Distributed Generation
Distribution Interconnection Handbook
Introduction
The Distribution Interconnection Handbook contains Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) requirements on how to interconnect generating facilities or distributed generation (DG) to the PG&E electrical distribution system. This webpage includes supporting documents and addendums to the handbook sections 1-5. It describes additional technical requirements that may not be in the handbook.
Table of Contents
DIH Manual:
- Handbook – Sections 1-5 (PDF, 600 KB) (All of the interconnection requirements in each section of this entire manual have undergone an extensive review. They are currently updated with the latest information as of May 15, 2017)
Technical Documents and Forms:
- Anti-Islanding Guide DIH_TIH Appendix E (PDF, 330 KB) (This document is a guide for conditions that may trigger direct transfer trip (DTT). This document may apply to both distribution and transmission projects)
- Generation Pre-Parallel Inspection Form [G5-1] (PDF, 375 KB) (This form requires project information, equipment specifications, and other data to perform pre-parallel inspections in preparation to energize and synchronize the generator to the PG&E distribution system. This form is required for both distribution and transmission projects and is located on pages 11 and 14 of TIH Section G5 - Pre-Parallel Inspection) (PDF, 375 KB)
- Primary Service Information Form [PS-1](PDF, 46 KB) (This form provides specification information on the make and model of breakers, CT’s, DC power supply, relays, and their settings to ensure they meet PG&E requirements)
- Third Party Interconnection Battery Information Sheet and Acceptance Document [FORM AT−1](PDF, 150 KB) (This form provides specification information on the battery, charger, rack, monitoring, and additional battery information. This form is used for both distribution and transmission projects and is located on pages 4 and 5 of TIH Appendix T (PDF, 150 KB))
- TD-1013P-04 Direct Transfer Trip 900 MHz Radio Scheme (PDF, 364 KB) (This document provides information for the installation of 900MHz spread spectrum radio scheme for Direct Transfer Trip (DTT) between two existing substations.)
- TD-1013P-05 PG&E Substation Signage for Third-Party Interconnections (PDF, 564 KB) (This document provides guidance on substation signage for third-party transmission interconnections to the PG&E system. This guidance can also be applied to distribution interconnections)
- TD-2306P-01 Customer-Owned Telemetry Procedure (PDF, 426 KB) (This document provides information of the use of customer-owned telemetry (COT) to support distribution-connected generating facilities’ telemetry requirements, effective October 4, 2021.)
- TD-2306P-01 Customer-Owned Telemetry Procedure Attachment 1 (PDF, 142 KB) (This document lists the tested and approved, customer-owned telemetry (COT) vendors for interoperability with PG&E’s Common Smart Inverter Profile (CSIP)-certified IEEE 2030.5 solution.)
- TD-2306P-01 Customer-Owned Telemetry Procedure Attachment 2 (PDF, 168 KB) (This document contains a table that provides the LogEvent information for PG&E.)
- DG Technical White Paper (PDF, 1.5 MB) (This document is an addendum to this handbook, it describes some of recent technical requirements which are not in the handbook.)
Distribution System Engineering Numbered Documents:
- 053318 Pad-Mounted, Load-Break Switches and Fuses (PDF, 270 KB)
- 053826 Requirements for Distribution Feeder With Synchronous Generating Equipment (PDF, 66 KB)
- 058779 Pole-Mounted Primary Metering Installation, (12 or 21 kV Line) (PDF, 182 KB)
- 060559 Disconnect Switch Requirements for Distributed Generation Customers (PDF, 62 KB)
- 066195 25 kV Underarm Side-Break Switch (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- 066208 Installation of Automatic Subsurface Interrupters for Primary Equipment Enclosures (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- 068188 Installation of Pad-Mounted Interrupters for Underground Distribution Lines (PDF, 548 KB)
- 076249 Virtual Net Energy Metering Installations (PDF, 54 KB)
- 094669 Installing OH Distribution Line Reclosers (PDF, 51.6 MB)
- 094670 Supply Side Interconnection Requirements for Distributed Generation (PDF, 111 KB)
- 094673 Distributed Generation Interconnection Requirements - Low Voltage Distribution Secondary Spot and Grid Networks (PDF, 405 KB)
- 094676 Primary Electric Service Requirements (PDF, 138 KB)
- 094680 Interconnecting Large 2-20MW Generation Systems (PDF, 30 KB)
- 094681 Distributed Generation Protection Requirements (PDF, 821 KB)
- 094682 Functionally Equivalent Non−Import Configuration Testing Requirements (PDF, 113 KB)
- 094684 Green Meter Adapter (GMA) for Customer Generation (PDF, 300 KB)
Single Line Drawing Examples:
Approved Equipment:
- Cross Reference for Safety Switches - Eaton (PDF, 85 KB)
- Cross Reference for Safety Switches - Siemens (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- Primary Voltage Disconnect Switches (PDF, 129 KB) (This document lists the PG&E approved disconnect switches (2,400 - 25,000 volts) for Customer Generation Sources.)
- Eligible Inverters
- List of Incentive Eligible Photovoltaic Modules
Transmission Interconnection Handbook Documents:
(Various requirements in these documents generally apply to generation entities interconnected to the distribution system as well as the transmission system)
- Appendix E - Anti-Islanding Guide DIH_TIH (PDF, 330 KB) (This document is a guide for conditions that may trigger direct transfer trip (DTT). This document may apply to both distribution and transmission projects)
- Appendix F - Telemetering & Transfer Trip (PDF, 622 KB)
- Appendix M - Interconnection Data Sheet (PDF, 125 KB)
- Appendix Q - Generator Automatic Synchronizers (PDF, 189 KB)
- Appendix R - Generator Protective Relay Requirements (PDF, 286 KB)
- Appendix T - Battery Requirements for Interconnection to PG&E System (PDF, 150 KB)
Substation Engineering Numbered Documents:
- 034851 Steel Grating Type Switch Operating Platforms (PDF, 298 KB)
- 063436 Electric Revenue High-Voltage Metering (PDF, 265 KB)
- 067910 Grounding Requirements for Outdoor Electrical Substations (PDF, 786 KB)
PG&E Electric Distribution Glossary:
Webpage Updates:
- Change Log (PDF, 198 KB) (This document provides a history of updates to this webpage along with a brief description of the changes.)