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. 

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.

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

Interconnection Customers that have partnered or plan to partner 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.

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 or is using the name of a new subsidiary or affiliate, please see Becoming a Transmission Customer. 

A Transmission Services Account Executive 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.

Image of power lines in the snow

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:

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

Cost Information

To determine how much a customer must pay for their interconnection, BPA first identifies what is considered Network Facilities. The cost of facilities that are not Network Facilities is directly assigned to customers whereas the cost of Network Facilities is assigned to customers but is eligible for transmission credits. The following links provide more information:

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.