BPA Transmission Services provides services for interconnection to the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS) through its Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) and applicable Transmission Business Practices

For general questions, reach out to the appropriate Procedural Administrator or Technical Contact.

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.

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.

Cost Information

BPA requires funding from entities requesting interconnection to the FCRTS for the upgrades required to make the interconnection possible. Upgrades considered to be Network Upgrades are eligible for transmission credits. The following links provide more information:

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 OATT) during the study process.

Before submitting an Interconnection Request, an entity that has not previously done business with BPA in its own name including a subsidiary or affiliate of an existing customer, please see Becoming an Interconnection Customer

A Transmission Services Account Executive in partnership with Customer Service Engineering, will guide you through the Interconnection process. An Account Executive will be assigned to you, when the Interconnection Customer is established in BPA systems. A Customer Service Engineer will be assigned to your request after it is received.

 

To sign up for email notifications regarding customer and stakeholder processes, system updates, and other business-line and agency initiatives (including interconnections), visit here: Email Sign-up - Bonneville Power Administration.

Technical Interconnection Standards

BPA has made the following technical standards available to detail requirements and assist customers with their Interconnection Requests.   Customers seeking interconnection to the FCRTS must meet BPA's technical requirements.

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.