Alectra utilities

The first step is to submit a completed Preliminary Consultation Information Request. We will establish the generator classification and provide you with the connection details for the proposed project and outline the available capacity. 

After the preliminary consultation, complete and submit Connection Impact Assessment Application. Instructions on how to complete Connection Impact Assessment Application.

After we review the Connection Impact Assessment Application, you will need to submit a signed Study Agreement along with payment for the Connection Impact Assessment.

This fee schedule is to complete an Alectra Connection Impact Assessment study as of September 1, 2022.

We conduct a Connection Impact Assessment and issue a report. You will be allocated capacity on the grid upon completion of the Connection Impact Assessment by Alectra Utilities and Hydro One (if applicable). 

Note: For generators connecting on a Hydro One shared feeder, Hydro One will be required to perform its own Connection Impact Assessment.

We will provide you with a cost estimate and will issue a Connection Cost Agreement specifying the scope of work to be performed either by you, your contractors or Alectra Utilities, in order to make the generation connection.  

If you decide to proceed with the project, you must sign the Connection Cost Agreement and make the required payments.

We will perform the work required to make the connection. You or your contractor must complete the construction of the generation facility and then apply to the Electrical Safety Authority for an electrical inspection. You must submit final detailed design documents to us for review. 

You will be required to complete and submit a Commissioning Verification Report including the Commissioning Verification Form for projects <500kW and the Confirmation of Verification Evidence Report for projects ≥500kW.

You will need to complete and submit the Connection Agreement prior to energization.

After the Electrical Safety Authority provides the electrical inspection “Connection Authorization” directly to Alectra Utilities, the generation facility will be connected to Alectra Utilities’ distribution system. 

Distributed Energy Resources on the distribution grid have potential operating and safety concerns for those working to control and maintain the network. In response, Alectra Utilities requires generators to maintain a Remote Monitoring System with capability to support a Generator Remote Shutdown directive.

For further information and requirements, please review the Distributed Energy Resources Remote Monitoring and Remote Shutdown information package.

We will assist you in setting up the appropriate settlement arrangement based on the project type. 

• Preliminary Consultation Information Request
• Connection Impact Assessment Application
• Study Agreement (for reference only) 
• Commissioning Verification Form 
• Connection Agreement (for reference only) 
• Emergency Back Up Declaration Form 

This guideline provides a set of references that are intended to familiarize Alectra Utilities customers with the overall information and explain the process, requirements, and options for connecting generation facilities to Alectra Utilities’ distribution or the sub-transmission system. This is a guide only; final design approval for all generators will be made by the Station Design - Distributed Energy Resource Team.

The first step is to submit a completed Preliminary Consultation Information Request. We will establish the generator classification and provide you with the connection details for the proposed project and outline the available capacity.

After the preliminary consultation, complete and submit Form C – Micro Generation Connection Application.

We will review the application and, once it is accepted, issue an Offer to Connect which outlines the requirements and construction costs to connect the generator.

If you decide to proceed with the project, you will be required to pay the connection fees detailed in the Offer to Connect.

Once the micro generation facility has been built according to our requirements, you will need to to apply to the Electrical Safety Authority for an electrical inspection.

You will have to complete and submit a signed Commissioning Verification Form. 

Prior to energization, you will need to complete and submit the Connection Agreement.

After the Electrical Safety Authority provides us with the electrical inspection “Connection Authorization” we will install the bi-directional generation meter. 

We will work with you to set up the appropriate settlement arrangement based on the project type.

• Preliminary Consultation Information Request
• Form C – Micro Generation Connection Application
• Commissioning Verification Form 
• Connection Agreement

This guideline provides a set of references that are intended to familiarize Alectra Utilities customers with the overall information and explain the process, requirements, and options for connecting generation facilities to Alectra Utilities’ distribution or the sub-transmission system. This is a guide only; final design approval for all generators will be made by the Station Design - Distributed Energy Resource Team.

Net metering is a program that allows eligible customers to send surplus electricity generated from renewable resources to the utility distribution system (grid) and to receive credit towards the energy a customer consumes from the grid. 

For more information, review Ontario Regulation 541/05.

Once you have met all the technical requirements, Alectra Utilities will install a bidirectional meter at your location. The meter measures the electricity that you consume from the grid, and it also measures the electricity that you export to the grid. 

As per Ontario Regulation 541/05, using meter readings, on a monthly basis we will calculate the value of the energy you consumed from the grid as well as the value of the energy you exported to the grid. You will essentially pay the difference (or "net") between the two, subject to the conditions of the Regulation.

Depending on the size of your project, follow the Connection Process for either Small, Mid-Sized and Large Embedded Generators (>10kW) or the Connection Process for Micro Generators (≤ 10 kW), as applicable (see connection processes above).

Some months you might generate more than you consume. This might occur in the summer months when sunshine is in abundance. In these circumstances, you are more likely to accumulate generation credits that can be used towards future electricity consumption charges. 

Under Ontario Regulation 541/05, Alectra Utilities cannot pay you for excess generation. Excess generation accumulates as generation credits to be used against future electricity consumption charges.

Some months you might consume more than you generate. During the winter months, most systems generate less electricity and you will likely draw more electricity from the grid than you produce. In these months, you will be able to use the generation credits that you have previously accumulated. 

For more information, consult Ontario Regulation 541/05.

Generation credits do not carry forward indefinitely. If you have carried forward accumulated generation credits for twelve consecutive months, your generation credit balance will be brought to zero at the end of the twelfth month. This policy is in compliance with provincial legislation. 

For additional details, review Ontario Regulation 541/05.

The bill credits that result from your generation of electricity can only be used to offset charges related to your electricity consumption and cannot be applied to other types of charges on your bill. For clarity, the generation credits are calculated in the same manner as your electricity charges, but without any adjustment for line losses. 

Depending on where you are located, your monthly bill will be presented as follows: 

• If you are located in the Guelph and Rockwood area: You will receive two monthly net generation bills. One bill will show your electricity and water consumption charges with a separate line item under other charges for the value of generation credits applied to that particular bill. 

  The second bill will show your generation credits in detail with a separate line item under other charges for the value of generation credits transferred and applied to the consumption bill. The generation credit bill will show the opening and closing balance of generation credits that will be carried forward. 

• If you are not located in the Guelph and Rockwood area: You will receive one monthly bill, which includes the impact of net generation, if any. Information on your accumulated generation credits is included in the bill message box near the bottom of your bill. The bill message will state your previously accumulated generation credits, the change to those accumulated generation credits as a result of your current bill, as well as your accumulated generation credit balance that will be carried forward. The bill message will also remind you if you are approaching 12 consecutive months of carrying forward accumulated generation credits. In the event that you have carried forward accumulated generation credits for 12 consecutive months, the bill message will advise you that the accumulated generation credit balance has been brought to zero. 

  Like any typical bill, the “Total Amount Due” near the bottom of your bill will display the amount due for payment, after all current charges and credits (including generation credits) have been applied to your bill. 

For more information, consult Ontario Regulation 541/05.

Depending on where you live, Alectra Utilities bills for water and sewage on behalf of your municipality. If your account includes billing for water, you will see water and sewage charges as a separate line item on your bill. Please be aware that we cannot apply electricity generation credits towards water or sewage charges. Electric generation credits can only be applied against electricity consumption charges.

1. The new contract owner is to provide full legal name, full address of the FIT solar generation facility and Alectra Load Account# (if available) to DER@alectrautilities.com.
2. DER will provide a new Alectra Generation Account# to be used through the steps below.
3. The new contract owner is to fill out the Alectra Assignment of Connection Agreement document (will be sent by DER when the generation account# is created) and return to DER@alectrautilities.com.
4. The new contract owner is to fill out Schedule F for the new customer’s contact information.
5. The new contract owner will also need to have the IESO microFIT contract assigned to them. Please contact the IESO at FIT.Contract@ieso.ca regarding their contract transfer process.
   • The previous contract owner will be contacted to verify the contract transfer.

NOTE:

• Ownership of the IESO contract is treated separately from the property ownership.
• “IESO Effective Date” is the date to activate the re-assignment/payment transfer, not the sale of property date, if they do not match.
• Alectra Utilities executes the contract transfer only after both the Alectra Connection Agreement and the IESO contract are received and accepted.

1. IESO Contract Owner should notify IESO FIT.Contract@ieso.ca and complete their requirements.
2. IESO will notify Alectra DER DER@alectrautilities.com.
3. DER will verify the contract termination on the IESO LDC Portal for confirmation.
4. Once confirmed, DER will inform internal departments to final bill and remove the meter as applicable.

1. The new contract owner is to contact DER@alectrautilities.com to fill out Schedule F for the new customer’s contact information.
2. Note: no change in payment will occur as there is no contract transfer (i.e. change in ownership) of the FIT contract.

The new contract owner provides full legal name, full address of the microFIT solar generation facility and Alectra Load Account# (if available) through email to DER@alectrautilities.com.

1. DER will provide a new Alectra Generation Account# to be used through the steps below.
2. The new contract owner is to fill out the Connection Agreement (will be sent by DER when the generation account# is created) and return to DER@alectrautilities.com.
3. The new contract owner will also need to have the IESO microFIT contract assigned to them. Please contact the IESO at microFIT.contract@ieso.ca regarding their contract transfer process.
   • The previous contract owner should be in contact to verify the contract transfer.

NOTE:

• Ownership of the IESO contract is treated separately from the property ownership.
• “IESO Effective Date” is the date to activate the re-assignment i.e. the payment transfer, not the sale of property date, if they do not match.
• Alectra Utilities executes the contract transfer only after both the Alectra Connection Agreement and the IESO contract are received and accepted.

1. Contract Owner should notify IESO microfit.contract@ieso.ca to complete their requirements.
2. IESO will notify Alectra’s DER group.
3. DER will verify the contract termination on the IESO LDC Portal for confirmation.
4. Once confirmed, DER will inform internal departments to final bill and remove the meter, as applicable.