Standing Offer Program

Program updates

March 20, 2019

BC Hydro submitted to BCUC the Application to Lift the Temporary Suspension of Generation Interconnection Procedure Timelines and Associated Studies for Standing Offer Program Participants [PDF, 803 KB] on March 19, 2019

February 14, 2019 (revised February 26, 2019)

As a result of government’s comprehensive review of BC Hydro, a number of measures to lower our costs to keep rates low are being implemented, including reducing the amount of future energy purchases from independent power producers.

Effective immediately, our Standing Offer and Micro Standing Offer Program are suspended indefinitely, and we will not accept new applications or award any new electricity purchase agreements, with the exception of the five First Nations clean energy projects announced on March 14, 2018. Any applications received to date will not be advanced and BC Hydro will no longer maintain the SOP queue.

The decision to indefinitely suspend the program does not impact existing executed electricity purchase agreements.

August 31, 2018

On August 28th, 2018 the BCUC approved [PDF, 157 KB] BC Hydro's application for the temporary suspension of transmission and distribution generator interconnection processes as they relate to SOP projects pending the outcome of the comprehensive review of BC Hydro.

As a result of this order, interconnection work for SOP projects will be suspended, and the affected projects will maintain their queue position until the comprehensive review of BC Hydro is completed.

August 14, 2018

On August 14th, 2018 we submitted an application to the BCUC [PDF, 472 KB] requesting the Commission approve an interim moratorium on relevant Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) provisions to allow for the temporary suspension of interconnection work related to Standing Offer Program projects while the program is under review.

We’ve listened to the feedback we’ve received from some SOP developers, and we are responding to their request to provide relief around the completion schedules and timelines related to interconnection studies that are currently required by the Standard Generator Interconnection Procedures under the OATT.

We are submitting an application the BC Utilities Commission to allow for the temporary suspension of work related to these projects while maintaining their queue position until the comprehensive review is completed.

March 14, 2018

BC Hydro is pursuing Electricity Purchase Agreements for five clean energy projects that are part of Impact Benefit Agreements with BC Hydro and/or are mature projects that have significant First Nations involvement.

BC Hydro supports the government’s decision to take a closer look at energy procurement to ensure the best value for BC Hydro’s customers through their review of BC Hydro this year. As a result, there are no plans at this time to issue any additional electricity purchase agreements.

The Standing Offer and Micro-Standing Offer Programs will remain on hold until the review is complete.