2021 Bulletin Index - May to August

May to August

Extended Windows for Labour Day

Posted on Aug 30, 11:15 a.m

BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF, 57 KB] for purchasing transmission for Labour Day, Monday, September 6, 2021.

General Wheeling Rates Starting October 2021

Posted on Aug 23, 9:45 a.m.

The table of general wheeling rates, applicable to FortisBC under Rate Schedule 3817, has been updated to show the annual rates commencing October 2021.

Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue

Posted on Aug 16, 11:05 a.m.

The Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue has been revised. Previous version of the updates can be viewed at Archived LTPTP Transmission Queue Updates.

F2022 Revenue Requirements Application – Approved Rate Pages

Posted on Aug 13, 10:55 a.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on March 18, 2021, the BCUC has approved BC Hydro’s electric tariff and OATT pages.  The executed tariff pages for OATT Attachment H, Schedule 00, Schedule 01, and Schedule 03 start on page 97 of the PDF. Note that the approved rates are lower than the interim rates. The OATT rates are effective April 1, 2021.

Proposed Change to Counterflow - Business Practice Amendment

Posted on Aug 10, 1:05 p.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on July 30, BC Hydro .Transmission Provider has modified its TTC/ATC Business Practice to provide further detail with respect to how BC Hydro Transmission Provider will implement the change to allow ATC to be created from firm counterflows and to make other required housekeeping amendments.  BC Hydro Transmission Provider invites customers to review the redlined business practice and provide comments to Brenda Ambrosi by August 25.  BC Hydro Transmission Provider will be applying in the near term, to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, to amend its OATT Attachment C as noted in previous bulletins.  A bulletin will be posted referencing the decision in that proceeding and a timeline for implementation, including the implementation of the changes to this Business Practice, once complete and if applicable.

Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue

Posted on Aug 3, 10:10 a.m.

The Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue has been revised. Previous version of the updates can be viewed at Archived LTPTP Transmission Queue Updates.

Proposed Change to Counterflow - Decision

Posted on July 30, 1:10 p.m

On April 30, 2021 BC Hydro posted a proposal from BC Hydro Power Supply (BCPS),  requesting that BC Hydro, as the Transmission Provider, consider modifying BC Hydro’s ATC Implementation Document (ATCID) and associated TTC/ATC Business Practice to allow for firm counterflow scheduling from BC to the U.S. based on the assured deliveries of the Canadian Entitlement. 

BC Hydro posted a bulletin on May 28, 2021, which shared comments from three customers TransAlta Energy Marketing Corp., Capital Power, and Powerex regarding the BCPS proposal.  Since then, BC Hydro received late comments from Brookfield Renewable (Evolugen).  The feedback can be summarized as follows:

a) Powerex supported the proposal;

b) Evolugen expressed general support of the proposal provided customers have fair and equal notice of, and access to, the transmission capacity created by the firm counterflows and sought further information on the Canadian Entitlement;

c) TransAlta provided preliminary views and sought further information with respect to whether transmission capacity arising from firm counterflows will be made available in a non-discriminatory manner and whether BC Hydro agrees with the BCPS determination that the Canadian Entitlement is sufficiently assured to make this change; and

d) Capital Power opposed the proposal and raised a number of specific concerns relating to the consistency of the proposal with other jurisdictions and potential reliability and existing service impacts arising from increased ATC. 

BC Hydro has considered the feedback and offers the following response:

 a) Each Transmission Service Provider (TSP) has the flexibility to implement the ATC formulas in its service territory or area as it deems appropriate.  Each TSP’s ATCID is unique in:  1) how it is applied to its service territory (i.e. different paths may have different formulas), and 2) the flexibility it provides within the ATCID to choose whether or not to incorporate certain elements (e.g. Postbacks or Counterflows) that are contemplated in the MOD-029-2a mandatory reliability standard.  This explicit flexibility is provided with the expectation that different approaches may be appropriate for differently situated TSPs.  As a result, alignment in approach with the Bonneville Power Administration is not required as suggested by Capital Power.

b) On May 2011, BC Hydro submitted an application to BCUC to amend its OATT Attachment C to be consistent with a suite of then applicable mandatory reliability standards and, specifically, to adopt the ATC methodology under approved MOD-029-1a Rated System Path Methodology.  BC Hydro received BCUC approval of the amendments to OATT Attachment C on Nov 10, 2011 under BCUC Order No. G-185-11.  On October 1, 2017, MOD-029-1a was replaced by MOD-029-2a by way of BCUC Order R-39-17.  Capital Power notes that MOD-029-2a does not compel a Transmission Service Provider to allow for firm counterflows to create firm ATC. In response, BC Hydro clarifies that the applicable mandatory reliability standards allow for a Transmission Service Provider (TSP) to choose to implement firm counterflow as specified in the TSP’s ATCID. 

c) Capital Power also suggested that allowing for the possibility of ATC values exceeding TTC path ratings may result in adverse impacts.  BC Hydro clarifies that its current Business Practices and operating procedures do allow for the total transmission sold in addition to the ATC to potentially be greater than TTC.  Specifically, TTC can be exceeded by the amount of transmission sales in a particular direction as long as those sales are balanced by the counterflow schedules across the intertie.  BC Hydro’s Curtailment of Transmission and Energy Business Practice indicates that curtailments are based on BC Hydro’s established Scheduling Limit (not TTC) which takes into account counterflows before curtailments are initiated.  As a result, BC Hydro’s current business practices do not lead to unnecessary curtailments or  have adverse impact to the transmission system’s reliability. 

d) BC Hydro’s TTC, ATC, TRM, and Existing Transmission Commitments are all posted on OASIS.  BC Hydro notes that its TTC/ATC Business Practice currently allows for a release of non-firm counterflow as ATC at the time an energy tag (eTag) is scheduled and confirmed.  BC Hydro intends to release firm counterflow as ATC in the same manner as is currently done with the non-firm counterflow. As with all counterflows, any adjustment to the ATC is posted on OASIS and will be available for purchase by any Transmission Customer.  As described above, all customers will continue to have equal access to this information, which was a concern raised by both TransAlta and Capital Power. 

e) In response to Evolugen’s question regarding how the Canadian Entitlement rights are released to market, BC Hydro notes that that the release of the unscheduled firm transmission from the Canadian Entitlement is managed in the preschedule horizon in accordance with Section 5 of the TTC/ATC Business Practice.  

After careful consideration of the BCPS proposal and the corresponding customer comments, BC Hydro has decided to take those actions necessary to allow for firm counterflows to create additional ATC when there is energy scheduled that constitutes assured deliveries on firm transmission from source to sink. The appropriate business practice(s) will be modified to allow any Transmission Customer to request their firm transmission and associated energy schedules to be considered assured deliveries such that they would create ATC from the firm counterflows provided that the eligibility requirements are met.  BC Hydro will be developing those eligibility requirements and posting the redline of the business practice(s) for customer review and comment.  BC Hydro’s objective is to develop the eligibility requirements that will allow BC Hydro to validate the assuredness of the deliveries and minimize impacts to Transmission Customers if those deliveries do not materialize.  By providing this additional provision to all Transmission Customers, BC Hydro’s decision aligns with open access and non-discriminatory principles consistent with the OATT. 

Furthermore, BC Hydro discovered during its review of the business practices, ATCID and Attachment C, that a minor amendment is required to facilitate this change.  Consequently, BC Hydro will be submitting an application to the BCUC to amend Attachment C.  In its application, BC Hydro may include additional proposed amendments of a non-material nature to align Attachment C with the language of MOD-29-2a as approved by the BCUC. 

Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue

Posted on July 14, 3:30 p.m

The Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue has been revised. Previous version of the updates can be viewed at Archived LTPTP Transmission Queue Updates.

Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue

Posted on June 29, 9:30 a.m

The Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue has been revised. Previous version of the updates can be viewed at Archived LTPTP Transmission Queue Updates.

Extended Windows for Independence Day

Posted on June 25, 1:45 p.m

BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF, 57 KB] for purchasing transmission for Independence Day, observed on Monday, July 5, 2021.

BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plan

Posted on June 23, 4:05 p.m.

BC Hydro is currently undertaking a long-term resource planning process to develop its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). BC Hydro’s IRP is a long-term (20‑year) plan for enhancing BC’s integrated power system to ensure future customer electricity needs are met with clean, reliable and affordable power. Transmission planning as part of IRP development is a Long-Term Planning process per Section 1 (a) of Attachment K to BC Hydro’s Open Access Transmission Tariff.

BC Hydro’s Draft 2021 Integrated Resource Plan is now ready to review. There are elements in the Draft 2021 IRP that may be of interest to you. We want to ensure you have the opportunity to review the draft plan and share your feedback.

To provide specific input on long-term transmission planning, send your comments by July 31, 2021 to bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com.

For more information about our draft 2021 IRP and broader consultation, visit Clean Power 2040.

Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue

Posted on June 14, 11:10 a.m.

The Firm Sales to Alberta Long Term PTP Transmission Priority Queue has been revised. Previous version of the updates can be viewed at Archived LTPTP Transmission Queue Updates.

Techincal issues with Pre-emption and Competition Modules (PCM)

Posted on June 3, 12:00 p.m.

The current version of the PCM module has an issue with sending the competing request flag to OASIS.  In addition to monitoring for competing request flags, customers are advised to monitor for new RECALL requests from OASIS.

OATI is currently investigating and working to resolve the issue.  

Proposed Change to Counterflow - Customer Feedback

Posted on May 28, 2:40 p.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on April 30 soliciting feedback from customers, BC Hydro Transmission Provider received comments from Capital Power, Powerex, and TransAlta Energy Marketing Corp.  Please refer to the April 30 bulletin for details regarding the proposed change to counterflow.  BC Hydro Transmission Provider is considering these comments and will post another bulletin in the near future. 

Network Economy Test Results - May 27, 2021

Posted on May 25, 5:15 p.m.

Network Economy Test Results for May 27, 2021 [PDF, 11 KB] did not post. Please reference this bulletin for the correct test results.

Network Economy Meeting

Posted on May 21, 9:00 a.m.

Pursuant to British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) Order No. G-127-06, Appendix 1, the BCUC directed BC Hydro, then BCTC, to convene annual Network Economy Meetings to discuss on a "without prejudice" basis issues arising with respect to the use of Network Economy. A standing agenda item for these meetings is to review the use of, and continued requirement for, a different Trigger Price (as defined in Section 1, Attachment Q-2).

For the last several years, BC Hydro solicited customer feedback to determine whether or not there was an interest to hold the annual meeting; there was a lack of interest in all years. However, in 2009 it was suggested that a meeting may not be necessary if BC Hydro prepared an annual Network Economy report showing trends and statistics along with explanations for the figures. Notwithstanding, it was requested that the requirement for an annual meeting remain in place. Subsequently, BC Hydro applied to the BCUC to not hold the Network Economy Annual Meeting in 2009 and to instead post an annual Network Economy report in lieu of holding the meeting, which was approved by the BCUC.

In 2010, BC Hydro requested permission from the BCUC to, again, not hold an annual Network Economy Meeting. Pursuant to BCUC Letter No. L-45-10, BC Hydro is only expected to convene an annual Network Economy Meeting if customers of BC Hydro expressly ask for a meeting by way of a letter to BC Hydro with a copy to the BCUC. BC Hydro is pleased to post its Annual Network Economy Report to Transmission Customers, which covers the same issues and in the same format as previous years. If, after reviewing the report, you believe an annual meeting is required, please send your letter to Brenda Ambrosi and copy the BCUC by June 7, 2021. 

On April 1, 2020 an updated Transfer Pricing Agreement (TPA) between BC Hydro and Powerex came into effect.  As a result of the new framework of the TPA, the concepts associated with Threshold Purchase Price, which is currently used as the trigger price for the economic test per Tariff Supplement No. 80, are no longer supported.  For the past year, BC Hydro has been using the last posted Threshold Purchase Price to execute the Network Economy Economic Test.  Over the next year, BC Hydro will be evaluating and exploring options for OATT Attachment Q-2, Tariff Supplement No. 80, and the Threshold Purchase Price concept.  Should BC Hydro decide to proceed with an application, a meeting announcement will be posted on the Bulletins webpage inviting participation.  Any early feedback is welcome and can be sent to Brenda Ambrosi.

Extended Windows for Memorial Day

Posted on May 18, 12:35 p.m.

BC Hydro is pleased to visually clarify the opening of extended windows [PDF, 57 KB] for purchasing transmission for Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2021.