2019 Bulletin Index - September to December
We periodically post bulletins here to inform customers of developments within BC Hydro Transmission and/or the industry and/or to solicit feedback on policy changes. These announcements can be time sensitive, so please subscribe for the updates.
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Our Transmission Scheduling bulletins for 2019 are listed below. Select another year to the right to view bulletins from the archive.
View the 2019 bulletins
September to December
| Title | Bulletin date |
|---|---|
| Extended Windows for New Year's Day | December 27, 3:30 p.m. |
| Extended Windows for Christmas Day | December 18, 2:22 p.m. |
| Long-Term Point-to-Point Competition | December 6, 4:12 p.m. |
| BC Hydro Scheduling Issue - Resolved | December 3, 3:00 p.m. |
| BC Hydro Scheduling Issue | December 3, 2:42 p.m. |
| Customer Portal Access to Settlement Data - Reminder | November 22, 4:20 p.m. |
| Extended Windows for US Thanksgiving Day | November 19, 12:00 p.m. |
| Business System Update - Reminder | November 18, 11:40 a.m. |
| Business System Update | November 8, 1:30 p.m. |
| Customer Portal Access to Settlement Data - Update | November 4, 12:10 p.m. |
| Extended Windows for Remembrance Day | October 30, 2:35 p.m. |
| BC Hydro: OATT Generator Interconnection Amendments Application | October 23, 1:00 p.m. |
| Customer Portal Access to Settlement Data | October 17, 2:35 p.m. |
| General Wheeling Rates Starting October 2019 | September 4, 2:37 p.m. |
| BCRC is Now Effective! | September 2, 12:00 a.m. |
Extended Windows for New Year's Day
Posted on December 27, 3:30 p.m.
BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF 136 KB] for purchasing transmission for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2020.
Extended Windows for Christmas Day
Posted on December 18, 2:22 p.m.
BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF, 146 KB] for purchasing transmission for Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2019.
Long-Term Point-to-Point Competition
Posted on December 6, 4:12 p.m.
On December 3, 2019, BCPS submitted ARef No. 90384053 with request type of RENEWAL to extend its existing Conditional Firm Service contract associated to ARef No. 71087057 for another 5 years term.
BC Hydro has completed an evaluation of the Long-Term Transmission requests currently in the queue and has identified one request for a seven (7) years term as the Competing Request. This Competing Request, listed below, meets the criteria set out under section 4 of BC Hydro’s Rollover Rights of Long-Term Firm Transmission Service Business Practice:
ARef No. 82404655 submitted on March 10, 2016 by BCPS requesting transmission service from 2021-01-01 to 2028-01-01
Pursuant to section 5 of the Rollover Rights of Long-Term Firm Transmission Service Business Practice, BC Hydro will initiate a competition on 9 December 2019. The following describes the steps in executing the Competing Process:
1. BC Hydro has notified BCPS (The Rollover Request customer) by email of its Rights of First Refusal (ROFR) pertaining to ARef No. 90384053 (the Rollover Request).
2. BC Hydro will send a counteroffer to the Competing Request customer by email with an offer of 5 MW Conditional Firm Service from 2021-01-01 to 2028-01-01 on the condition that the Rollover Request customer does not exercise its ROFR.
3. The competing Process will conclude when:
- the Competing Request customer does not accept the offer or fail to respond within the prescribed timeline, the Renewal request will be granted; or
- the Rollover Request customer successfully matches the duration and the matching request in the request type of ORIGINAL will be granted.
BC Hydro Scheduling Issue
Posted On December 3, 2:42 p.m.
BC Hydro is currently investigating a problem with its scheduling system which could affect energy schedules on the BC/US scheduling path as well as the release of Available Transmission Capability. BC Hydro is working to investigate the issue and is taking steps to mitigate the impact of this problem.
Further updates will be made available as the issue is resolved.
Customer Portal Access to Settlement Data – Reminder
Posted on November 22, 4:20 p.m.
Reminder from the November 4, 2019 bulletin, BC Hydro will be making the first phase of upgrades to its extranet platform on November 25, 2019.
On November 25, 2019, you will notice a key difference to the login page. In order to improve the security of the system, two-factor/multi-factor authentication will be introduced. Each time you log into the Extranet site, you will be required to enter your user name and email address to allow the system to send you a temporary verification code to the email address associated with your account. Once you receive the verification code, you will be required to enter that code and your Extranet password to log into the site. This is similar to other secure websites that require you to enter a system-generated code to login.
If you are unsure of your email address on file, you can select MyProfile (located at the top right-hand corner) within the Extranet Site. If your email address is incorrect, please contact Avis Yang.
Extended Windows for US Thanksgiving Day
Posted on November 19, 12:00 p.m.
BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF, 176 KB] for purchasing transmission for US Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2019.
Business System Update
Posted on November 18, 11:40 a.m.
On November 19, 2019 between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., BC Hydro will be updating one of its business systems (MODS) in the Production environment. We don’t anticipate there to be scheduling issues for our OATT customers. However, please contact Avis Yang at 604-649-7211 if you experience any issues.
Business System Update
Posted on November 8, 1:30 p.m.
On November 19, 2019 between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., BC Hydro will be updating one of its business systems (MODS) in the Production environment. We don’t anticipate there to be scheduling issues for our OATT customers. However, please contact Avis Yang at 604-649-7211 if you experience any issues.
Customer Portal Access to Settlement Data – Update
Posted on November 4, 12:10 p.m.
Further to the October 17 bulletin, BC Hydro will be making some upgrades to its extranet platform. As part of this initiative BC Hydro’s Extranet will undergo changes on two separate dates: November 25, 2019 and December 6, 2019.
On November 25, 2019, you will notice a key difference to the login page. In order to improve the security of the system, two-factor/multi-factor authentication will be introduced. Each time you log into the Extranet site, you will be required to enter your user name and email address to allow the system to send you a temporary verification code to the email address associated with your account. Once you receive the verification code, you will be required to enter that code and your Extranet password to log into the site. This is similar to other secure websites that require you to enter a system-generated code to login.
On December 6-8, 2019, the Extranet site will be upgraded to a newer version of SharePoint. During the system upgrade, BC Hydro’s WMS Sharepoint site (customer portal) that contains settlement reports and invoices will not be accessible from December 6 to 8, 2019, inclusive. You will notice changes to the look and feel of the site; however, the impact is minimal, and you should be able to access the resources you currently do today after the upgrade is completed.
If you are unsure of your email address on file, you can select MyProfile (located at the top right-hand corner) within the Extranet Site. If your email address is incorrect, please contact Avis Yang.
Extended Windows for Remembrance Day
Posted on October 30, 2:35 p.m.
BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF, 177 KB] for purchasing transmission for Remembrance/Veterans' Day, Monday, November 11, 2019.
BC Hydro: OATT Generator Interconnection Amendments Application
Posted on October 23, 1:00 p.m.
BC Hydro advises that it intends to file an application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) to amend: (i) the Standard Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP) (including five appendices), which together form Attachment M-1 of BC Hydro’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT); and (ii) OATT Ancillary Services Rate Schedule 05 – Regulation and Frequency Response Service.
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has reformed the Generator Interconnection and Regulation and Frequency Response Service provisions of its pro forma OATT, on which BC Hydro’s OATT is based. BC Hydro intends to file the Application in its capacity as the Transmission Provider under the OATT to better align the OATT with FERC’s revised pro forma OATT. The proposed amendments are expected to include the following and they are further described in Enclosure 1 to this notice:
1. BC Hydro proposes to amend Attachment M-1 to substantially adopt the reforms to FERC’s pro forma OATT, as established under FERC Order Nos. 845 and 845-A (collectively Order No. 845), which reformed the Large Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreement of the pro forma OATT.
However, BC Hydro believes that Attachment M-1 already has existing equivalent provisions to the FERC reforms regarding dispute resolution that are appropriate in British Columbia, so no amendments are required in that regard. BC Hydro also believes that a minor deviation in the requirement for making network models and underlying assumptions publically available is appropriate in British Columbia.
2. BC Hydro proposes to amend Attachment M-1 to adopt the reforms to FERC’s pro forma OATT, as established by FERC Order No. 842 (Order No. 842), which are intended to address the frequency response capability of interconnected systems.
However, the FERC reforms and requirements that are specific to Generating Facilities being regulated by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission are not applicable in British Columbia, so no amendments to Attachment M-1 are required in that regard.
3. BC Hydro proposes to make further amendments of a non-material housekeeping nature to Attachment M-1.
4. BC Hydro proposes to adopt reforms established under FERC Orders No. 784 and 784-A (collectively Order No. 784) that relate to the provision of ancillary services under OATT Rate Schedule 05 - Regulation and Frequency Response Service. While not strictly related to the Generator Interconnection provisions of the OATT, in the interest of efficiency BC Hydro also includes proposed amendments to address Order No. 784 reforms that require transmission providers to take into account the speed and accuracy of regulation resources in its determination of reserve requirements for Regulation and Frequency Response Service.
5. BC Hydro is considering additional amendments to Attachment M-1 to address issues that are specific to its transmission system in British Columbia. BC Hydro is currently discussing these potential amendments to Attachment M-1 with interested parties and may include them in the Application.
BC Hydro is seeking input on the proposed amendments. BC Hydro will consider feedback received up to close of business on November 15, 2019. Depending on the nature of the feedback received, BC Hydro may use it to inform the Application or initiate additional discussion. Comments can be submitted by email to bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com. BC Hydro may post comments received from interested parties, and may include these in further discussion activities or in the Application. Parties interested in being notified of BC Hydro activities related to this Application are encouraged to subscribe to receive automatic notifications of bulletins via email in the Stay Informed section of BC Hydro transmission webpage.
Enclosures:
2. Draft blacklined versions of affected tariff pages incorporating proposed amendments:
a. OATT Attachment M-1: Standard Generator Interconnection Procedures;
b. OATT Attachment M-1 Appendix 1: Interconnection Request for a Generating Facility;
c. OATT Attachment M-1 Appendix 2: Interconnection Feasibility Study Agreement;
d. OATT Attachment M-1 Appendix 3: Combined Study Agreement;
e. OATT Attachment M-1 Appendix 4: Optional Interconnection Study Agreement;
f. OATT Attachment M-1 Appendix 5: Standard Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA); and
g. OATT Rate Schedule 05: Regulation and Frequency Response Service.
3. FERC Orders
a. FERC Order No. 845
b. FERC Order No. 845-A
c. FERC Order No. 842
d. FERC Order No. 784
e. FERC Order No. 784-A
Customer Portal Access to Settlement Data
Posted on October 17, 2:35 p.m.
BC Hydro is upgrading its SharePoint platform to the 2016 version. As part of this initiative, BC Hydro’s WMS Sharepoint site (customer portal) that contains settlement reports and invoices will be upgraded and not be accessible from November 22 to 25, 2019, inclusive. Please contact Avis Yang if you anticipate any issues.
General Wheeling Rates Starting October 2019
Posted on September 4, 2:37 p.m.
The table of general wheeling rates, per Rate Schedule 3817, has been updated to show the annual rates commencing October 2019.