UTILITY DIVISION

38.5.8227 REWARD FOR SUPERIOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SERVICE (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 69-8-403, MCA Implementing statute(s): 69-8-403, MCA History: NEW, 2003 MAR p. 654, Eff. 4/11/03; AMD, 2008 MAR p. 575, Eff. 3/28/08; REP, 2023 MAR p. 21, Eff. 1/14/23.

38.5.8228 MINIMUM FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR UTILITY APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY RESOURCES If a utility intends to file an application for approval of a electricity supply resource that is not yet procured, it must notify the commission and the Montana Consumer C…

38.5.8229 CONSULTANT FEES (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 69-8-403, MCA Implementing statute(s): 69-1-114, 69-8-421, MCA History: NEW, 2003 MAR p. 2894, Eff. 12/25/03; AMD, 2008 MAR p. 575, Eff. 3/28/08; REP, 2023 MAR p. 21, Eff. 1/14/23.

38.5.8301 RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE STANDARD – PUBLIC UTILITIES (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 69-3-103, 69-3-2006, 69-8-1006, MCA Implementing statute(s): 69-3-2003, 69-3-2004, 69-3-2005, 69-3-2006, 69-8-1004, 69-8-1005, 69-8-1006, 69-8-1007, MCA History: NEW, 2006 MAR p. 14…

38.5.8302 RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD -- ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 69-3-103, 69-3-2006, MCA Implementing statute(s): 69-3-2003, 69-3-2004, 69-3-2005, 69-3-2006, MCA History: NEW, 2007 MAR p. 2146, Eff. 12/21/07; REP, 2022 MAR p. 538, Eff. 4/16/22.

38.5.8401 DEFINITIONS Terminology used in these rules has the following meanings, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Applicant" means a person or entity that has filed an application to interconnect a customer-generator facility to an EDS. An applicant may inc…

38.5.8402 APPLICABILITY The interconnection procedures set forth in this subchapter apply to applicants proposing to install and interconnect a small generator facility to an EDC's system that satisfies the following criteria: The small generator facility must be sited on the uti…

38.5.8403 INTERCONNECTION REQUESTS Applicants seeking to interconnect a small generator facility shall submit an interconnection request using a standard form filed with the commission by the EDC that owns the electric distribution system to which interconnection is sought. All f…

38.5.8404 AGREEMENTS, FORMS, AND FEES The EDC shall file standard applications for interconnection requests, standard agreements required by the interconnection rules, a schedule of fees for processing interconnection requests, and a schedule of rates for performing the various s…

38.5.8405 CERTIFIED EQUIPMENT An interconnection request may be eligible for expedited interconnection review as determined under ARM 38.5.8404 if the small generator facility uses certified interconnection equipment. Interconnection equipment shall be deemed certified upon estab…

38.5.8406 REVIEW PROCEDURES An EDC shall review interconnection requests using one or more of the following review procedures: An EDC shall use Level 1 procedures for evaluation of all interconnection requests to connect inverter-based small generation facilities if: The small ge…

38.5.8407 TECHNICAL STANDARDS Unless otherwise provided in these rules, IEEE Standard 1547-2003 is to be used in evaluating all interconnection requests under Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 reviews. IEEE Standard 1547.1-2005 is to be used for testing interconnection equip…

38.5.8408 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS The interconnection applicant is responsible for construction of all generator facilities and obtaining any necessary local code official approval. To assist customers in the interconnection process, the EDC must: Maintain all interconnection rel…

38.5.8409 LEVEL 1 EXPEDITED REVIEW An EDC shall use the Level 1 interconnection review procedure for an interconnection request that meets the criteria in 38.5.8406(1)(a). An EDC shall not impose additional requirements for Level 1 reviews not specifically authorized under this r…

38.5.8410 LEVEL 2 EXPEDITED REVIEW An EDC shall use the Level 2 interconnection review procedure for an interconnection request that meets the criteria in ARM 38.5.8406(1)(b). An EDC shall not impose additional requirements for Level 2 reviews not specifically authorized under th…

38.5.8411 LEVEL 3 EXPEDITED REVIEW An EDC shall use the Level 3 interconnection review procedure for an interconnection request that meets the criteria in ARM 38.5.8406(1)(c). An EDC shall not impose additional requirements for Level 3 reviews not specifically authorized under th…

38.5.8412 LEVEL 4 STUDY REVIEW An EDC shall use the Level 4 study review procedure for an interconnection request that meets the criteria in ARM 38.5.8406(1)(d). Within ten business days from receipt of an interconnection request, the EDC shall notify the applicant whether the re…

38.5.8413 DISPUTE RESOLUTION A party shall attempt to resolve all disputes regarding interconnection as provided in ARM 38.5.8401 through 38.5.8412 promptly, equitably, and in a good faith manner. When a dispute arises, a party may seek immediate resolution through complaint proc…

38.5.8601 DEFINITIONS In this subchapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context otherwise clearly demands: "Interruption" means a loss of service to one or more customers. "Interruption duration" means the period of time, in minutes, between the time an electric…

38.5.8604 ENERGY UTILITY SERVICE INTERRUPTION NOTIFICATION Each energy utility shall report promptly to news media that are capable of timely dissemination of information on any specific occurrence or development which interrupts or is likely to interrupt the utility's natural ga…

38.5.8607 ENERGY UTILITY PLANNED OUTAGES In the event that service must be interrupted for more than two hours for planned work on utility facilities or equipment, the work shall be done at a time which will cause minimal inconvenience to customers, including consideration of wea…

38.5.8610 GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF ENERGY UTILITIES Each energy utility shall make reasonable efforts to avoid and prevent interruptions of service. However, when interruptions occur, service shall be reestablished within the shortest time practicable, consistent with safety and go…

38.5.8613 ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM RELIABILITY The following service reliability indices measure the frequency and duration of service interruptions. They are recognized as standard reliability indices for the electric utility industry and may be applied to entire distribution sys…

38.5.8616 RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES Each electric utility shall maintain and record complete records of service interruptions on the distribution system as a whole and for each operating area on the distribution system. These records shall enable the utili…

38.5.8619 ANNUAL ELECTRIC RELIABILITY REPORT Each electric utility shall submit to the commission on or before March 1 of each year an annual reliability report for the previous calendar year for the Montana jurisdiction. The report shall include the following information: aggreg…

38.5.901 DEFINITION "Billing error" means any bill issued by a natural gas, electric, private water or sewer utility that is not designated as an estimate and that understates the amount owed by a utility customer. It also means a utility's failure to bill a customer, although th…

38.5.902 BILLING ERRORS When a billing error is discovered which is not the result of theft by the customer, the utility may submit a bill to the customer based on the corrected information for a period not to exceed six months from the date the billing error is discovered. Autho…

38.5.903 EXEMPTION Billing errors on accounts of industrial customers are exempt from the provisions of these rules. Authorizing statute(s): Sec. 69-3-103, MCA Implementing statute(s): Sec. 69-3-102, MCA History: NEW, 1983 MAR p. 1739, Eff. 11/26/83.

38.5.904 EFFECTIVE DATE Utilities are required to comply with this rule for billing errors discovered on and after January 26, 1984. However, utilities are authorized to implement the rule immediately, both for billing errors presently known and for errors which are discovered pr…