Wholesale: Products & Services

Collocation - Direct Current (DC) Power Overview - V12.0

History Log

Description

This document describes Direct Current (DC) Power rate elements that are associated with all Central Office Collocation, the optional DC Power Measurement process which applies to Central Office Collocations and the DC Power Reduction and DC Power Restoration processes and the associated rate elements.

DC Power Rate Element

Description

The following language applies in all states, where separate charges for DC Power Capacity and DC Power Usage have been established. Additional charges may also apply per your Interconnection Agreement (ICA).

  • -48 Volt DC Power Capacity and Usage Charges - Charges for -48 volt DC power to your collocated equipment, which is fused at a minimum of 125% of the request. The Capacity Charge recovers the cost of the capacity of the power plant available for your use. The Usage Charge recovers the cost of the power used. Both the Capacity Charge and the Usage Charge are applied on a per amp basis.
  • -48 Volt Capacity Charge - The -48 volt Capacity Charge is specified in your Interconnection Agreement and applies to the quantity of -48 volt DC power Capacity specified on your order.
  • -48 Volt DC Power Usage Charge - The -48 volt DC Power Usage Charge is specified in your Interconnection Agreement and applies to the quantity of -48 volt DC power capacity specified on your order.
    • -48 volt DC Power Usage Charge - Applies on a per amp basis to all orders of greater than 60 amps. CenturyLink™ will initially apply the -48 volt DC Power Usage Charge from your Interconnection Agreement to the quantity of power ordered. There is a one amp minimum charge for -48 volt DC Power Usage for CLECs that have opted into the DC Power measurement. CenturyLink will adjust the monthly usage rate based upon the actual usage on a going forward basis if the CLEC has opted into DC Power measurement.
    • -48 volt DC Power Usage Charge - Applies for your orders of 60 amps or less of -48 volt DC power usage. CenturyLink will apply the -48 volt DC Power Usage Charge in accordance with your Interconnection Agreement for the quantity of power ordered. CenturyLink will not adjust the billed usage based upon actual usage.

The following rate elements would apply in North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota, where separate charges for Capacity and Usage have not been established.

-48 Volt DC Power Charge

- Charges for -48 volt DC power to your collocated equipment, which is fused at a minimum of 125% of your requested power. There is a single charge applied monthly on a per amp basis for the use of the power plant and the actual AC power purchased from the electric company. This charge will be assessed based on the -48 volt DC power capacity specified on your order.

DC Power Measurement

The Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) will order DC power to meet their needs with a 20-ampere (amp) per feed minimum. CLECs can order multiple feeds of DC Power, one being designated as primary and each additional as secondary feed(s). If the CLEC orders more than 60 amps, CenturyLink typically terminates such feeds on a power board. If the CLEC orders 60 amps or less, the power feed is typically terminated at a Battery Distribution Fuse Board (BDFB). When the CLEC orders 60 amps or less the power usage rate is based on the CLEC's ordered amount of amps and reflects a discount from the rates for power feeds requested at greater than 60 amps.

Optional DC Power Measuring for feed greater than sixty (60) amps

CenturyLink will measure power usage on feeds greater than 60 amps on a semi-annual basis provided an agreement or an amendment has been signed between CenturyLink and the CLEC. CLECs may request the initial measurement by submitting a DC Power Measuring for Feeds Greater than 60 Amps Collocation Application. CenturyLink will also take measurements within 30 calendar Days of a written request by the CLEC after the CLEC's installation or removal of equipment. CenturyLink will perform a maximum of four (4) readings per year on a particular collocation site. Based on these measurements, CenturyLink will adjust the new monthly usage rate to the CLEC's actual usage. Until the initial semi-annual measurement is performed, or until such time that the CLEC places or removes equipment and a written request is received from the CLEC for CenturyLink to take a measurement, the ordered amount will be billed to the CLEC. If the CLEC wants a measurement after the installation or removal of equipment a DC Power Measuring for Feeds Greater than 60 Amps Collocation Application should be sent to rfsmet@centurylink.com containing the central office location where you want CenturyLink to perform the measurement. The next measurement date may be generated as a result of the CLEC's request or CenturyLink's routine semi-annual measurement, and billing will be adjusted back to the time of the semi-annual measurement or written request for a power measurement. CLEC wanting to utilize the DC Power Measuring process may access the agreement or amendment through Wholesale Interconnection Agreements & Amendments.

Optional Power Measurement Self Certification Process (Available in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, and Minnesota)

Colorado and Minnesota ONLY
Pursuant to Minnesota Docket Number P-421/AM-06-713 - ORDER REVISING GENERIC TERMS OF INTERCONNECTION and Colorado Docket Number 07A-211T - IN THE MATTER OF QWEST CORPORATION'S APPLICATION, PURSUANT TO DECISIONS NOS. C06-1280 AND C07-0423, REQUESTING THAT THE COMMISSION CONSIDER TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE TO SET COSTING AND PRICING OF CERTAIN NETWORK ELEMENTS QWEST IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PURSUANT TO 47 U.S.C.§§ 251 (B) AND (C).

Availability is limited to CLECs with the appropriate amendment to their Interconnection Agreement.  Measurement applies to all Collocations.

Arizona and Iowa ONLY
The Optional Power Measurement Self Certification Process is also available in Arizona and Iowa.  Availability is limited to CLECs with the appropriate amendment to their Interconnection Agreement.  Measurement applies to Collocations where the power feed is greater than 60 amps ONLY
Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, and Minnesota CLECs have the option to pay on a measured basis for both the Power Plant and the Power Usage rate elements.  Measurement and reporting are performed by the CLEC through the Self Certification process as follows:

  • Before a CLEC can begin reporting its own usage, it is required to sign the CLEC Measured Power Amendment, a copy of which can be obtained through the CLEC's Service Manager.
  • Once the CLEC Measured Power Amendment is signed, the CLEC is required to work with Service Manager to identify all affected collocations in each of the applicable states.  This is to ensure that CenturyLink and the CLEC are both aware of the entire list of collocations to be reported by the CLEC.  The CLECs should submit to its Service Manager a completed Power Usage Reporting Form without readings initially, until the list is agreed to CenturyLink and CLEC.
  • Additional Collocations added between reporting periods will be billed based on the terms of CLEC's Interconnection Agreement.
  • Virtual collocations (and any other inaccessible reading positions) will be read by CenturyLink and reported in the same timeframe within which the CLEC is required to report. The final list should include both collocations to be measured by the CLEC and collocations to be measured by CenturyLink.
  • Once the list is agreed to by both parties, the CLEC can begin reporting usage and should submit to its Service Manager a completed Power Usage Reporting Form WITH readings.
    • If the list is not completed in its entirety, it will be returned to the CLEC by the Service Manager.
    • No billing adjustments will be made until the complete list is received by CenturyLink.
  • Billing will be adjusted (via an Effective Bill Date – EBD entry on the order). The EBD will be the first day of the month on which the readings are due.
  • Additional provisions can be found in the CLEC Measured Power Amendment.

DC Power Reduction/Restoration

Definitions

The following definitions are used to describe the intent of the language in the DC Power Reduction and DC Power Restoration processes.

Deactivation eliminates a secondary feed(s) (the power cable and fuse positions are not reserved).

Reduction Without Reservation reduces the ordered amps on a primary or secondary feed(s). The reduced feed(s) must be maintained with a minimum of 20 amps.

Reduction With Reservation reduces the ordered amps on a secondary feed(s) to zero, and reserves the fuse positions of the feed(s) at the power source and cabling to the power source is left in place.

Restoration Without Reservation restores power on primary and secondary feed(s) previously reduced as part of a Reduction Without Reservation request back to the original or lesser amp value(s), with a 20 amps minimum. Restoration of a reduced secondary or primary feed(s) without reservation is contingent upon the availability of spare amps at the power source at the time the restoration request is validated.

Restoration With Reservation restores power on previously reduced and reserved secondary feed(s) to at least 20 amps or up to the original amount of amps prior to reduction. Restoration of a reduced secondary feed(s) with reservation is contingent upon the availability of capacity (i.e., spare amps) at the power source at the time the restoration request is validated.

DC Power Reduction

Description

DC Power Reduction allows you to reduce the ordered amps on your primary feed and /or secondary feed(s). DC Power Reduction With Reservation will also allow you to reduce ordered amps on a secondary feed(s) to zero and reserve the fuse positions. DC Power Reduction Without Reservation will allow you to reduce the ordered amps on a primary or secondary feed(s) down to a minimum of 20 amps.

Terms and Conditions

You must have terms and conditions for DC Power Reduction in your Interconnection Agreement. If terms and conditions for DC Power Reduction are not in your Interconnection Agreement, an amendment must be negotiated before an application for this service may be submitted.

You may only request DC Power Reduction at Central Office based Collocations.

CenturyLink will allow you to reserve a fuse or breaker position on the Power Distribution Board also known as Power Board Distribution (PDB/PBD) or Battery Distribution Fuse Board (BDFB) for a recurring maintenance charge when reducing the secondary feed(s) to zero. The monthly maintenance charge does not reserve power but does hold the power cabling and fuse positions in place for your potential future power restoration requests.

You may only submit a Collocation Application (New/Change/Augment) Form for DC Power Reduction for Collocation sites that have been previously accepted by you. DC Power Reductions are not available for sites under construction. Standard change or augment procedures and rates apply to sites that do not meet the conditions for DC Power Reduction.

You must pay 100% of the quoted non-recurring charges to CenturyLink within thirty (30)-calendar Days of receipt of the quote. If CenturyLink does not receive the payment within the thirty (30)-calendar Day period, the quote will expire and your DC Power Reduction will be canceled. You will be charged a Quote Preparation Fee (QPF) for work performed up to the point of expiration.

Before submitting a Collocation Application (New/Change/Augment) Form for DC Power Reduction, your financial obligations must be current, with the exception of formally disputed charges. Your financial obligations include your payment of 100% of all non-recurring quoted charges for the Collocation site and all applicable monthly recurring charges that are more than thirty (30)-calendar Days past due. DC Power Reductions cannot be canceled after submitting 100% of non-recurring charges for the DC Power Reduction.

You may utilize the DC Power Reduction Without Reservation process to reduce the power on primary and secondary feeds down to a minimum of 20 amps. If you reduce secondary feed(s) to zero and do not reserve the fuse positions, it is considered a deactivation. When purchasing DC Power Reduction With Reservation you will be requesting the reduction of the secondary feed(s) to zero and reserving the power cable and fuse positions for potential future use. You will be required to pay a monthly Power Maintenance Charge until such time as you notify CenturyLink that you wish to either restore the feed or discontinue the reservation.

In instances where a shortage of fuse positions is imminent, CenturyLink reserves the right to notify you of the need to exercise your option or relinquish your reserved fuse positions to CenturyLink. Upon receipt of such notification, you will have the option of restoring the secondary feed to at least 20 amps or returning the fuse positions to CenturyLink within thirty (30)-calendar Days of receipt of notification. If CenturyLink does not receive a response within the thirty (30)-calendar Day timeframe, CenturyLink will deactivate your secondary feed and return the fuse positions to CenturyLink. If CenturyLink is unable to provide the requested power restoration of the held feed(s) due to power capacity exhaust, CenturyLink will refund all Power Maintenance Charges collected since the reservation was accepted.

You are responsible for outages and/or impacts to your service and equipment, you provided, due to your reduction of DC Power.

If you have requested to be present during the DC Power Reduction and do not keep the appointment or do not notify CenturyLink 48 hours prior to the scheduled time, CenturyLink will charge you a minimum one hour maintenance charge plus any additional costs incurred by CenturyLink.

Rates

Collocation charges will be based on the information you provided to CenturyLink on the Collocation Application (New/Change Augment) Form. Below is an example of additional charges that are unique to a Power Reduction Request and will be provided to you via a quote.

The nonrecurring charges that could apply:

  • Power Maintenance Charge: Monthly recurring charge(s) associated with the option to reserve fuse positions and power cables for secondary feed(s) for your potential future needs.

Ordering

Submit a Collocation Application (New/Change/Augment) Form.

On the application form indicate the specific power feed(s) to be reduced.

Under the Type of Order section check Augment and complete the appropriate DC Power Ordering information and - Augment sub-section. This will indicate to the Collocation Project Management Center (CPMC) that this is a request for DC Power reduction.

Based on the work required to complete your DC power reduction Collocation order the following pricing strategy will apply:

  • Only one QPF per application will be charged. If multiple feeds at the same Collocation space are reduced, you will only pay the associated power reduction charges, power maintenance fee if applicable, and one QPF.

Billing

Billing for the initial power value at the Collocation site will be modified to reflect the reduced amount upon receipt of payment for the quoted charges and will be made effective back to the date of acceptance of the DC Power Reduction application by the CPMC.

DC Power Restoration

Description

DC Power Restoration will allow you to restore your previously reduced DC power feed(s) to a level less than or equal to your original DC power level.

Terms and Conditions

You must have terms and conditions for DC Power Restoration in your Interconnection Agreement. If the terms and conditions for DC Power Restoration are not in your Interconnection Agreement, an amendment must be negotiated before an application for this service can be submitted.

You can only request DC Power Restorations at Central Office based Collocations. If you are requesting Restoration Without Reservation, CenturyLink will restore your fuse or breaker positions at the power source, if available, for your requested capacity up to the original amount. If capacity (including protector size) is not available at the original power board or BDFB you will be connected to an alternate power source and appropriate charges will apply.

Restoration With Reservation of secondary feed(s) is contingent upon power capacity. This applies when secondary feed(s) were reduced to zero and the fuse positions were reserved. If CenturyLink is unable to provide the requested power restoration of the held secondary feed(s) due to power capacity exhaust, CenturyLink will refund all collected Power Maintenance Charges.

You must pay 100% of the quoted non-recurring charges to CenturyLink within thirty (30)-calendar Days of receipt of the quote. If CenturyLink does not receive the payment within the thirty (30)-calendar Day period, the quote will expire and your DC Power Restoration will be canceled. You will be charged a QPF for work performed up to the point of expiration.

Before submitting a Collocation Application (New/Change/Augment) Form for DC Power Restoration, your financial obligations must be current, with the exception of formally disputed charges. Your financial obligations include your payment of 100% of all non-recurring quoted charges for the Collocation site and all applicable monthly recurring charges that are more than thirty (30)-calendar Days past due. DC Power Restoration cannot be canceled after submitting 100% of non-recurring charges.

If you have requested to be present during the DC Power Restoration and do not keep the appointment or do not notify CenturyLink 48 hours prior to the scheduled time, CenturyLink will charge you a minimum one hour maintenance charge plus any additional cost(s) incurred by CenturyLink.

Rates

Collocation charges will be based on the information you provided to CenturyLink on the Collocation Application (New/Change/Augment) Form. Below is an example of additional non-recurring charges that are unique to a Power Restoration request and will be provided to you via a quote.

  • Quote Preparation Fee (QPF): The cost for performing a feasibility study and producing a quote for the power restoration request.
  • Power Restoration Charge (assessed if power is restored): Charges associated with restoring the power are classified into two categories: 1) If the power cabling exists and the power capacity is available at the original power source, CenturyLink utilizes the standard power element charges. 2) If new power cabling is required to reach a new power source; CenturyLink will charge based on standard power Collocation augment rates.

Ordering

Submit a Collocation Application (New/Change/Augment) Form.

Under the Type of Order section check Augment and complete the appropriate DC Power Ordering information - Augment sub-section.

Based on the work required to complete your DC Power Restoration Collocation order the following pricing strategy will apply.

  • Only one QPF per application will be charged. If secondary feed(s) at the same Collocation space are restored, you will only pay the associated power restoration charges and one QPF.

Billing

Billing for the current power value at the Collocation site will be modified to reflect the restored amount upon completion of your DC Power Restoration order.

Training

CenturyLink 101: "Doing Business with CenturyLink"

  • This introductory Web-based training course is designed to teach the Local CLEC and Reseller how to do business with CenturyLink. It will provide a general overview of products and services, CenturyLink billing and support systems, processes for submitting service requests, reports, and web resource access information. Click here to learn more about this course and to register.

View additional CenturyLink courses by clicking on Course Catalog.

Contacts

CenturyLink contact information is located in Wholesale Customer Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Last Update: August 1, 2012