SOP and Micro-SOP: Available energy volume

There was no cap or quota on participation until the November 2013 Integrated Resource Plan, when an energy volume target of 150 GWh/year was introduced.

We designed an initial version of the system, and then sought input from interested parties through the 2014 SOP review process. The final product is a result of focus group meetings and discussions.

Ideally, developers should have had input from us – either in the form of information on our website, via one or more pre-application meetings, or directly from the program team – before deciding on a Target COD. The Target COD should accommodate the time it takes to review the application and proceed through the generator interconnection process (from studies to implementation of network upgrades). As per SOP Rule 2.9, and Micro-SOP Rule 2.10, the Target COD must be within three years after signing the Electricity Purchase Agreement.

We recommend that developers apply for an Interconnection SIS at or just after they submit an application to the SOP, and begin the SIS once their Target COD has been registered into the appropriate COD year early in the application review process.

• We'll review each application in the order received for completeness and will conduct an initial eligibility review to ensure the project meets the key eligibility requirements to register its Target COD. Key eligibility requirements are listed in section 2 of the Program Rules.
• Applications that haven't met the key eligibility requirements upon submission will be rejected. We won’t register or hold a project's Target COD under the target volume if its application is rejected or withdrawn for any reason.
• Once the application has been deemed to have met the key eligibility requirements, we'll check the Target COD to see if there's available energy in the requested year. If so, we’ll register the developer’s project into that year and let the developer know in writing. If not, we'll suggest the next available COD year for the developer.
• We'll update the available volume on our webpage so other developers have timely insight into the remaining volume.

We look at Section 2.1.g of the SOP Application Form – the total average monthly energy output proposed for a project or Section 2.1.g of the Micro-SOP Application Form.

As part of the application review, we'll also conduct a reasonableness test of the estimated energy volume and the calculations submitted with the application. Any energy volume that seems out of the range of technical feasibility will be subject to further inquiry

No. Registration of a Target COD after the initial eligibility review doesn't guarantee that a project application will be approved, or that the developer will be offered an EPA with BC Hydro.

A Target COD will only be registered once under the Target Volume Management System, meaning that a change in a Target COD after it has been registered will not affect the Target Volume. A registered Target COD can be deferred but cannot be brought forward. A reasonableness test will be done when developers request to defer Target COD to ensure there's a legitimate reason for deferral.

No. Due to a desire to keep costs low and protect our ratepayers' interests, we've decided not to carry forward unused volume.

No. Due to a desire to keep costs low and protect our ratepayers' interests, any volume that has been freed up by a withdrawn application won't be available for other developers. 

We may, at our discretion, elect to exceed the Target Volume in a given year. If we do make this decision, we'll ensure the following:

• The majority of a project's energy (60%) must be available in its Target COD year;
• A 15 GWh cap will be set on the amount of energy that is allowed to exceed the Target Volume of the project’s Target COD year; and
• The excess energy will be applied against the Target Volume of the year immediately following the project's Target COD year, provided enough energy volume is available.

No, there must be room in a given year for the project's annual energy volume.