Transition
Within 60 days of the Transition Date, July 10, 2023, projects that have not been tendered a final agreement by the Transition Date will be required to post a Readiness Deposit of $4,000/MW and Site Control for an additional year from the Transition Date. Those that do so will be retooled and divided into a “fast lane” for expedited processing and Transition Cycle #1 (TC1).
What You Need To Know
Project Developers are encouraged to attend the Interconnection Process Subcommittee meetings for more details on the process and timing. You should also familiarize yourself with the fast lane criteria, as well as the readiness requirements.
FAQs
Q: Can I make a change to my project’s fuel type at any of the TC1 Decision Points?
A: No, fuel type changes are not considered permissible technology changes. Hybrid projects may remove a fuel type at TC1, Decision Point #1 (DP1).
Q: Can I reduce my project size after I am notified whether or not my project is eligible for the fast lane?
A: Projects that fall into the fast lane will not be able to reduce. Projects that fall into TC1 must wait until Decision Point #1 (DP1), where they can only reduce by the allowable Tariff limits.
Q: Can I change my project’s POI after the transition?
A: Projects that fall into the fast lane will not be able to change their POI. Projects that fall into TC1 must wait until Decision Point #1 (DP1), where they can make limited POI changes, as outlined by the Tariff.
Q: Will offshore wind projects need to provide site control for the onshore substation at the transition?
A: No, the onshore substation is not considered part of the Generating Facility.
Q: What case(s) will PJM use to determine fast lane eligibility?
A: Projects will be retooled on their original case years to determine fast lane eligibility.
Q: If I go into TC1, and my retool runs clean, can I go into the fast lane?
A: No, projects that do not meet fast lane criteria based on the initial transition retool will not be able to move to the fast lane.
Q: Can projects that are initially in the fast lane be bumped into TC1?
A: Yes, if an upgrade is identified and a project in the fast lane has cost allocation or is first to cause an upgrade over $5 million, they will be moved into TC1. This could also be an updated project cost provided by the Transmission Owner as they perform facility study-level engineering on a network upgrade.
Q: Can the uprate for a project qualify for the fast lane, if the base project does not?
A: No. If a project is an uprate (project relies on the Interconnection Facilities of a prior project) whose base project does not qualify for the expedited process, the uprate also will not qualify for the expedited process, regardless of analysis results.
Q: When can I make equipment changes (inverter/turbine model)?
A: For projects that fall into TC1, Project Developers can make permissible technology changes at Decision Point #1 (DP1) and Decision Point #2 (DP2).
Q: Why can’t PJM guarantee that I will get my final agreement prior to the transition?
A: PJM needs full clarity on required network upgrades and cost allocation. This requires load flow, short circuit, and stability analysis to be complete, along with any facilities studies done by the Transmission Owner for physical interconnection or reliability-driven upgrades. The serial nature of the current queue process can prevent projects from getting their final agreements if there are more senior queue positions that have yet to make necessary decisions on network upgrades.