Interconnection

BPA Transmission Services provides services for interconnection to the Federal Columbia River Transmission System. BPA interconnection procedures adhere to the requirements of its Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) and applicable Transmission Business Practices. Interconnection Requests are managed by BPA's Customer Service Engineering department.

For general questions, reach out to the appropriate Procedural Administrator or Technical Contact. (link new PDF)

BPA creates the following reports of the status of the Interconnection Queue:

• Interconnection Request Queue
• Interconnection Queue Map
• FERC Order 845 Study Completed/Delayed Report

Types of Interconnection Requests

BPA separates Interconnection Requests into three categories. In this application, BPA considers energy storage devices such as batteries to be generators.

• Generator Interconnections that are > 20MW follow the Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP)
• Generator Interconnections that are ≤ 20MW follow the Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP)
• Requests to interconnect facilities other than generators will follow the Line and Load Interconnection Procedures (LLIP).
• Requests to interconnect facilities with Transmission Providers adjacent to BPA could require a study to determine if upgrades are required in BPA’s system to prevent reliability issues. Interconnection Requests should be submitted to the host Transmission Provider. The host Transmission Provider is required to inform BPA if there is a possibility of impact to BPA’s system after their study is complete. BPA will perform an Affected Utility System Study (AUSS) if necessary, after receiving the request from the host Balancing Authority.

Energy Resource Interconnection Service (ERIS)/ Network Resource Interconnection Service (NRIS)

Interconnection Customers that have partnered with one of BPA’s Network Integration Transmission Service Customers may be eligible to be studied for Network Resource Interconnection Service. If so, the NITS Customer partner’s name must be included in the Interconnection Request form. Any Interconnection Request that is not being studied for Network Resource Interconnection Service will be studied for Energy Resource Interconnection Service.

Interconnection vs Integration

BPA is not the only Transmission Owner in its Balancing Authority Area. Requests attempting to connect to facilities that BPA owns are Interconnection Requests. Requests attempting to connect to facilities that BPA does not own are Integration Requests. Integration Requests follow the same submittal processes as Interconnection Requests, but may have additional requirements to coordinate with the host Transmission Owner. More information about Integration requests can be found in the Generation Integration Services Business Practice

Becoming a BPA Interconnection Customer

The Interconnection Request should be submitted in the name of the entity that will become BPA's contractual counterparty ("Interconnection Customer" as defined in the LGIP and SGIP) during the study process.

If that entity has not previously done business with BPA in its own name, please see Establishing a new Interconnection Customer. This information applies equally to an existing BPA customer that submits an Interconnection Request in the name of a new subsidiary or affiliate.

A Transmission Services Account Executive (<-link to the AE contact us), in partnership with Customer Service Engineering, will guide you through the Interconnection process. To request that an Account Executive be assigned to you, please call 360-619-6016. A Customer Service Engineer will be assigned to your request after it is received.

To sign up for email notifications regarding interconnections, visit here: interconnection@bpa.gov

Other Required BPA Products

The interconnection process only includes studies for connecting facilities to BPA’s transmission network. To determine if there is capacity on BPA’s transmission network, a Transmission Service Request is required.

Ancillary and Control Area Services may be necessary with your interconnection request. After studies are complete, they will be included in the interconnection agreement. More information can be found on the Ancillary and Control Area Services webpage

Technical Interconnection Standards

BPA has made the following Technical Standards available to detail requirements and assist customers with their Interconnection Requests:

• STD-N-000001-00-09 – Technical Requirements for Interconnection to the BPA Transmission Grid

• STD-N-000001-01-01 – Required Voltage and Frequency Control Performance Commissioning Tests

• STD-N-000001-02-00 – Supporting Document-Milestones Required for Commercial Operations

• STD-N-000001-03-00 – Generation Commissioning Task Checklist Required for Commercial Operations

• STD-N-000001-04-00 – Generation Commissioning Process Flow for Commercial Operations

• STD-N-000010-00-02 – Reliability Criteria for System Planning

• STD-N-000011-00-01 – Equipment Ownership Requirements

• STD-DC-000005-00-06 – Metering Application Requirements

Transmission facilities seeking interconnection with the BPA Transmission Grid must meet BPA’s technical requirements

Related Links

Interconnection Customer's share of costs and timeframe for completing the Phase One Cluster Study of the Transition Cluster