Toronto Hydro has a Standard Offer Program Policy in place for eligible customers wishing to participate in the OPA (Ontario Power Authority) Standard Offer Program (SOP), which became effective on November 8, 2006.
What is Standard Offer Program? The Standard Offer Program encourages and promotes greater use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, photovoltaic (PV), renewable biomass, bio-gas, bio-fuel, landfill gas, or drop in water elevation for generating electricity. Renewable electricity generation projects with capacity of 10 MW or less, which meet the program's requirements, may be connected to Toronto Hydro Distribution System for exporting electricity.
Who is eligible to participate in the Standard Offer Program? Participation in the Standard Offer Program is available to all Toronto Hydro customers with a generator that meet all of the following conditions:
Generate electricity using renewable sources of energy
Have installed generating capacity of no more than 10 MW
Connected to Toronto Hydro Distribution System at 27.6 kV or less
What are the requirements for participating in the Standard Offer Program? In order to participate in the Standard Offer Program, the customer will be required to meet all the parallel generation requirements for Connecting Micro-Generation Facilities (10 kW or less) or Other Generation Facilities (10 MW or less), as applicable to the generator size, as found in Section 3.5 - Embedded Generation Facilities of the Toronto Hydro Conditions of Service.
In general, the requirements include, but are not limited to:
The customer, or their qualified electrical contractor, must submit an Application for Inspection to the Electrical Safety Authority.
The customer must have the generation facility inspected and obtain a "Certificate of Inspection" from the Electrical Safety Authority, either directly, or through their qualified electrical contractor, and provide a copy to Toronto Hydro.
Toronto Hydro must receive a copy of the "Certificate of Inspection" from the customer.
Toronto Hydro must receive a "Connection Authorization" from the Electrical Safety Authority.
The customer signs an Embedded Generation Connection Agreement with Toronto Hydro:
For generators 10 kW or less, the standard agreement will be of the form found in Section 6, Reference #2,
of the Toronto Hydro Conditions of Service.
For generators over 10 kW, the template agreement will be of the form as found in Section 6, Reference #2,
of the Toronto Hydro Conditions of Service.
For Micro-Size Generators (10 kW or less), the generator interface protection must have protective relay settings in accordance with Section 6, Reference #2,
of the Toronto Hydro Conditions of Service.
For generators over 10 kW, the generator interface protection must meet the requirements as stated in Section 6, Reference #3 "
" of the Toronto Hydro Conditions of Service.
Note: These technical requirements may be replaced by the applicable C22.3 No. 9 once approved and issued by the CSA in 2007.
The customer enters into a Standard Offer Program Contract with the OPA.
What is the process for participating in Standard Offer Program? Customers interested in participating in the Standard Offer Program will follow the same connection process as those customers wishing to install and connect an Embedded Generator. The Ontario Energy Board has established an Embedded Generation Connection Processes for Micro, Small, and Mid-Sized generators. These processes are outlined in
that is part of the Distribution System Code.
In addition, customers must also submit a SOP application to the OPA. Please note that, unless the generator is 10 kW or less, the OPA requires an Impact Assessment from Toronto Hydro as a part of your SOP application to the OPA
Should I expect any monthly charges from Toronto Hydro for my generator? All generators connected directly to Toronto Hydro's distribution system will be charged for any power consumed by the generation facility according to the OEB-approved rates as a regular Load Customer. Below is Section 7.2 of the OPA SOP Final Rules:
"7.2 Periodic settlements by the LDC will account for Station Service, Site-Specific Losses (if applicable) and fixed monthly customer charges in the normal manner, in compliance with the requirements of the OEB."
For generators of 10 kW or less and connected to the line side of the load meter, a bi-directional kWh meter is required.
For all other generators, an interval meter is required.
The cost of metering varies depending on specific site details. Toronto Hydro will provide the customer with the meter cost information once the customer has finalized their SOP application with the OPA and has provided Toronto Hydro with a copy.
What is the cost for OEB License? All generating facilities with output of 10 megawatts (MW) or less are required to pay a one-time OEB generator licence fee of $100.
How do I apply to participate in Standard Offer Program? If you are interested in participating in the Standard Offer Program, please complete the Embedded Generation Connection Application Form (
| DOC ) and email it to Toronto Hydro at genconnect@torontohydro.com.
For generator greater than 10 kW, should you decide to proceed with the project, you may be asked at a later date to submit an Impact Assessment Generator Form (
| DOC )
Customers without e-mail access can fax the form to 416.542.2630, Attn: Angelo Boschetti, or submit through regular mail to:
Capacity Planning Department Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited 500 Commissioners Street Toronto, Ontario M4M 3N7
Micro Embedded Generation Facilities Guideline The ESA has published the
that is based on the requirements of the Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and the Distribution System Code (DSC)
