Fiscal Note
Under this program, MG&E will credit the City’s photovoltaic (PV)-generated power at the current customer rate. These credits will reduce the net cost of electricity at installed facility sites. No appropriations required.
Title
Authorizing the City Engineer to apply to Madison Gas and Electric Company’s Customer Owned Parallel Generation Program, authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to sign a Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement with MG&E, and authorizing indemnification of MG&E, for Photovoltaic Generation sites at Fire Station 13 at 6350 Town Center Drive, Engineering Service Building at 1600 Emil St., and future City-owned installation sites.
Body
WHEREAS, Madison Gas and Electric Company (“MGE”) offers Customer-owned Parallel Generation programs under which a customer who generates electricity at their own renewable energy site receives a credit on their energy bill to offset the electricity consumed at the site; and
WHEREAS, the Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates the programs and has created mandatory application forms and interconnection agreements that the customer must enter into with the utility; including one set of forms for solar installations of 20kW or lower (6027 and 6029), and another set of forms for installations over 20kW (6028 and 6030); and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison already participates in this program at several sites with solar photovoltaic generating (PVG) equipment at the 20kW or lower level; and
WHEREAS, the City currently has solar installation(s) of more than 20kW installed at Fire Station 13, located at 6350 Town Center Drive, awaiting authorization to commence full operation; and
WHEREAS, the City has plans for future installations of more than 20kW, including but not limited to, the 2016 expansion to the Larry D. Nelson Engineering Operations Facility at 1600 Emil Street; and
WHEREAS, under the current program net metering allows the City to connect its on-site solar generation of electricity to the power grid through special meters that can run both forward and backward; and
WHEREAS, “net” means the meter records the difference between what the City is using and what the City is producing; and
WHEREAS, the City receives credit for the electricity it produces on-site and feeds into the power grid; and
WHEREAS, PSC regulations and the PSC-mandated interconnection agreements require mutual indemnification whereby the City must indemnify MGE against claims for damage to property or injury or death to persons, to the extent caused by the City’s negligence or wrong-doing (as further set forth in the PSC forms referenced above.) APM 1-1 requires Common Council approval before the City indemnifies another party in a contract;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Engineer is authorized to apply to the Customer-Owned Parallel Generation Program and sign application forms PSC 6027 and 6028 (as appropriate) for Fire Station 13, the expansion to the Larry D. Nelson building, and any other current or future city-owned PVG sites; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Council authorizes the indemnification of Madison Gas and Electric Company as required in the “Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreements” (PSC 6029 and 6030) in order to comply with PSC 119 for these and future city-owned PVG sites; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign “Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreements” (PSC 6029 and 6030) with Madison Gas and Electric Company for these and future sites.