Distributed Energy Generation for Your Home or Business

In October of 2010, ICE implemented a distributed energy generation program, which allows homes or businesses to generate energy and push it into the grid, which in turn reduces the electric bill for energy consumed.  This article explains the basics of the program.
Distributed energy generation has several advantages to the consumer:

• No batteries, you don't have to store the energy you generate yourself.
• You can generate energy in off peak times (like at night) and draw from the grid when you need more energy, like when you are open for business or are manufacturing.
• Lower initial cost, you don't have to implement a system of alternative energy that will supply all of your needs immediately.

The ICE will benefit because they won't have to invest in as much capacity, since their customers will shoulder a portion of the burden.  And it will encourage people to look at their energy consumption, which should encourage them to take conservation measures. According to the agreement, the object of the program is “to stimulate the installation of renewable energy systems and obtain information on these technologies and their impact upon the national energy grid.” 

The following requirements must be met:

• The client must sign a contract and ICE will install a bi-directional electricity meter to register the clients contribution to the grid.
• The electrical service must be in the name of the person signing the agreement.
• The generation system must be based on renewable energy sources and operate in parallel to the ICE grid. Sources covered in the program are solar, biomass, wind, and hydro. Also heat and electrical co-generation systems are permitted. Use of hydro sources are contingent upon the client obtaining the necessary permits.

Conditions:
The GSCG (Generation System Connected to Grid) will be connected to the client's side of the grid.  The system must have an automatic interrupter, in case of problems on the grid (voltage, frequency or loss of power).   There must be a manual breaker, in a visible location to switch off the connection between the GSCG and any client electrical system connected to the ICE grid. Other security measures must be in place in order to protect the ICE and client systems under normal and abnormal circumstances.

Rates:
The rate schedule will be the same as the client profile (business, residential, etc) without auto-generation. 

Billing Measurement:
ICE will provide the necessary meters to the client at no cost to the client. The net consumption will be the difference between meter reading at the beginning of the billing period and at the end. When the difference is negative, then there is zero net consumption and a net generation.

Billing
ICE will bill the client each month for the energy consumed according the corresponding tariff. The client will get a credit for each kWh generated at the time of the corresponding tariff.  This means that off peak generation would count as credit for off peak consumption, not for peak consumption.  If there is a net generation at a particular tariff, then the client will accumulate credit to be used in the following billing cycles.  Credits are used to offset consumption and may not be used to reduce base fees or other charges. Credits for kWh generated are accumulated and used on an annual basis, in November of each year unused credits will be eliminated. 

Operation and Maintenance
The client is responsible for operating and maintaining the GSCG to the interconnection standards ICE requires.  Upon request and by prior arrangement, ICE may inspect the GSCG to verify its condition and functionality.

Measurement of Generation
The client should have a meter for registering the energy generated by the system.  When ICE considers it necessary, due to the experimental nature of the project, it may install measurement systems to register energy generated by the generation system. The client will provide space for this equipment and the cost will be borne by ICE.

Technical Specifications
The maximum capacity of the generation system may not exceed the designed capacity of the client's electrical installation. The generation system must meet the prior year's IEEE standards for equipment connected to an electrical grid (IEEE 1547) at the time of the application. The installations must be in compliance with the National Electric Code (NEC) 2008 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or the version valid in Costa Rica one year prior to the application. Systems also must comply with ARESEP norms:  AR-NTCVS (Voltage Quality), AR-NTCON (Use, Funcionality and Control of Electrical Energy), AR-NTCSE: (Quality of Continuous Electrical Supply) and AR-NTACO (Installation and Equipment  for Surges)