LAHORE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)

ON-GRID SOLAR ROOFTOP NET METERING

CUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE

JULY, 2017
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
DESCRIPTION
NO.

A. Registration of Application 1

B. Application Processing 1

C. Some important pre-requisites 3

D. Distributed Generation Facility Design and Operating Requirements 4

 Single Line Diagram 4

 Earthing Protection 5

 Equipment earth (DC) 5

 System earth (AC) 5

 Surge Protection 5

E. Periodical inspections 6

F. Billing procedure 6

G. General Guidelines 7
 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)
FOR PROCESSING DISTRIBUTED GENERATION APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Alternative and

Renewable Energy Distributed Generation and Net. Metering Regulation 2015) issued vide
SRO-892 (1)/2015 dated 1st September, 2015 for implementing Solar Roof-Top net metering
policy to encourage large scale generation in the sector. In this regard following SOP is
hereby proposed for guidance of the field staff for expeditious implementation.

A. Registration of Application

1. Any person who meets the requirements of a Distributed Generator as defined under
the Regulations 2(k) is eligible for submitting application as specified in Schedule-II
of Regulations.

2. Application can be downloaded from NEPRA’s website www.nepra.org.pk as well as

from LESCO website www.lesco.gov.pk.

3. The filled-in application along with necessary documents shall be submitted by the
intending Distributed Generator to the Marketing Cell LESCO for its further
processing.

4. The solar net metering approvals for general consumers will be accorded on first
come first served basis until the grid connected Solar PV installed capacity reaches
30% of the closest upstream distribution transformer rated capacity based on the
verification by the Assistant Manager (Operation) concerned.

5. The priority for execution / commissioning on such applications shall be maintained

at division level for which a separate register shall be maintained for solar roof top
installations.

B. Application Processing

1. Within five (5) working days of receiving an application LESCO shall acknowledge
its receipt and inform the applicant whether the application is complete in all respects.

2. In case of any missing information or documents, the applicant shall provide the same
to the LESCO office within seven (7) working days of being informed by the office.

3. The LESCO office shall perform an initial review to determine whether the applicant
qualifies for interconnection facility, or may qualify subject to additional
requirements provided that the initial review shall be completed within twenty (20)
working days. Before issuing the Technical Feasibility of proposed interconnection
following information should be verified:

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 i. The transformer shall be loaded (including proposed SRTPV system load) up
to 80% of its capacity.

ii. Whether the proposed interconnection will require upgrading the capacity of
existing distribution network.

iii. Phase balancing to avoid unbalancing of load in secondary circuit of

distribution line.

iv. If there any arrear against Applicant.

v. Inspection Certificate from electric inspector Govt. of Punjab has been issued
against the DG facility.

4. In case load of DG facility is more than 500-kW then consumer will provide load
flow study of the network from consultant regarding impact of the DG facility on the
existing Distribution System of LESCO.

5. In case the initial review /Load Flow Study reveals that the proposed facility is not
technically feasible, the LESCO office shall return the application and communicate
the reasons to the applicant within three (3) working days after the completion of
initial review or submission of load flow study by the applicant.

6. If the LESCO office is satisfied that the applicant qualifies as Distributed Generator,
then the LESCO and the applicant shall enter into an Agreement (as per schedule-I
of regulations) within ten (10) working days. Load Sanction Authority of existing
connection will be competent for signing the agreement on behalf of LESCO. A copy
of the Agreement shall be sent to NEPRA Authority within seven (7) working days
of the signing of the Agreement for grant of net metering generation license as along
with the requisite documents as per NEPRA Regulations.

7. Within seven (07) working days of execution of the Agreement, the concerned
LESCO office shall issue the Connection Charge Estimate to the applicant for the
proposed interconnection facility up to the interconnection point including the
metering installation.

8. The applicant shall make the payment of Connection Charge Estimate within twenty
(20) days of its issuance.

9. The LESCO office shall install and commission the proposed interconnection facility
within thirty (30) days of the payment of demand notice by the applicant provided
that the net metering arrangement shall commence upon grant of license to the
Distributed Generator in accordance with Regulation-4 of these Regulations.

10. The Standing Committee’s which will be competent for checking / commissioning
the interconnection facility with Distributed Generators are as per following detail:

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 a) For Load 1- 40 kW

1. Deputy Manager (Operation) (Convener)

2. Assistant Manager (Operation) (Member)
3. Assistant Manager (M&T)/
Test Inspector (M&T) (Member)

b) For Load 41 - 70 kW

1. Deputy Manager (Operation) (Convener)

2. Deputy Manager (M&T) (Member)
3. Assistant Manager (Operation) (Member)

c) For Load 71 - 500 kW

1. Manager (Operation) (Convener)

2. Deputy Manager (M&T) (Member)
3. Deputy Manager (Operation) (Member)

d) For load more than 500 kW

1. Chief Engineer (P&D) (Convener)

2. Regional Manager (M&T) (Member)
3. Manager (GSO) (Member)
4. Manager (Operation) (Member)
5. Deputy Manager (Operation) (Member)

C. Some important pre-requisites:

1. Submission of Load flow study (on PSSE software) will be compulsory for all
distributed generators having installed capacity of DG facility more than 500-kW.
2. If DG facility is ≤ 5 KW then single phase inverter will be allowed subject to issuance
of generation license by NEPRA.

3. When the accumulative capacity of (already allowed) Distributed Generators is such

that the overall loading capacity of installed distribution transformer become more
than 80% then agreement with new Distributed Generator will be signed subject to the
augmentation of existing distribution transformer on cost deposit basis by the new
distributed generator.

4. The solar PV capacity shall not exceed the sanctioned load. If a consumer proposes to
install a solar PV system with the capacity that exceeds the service connection
sanctioned load, an application for EOL shall be submitted by the consumer in
addition to the solar net metering application. EOL applications shall be processed as
per the existing standard procedures.

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 5. Safety inspection / certificate for grid connected Solar PV installation should be
obtained from the Electric Inspector Govt. of Punjab.

6. Mandatory safety precautions/features which have to be taken into consideration as

part of the grid connected solar PV system installations are:

a. An inbuilt Inverter relay which trips on grid failure and thus prevents any solar
power injection to the grid when there is no power in grid (anti-islanding
protection shall be tested by the respective officers during routine service
connection inspections), and necessary protection arrangements shall be made
when there is no grid supply on single/two/three phases. The inspection
authority shall ensure the protection before commissioning. The applicant’s
installation shall be disconnected in the event of such exigencies to prevent
accident or damage to men and material.

b. The Solar PV system should be separately grounded/ earthed. Manual isolator

switch with locking facility shall be provided at ‘Ground Floor’.

c. In case of Diesal / gas generator the applicant shall provide an additional

breaker /4 pole disconnected switch between metering equipment and bus bar
as well as between inverter and bus bar.

7. A single bi-directional meter shall be allowed to install to measure import and export
(kWh) separately. In such case existing uni-directional meter shall be replaced with a
bi-directional meter. Bi-directional meter’s accuracy and facilities shall be the same as
applicable to the standard uni-directional meters for the relevant type of service
connection and tariff. The Distributor Generator may also be allowed to establish DG
facilities such that two separate uni-directional meters one for import and other for
export may be installed.

D. Distributed Generation Facility Design and Operating Requirements:

Pursuant to Clause-9 “Protection Requirements” of the Alternative and Renewable

Energy Distributed Generation and Net Metering Regulations, 2015 for implementing solar
roof-top net metering policy, following protection requirements are hereby proposed to be
incorporated in design of the system.

1. Single Line Diagram:

The protection and control diagrams for the interconnection of the Distributed Generator
shall be in accordance with Single Line Diagram, to be approved by the LESCO prior to
the commissioning of the system.

2. Distributed Generator shall be responsible for installation of all of the equipment and
protective devices to be used for the interconnection.

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3. Earthing Protection:

A minimum of two separate dedicated and interconnected earth electrodes must be

used for the earthing of the solar PV system support structure with a total earth
resistance not exceeding 5 ohms as below:

(i) Equipment earth (DC)

(ii) System earth (AC)

Both equipment earth (DC) and system earth (AC) shall be checked for proper
earthing.

 Equipment earth (DC)

All the non-current carrying metal parts such as PV modules, DCDB are bonded
together and connected to earth to prevent shocks to the manpower and protection of
the equipment.

 System earth (AC)

All the non-current carrying metal parts such as ACDB, Lightening Arresters are
bonded together and connected to the existing earth.

4. Surge Protection:

 Surge protection shall be provided on the DC side and the AC side of the solar
system.

 The DC surge protection devices (SPDs) shall be installed in the DC distribution

box adjacent to the solar grid inverter.

 The AC SPDs shall be installed in the AC distribution box adjacent to the solar
grid inverter.

 The SPDs earthing terminal shall be connected to earth through the above
mentioned dedicated earthing system.

 The Lightening Arresters need to be provided for the SRTPV buildings which are
of more than 15 meters height only.

5. Earthing shall be done in accordance with Standard Design Instructions issued by

Chief Engineer (D&S) NTDCL.

6. The consumer shall be present at the time of synchronization of the installation.

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 7. The consumer shall provide suitable capacity of Porcelain Cutouts (100 Amps, or 200
Amps) to enable linemen to disconnect the installation so as to provide a safe zone for
maintenance works.

8. If the installation satisfies all the above conditions the synchronization of the SRTPV
system shall be carried out by the concerned Assistant / Deputy Manager (Operation)
along with M&T staff within three (3) working days from the issue of approval for
synchronizing and commissioning.

9. At the time of commissioning, the installed meters shall be jointly inspected and
sealed on behalf of both the parties and shall be tested or checked only in the presence
of consumer or his/her representatives.

10. The concerned Assistant / Deputy Manager (Operation) will issue synchronization
certificate to the applicant of the SRTPV system after synchronization and
commissioning.

E. Periodical inspections:

 Both uni-directional and bi-directional energy meters are to be tested as per schedule
by M&T staff once in 6 months.

 The inverter functionality of every installation is to be checked by M&T staff once in

6 months.

 Periodical test reports/inspection reports shall be submitted to the concerned Assistant

Manager (Operation) and Deputy Manager (Operation).

 Distributed Generator will also responsible for periodic testing of the DG facility and
record of such testing be maintained on prescribed formats.

F. Billing procedure:

Pursuant to Clause-14 “Billing for Net Metering” of the Alternative and Renewable
Energy Distributed Generation and Net Metering Regulation 2015 for implementing
solar roof-top net metering policy, following procedure is hereby proposed to be
adopted:

 The consumer shall receive a monthly net import/export bill indicating either net
export to the grid or net import from the grid.

“Import”- means energy supplied by the LESCO grid.

“Export”- means energy delivered to the LESCO grid.

 The meter reader has to capture import & export energy and other billing parameters
recorded by the bi-directional meter.
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  In case of net import bill, the Distributed Generator shall be billed for the net kWh in
accordance with applicable tariff.

 In case, the export energy is more than the import, the net kWh shall be credited
against Distributed Generator next billing cycle for future consumption, or shall be
paid by the LESCO to the Distributed Generator quarterly. Provided that where the
Distributed Generator is to be paid, the kWh in a month will be charged at the tariff of
that respective month.

 The tariff payable by LESCO shall only be the off-peak rate of the respective
consumer category of the respective month and other rates such as variable charges
for peak time, fixed charges, fuel price adjustment, duties / levies will not be payable
by the LESCO.

G. General Guidelines

 The applicant is required to install the SRTPV system through system installer who
has experience in design, supply and installation of SRTPV system.

 The SRTPV system should comply with the relevant IEC technical standards.

 The installation work has to be carried out as per the approved drawing and as per
standards.

 In case the installed (also read proposed) capacity of the SRTPV system is higher than
the sanctioned load of the consumer, which consequently requires an up-gradation in
the infrastructure (service line meter with CT (if required), transformer upgrading (if
required), the consumer will have to upgrade at his / her / its own cost.

 The applicant shall provide check meters when the SRTPV system is more than
20-kWp.

Note: NEPRA (Alternative & Renewable Energy) Distributed Generation and

Net Metering Regulations, 2015 shall be considered as the integral part of
this SOP.

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