" means the qualifying
cogeneration facilities, qualifying small power production
facilities, or the transmission facilities of an electric utility,
as specified in the application. With respect to an order issued by
the Commission on its own motion under subsection (d) of this
section, such term means the qualifying cogeneration facilities,
qualifying small power production facilities, or the transmission
facilities of an electric utility, as specified in the proposed
order.