Interconnection

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.

• 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 Facilities that are > 20 MW are considered a Large Generator Interconnection (LGI)
• Generator Facilities that are > 0.2 MW and < 20 MW are considered a Small Generator Interconnection (SGI)
• Requests to interconnect facilities other than generators are considered Line or Load Interconnection (LLI)
• Requests to interconnect facilities to a Transmission Provider adjacent to BPA could require an Affected Utility System study (AUSS)

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:

• BPA Facility Ownership and Cost Assignment Guidelines
• GI Transmission Credits BP
• Non-GI Transmission Credits BP

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.