Technical requisites for producer connection to the public electric power grids in France: administrative requirements

Regulatory material defines the general technical requirements that power-generating plants must comply with to be connected to the public power transmission or distribution grids. The purpose of these specifications is to preserve the safety of life and property, grid safety, the quality and availability of the distributed voltage. The February 10, 2000, law pertaining to the modernization and development of the electric power utilities stipulates that the requirements will be set down in a decree (statutory material of a higher legal status than an order). In this framework, a decree compiling all the requirements for connections to public power distribution grids is in the works. It will follow up current statutory material. Before the decree is passed, it will be submitted to the review of the Commission de Regulation de l´Electricite (electricity control commission) and the Comite Technique de l´Electricite (electricity technical committee), marshalling experts and representatives of administrations, and will be notified to the European Commission. The main provisions that are being planned (December 2000) are described. They may change depending on further study development and the recommendations from the above-mentioned agencies