Bulletin Index 2001

We periodically post bulletins here to inform customers of developments within BC Hydro Transmission and/or the industry and/or to solicit feedback on policy changes. These announcements can be time sensitive, so please subscribe for the updates.

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Our Transmission Scheduling bulletins for 2001 are listed below. Select another year in the drop-down to view bulletins from the archive.

Title	Bulletin Date
GOUP Customer Training Seminars	April 24, 1:44 p.m.
Interim Procedure for WKP>BPAT Wheelthrough	April 24, 10:34 a.m.
Q&A for Assessment of Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Network	April 2, 2:46 p.m.
And The Winner Is!	March 29, 9:17 a.m.
GOUP Customer Training Sessions	March 28, 3:14 p.m.
Help Us Serve You Better	March 7, 9:58 a.m.
Further Study for Long-term Firm Requests	March 5, 6:18 p.m.
NW Oasis Site Down for Specified Times on Wednesday, February 28	February 27, 1:56 p.m.
Grid Operations Upgrade Project - Client Update	February 26, 11:29 a.m.
Grid Operations Power Flow Case Study Data Files	February 8, 2:38 p.m.
Extension to System Impact Studies for OASIS No.'s 273602 and 311567	February 2, 11:26 a.m.
Transmission Customers to Submit Their Own OASIS Requests for Transmission Services	February 2, 11:22 a.m.
E-Tags and Loss	January 22, 9:58 a.m.
BCHA Realtime eTag Rules	January 12, 9:52 a.m.

GOUP Customer Training Seminars

Posted on April 24 , 1:44 p.m.

As you may be aware we are approaching the implementation date for the rollout of our scheduling system upgrade (GOUP). To assist you in preparing for what will be significant changes to the way we conduct our business, we have developed and are offering a Customer Training Seminar. The agenda for the seminar is attached for your information.

The degree of change and volume of information is considerable requiring a full day to present. To ensure that we are able to cover all of the material we ask you to please adhere to the timeline in the agenda. We will be making the full documentation of new Business Practices available early next week so please ensure that you have subscribed to the Bulletins section of our website. If you are able to review them in advance and have questions or comments we would appreciate you providing them to us in advance of the session.

We will be holding 2 full day sessions as follows:

Session 1:
Date: May 15, 2001
Time: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Prince Royal Suites Hotel
618 5th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta

Session 2:
Date: May 17, 2001
Time: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location: The Georgian Court Hotel
773 Beatty Street
Vancouver, B.C.

Interim Procedure for WKP>BPAT Wheelthrough

Posted on April 24 , 10:34 a.m.

In March, a Customer requested to purchase transmission on a single Wheelthrough path. Due to the way data is currently captured in Grid Operations’ software applications, the transmission has to be reserved in two pieces to meet internal control requirements. As a result of this and the impending Grid Operations Upgrade Project Rollout, BC Hydro was unable to implement this request as a single transmission transaction. Accordingly, the following process was implemented.

On OASIS:
The Customer will:
1. Book transmission from BCHA > BPAT at going rate. POR = BCHA.NETWORK, POD = BC.US.Border. Request to contain reference to being part of a Wheelthrough.
2. Book transmission from WKPSYS > BCHA at $0.0. POR = S.Slocan, POD = BCHA.NETWORK. Request to contain reference to first OASIS request.

eTags:
The Customer will:
1. Submit an eTag on the BCHA > BPAT path. SCA = BCHA, RCA = appropriate control area.
2. Submit a second eTag on the WKPSYS > BCHA path. SCA = BCHA, RCA = BCHA.

Losses:
If the Customer is self providing, it will:
1. Book a second transmission request from WKPSYS > BCHA at going rate.
2. Submit an eTag on the WKPSYS > BCHA path. SCA = BCHA, RCA = BCHA. Note: the Customer may move 1MW to the hour before or the hour after the actual calculated timing (calculated via the loss calculator).

For curtailments:
1. As the transmission requests are linked, when one side is cut, the other side is automatically cut.
2. Energy is not linked and must be cut separately.

Q&A for Assessment of Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Network

Posted on April 2 , 2:46 p.m.

On 07 March 2001, Mr. Fred Kardel of EPCOR requested further information regarding BC Hydro 05 March 2001 Assessment of Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Network. The following is Mr. Kardel's questions and our responses:

Q. Is the winter peak restriction for any new transfers or does it apply to all existing transfers also?
A. The restriction is for pending or future requests for long-term firm transmission services over the ILM transmission network.

Q. How, if at all, are non-firm transfers affected?
A. The 05 March 2001 Assessment only addresses long-term firm transfer capability of the ILM transmission network. Non-firm transfer capability is made available from time to time from the unused firm commitments or from additional transfer capability as permitted by the system at the time.

Q. What is the likelihood of redispatch and do "you" have a rough idea of the potential costs?
A. Redispatch for long-term firm transmission services is not available.

Q. What is the earliest date for which you would accept firm transfer requests?
A. As indicated in the Assessment, an additional 500 MW of transfer capability is available in 2006 based on Guichon Series Capacity station in service. This 500 MW of transfer capability has been awarded to OASIS Request #254221. Also, BC Hydro is undertaking a further study of transmission options, technical and operational issues. This study work is expected to be completed on or before March 2002. Should additional capacity be identified as a result of this study work, we will advise customers via OASIS.

And The Winner Is!

Posted on March 29 , 9:17 a.m.

Several weeks ago we sent out a request for customer information to "help us serve you better" (see March 7 Bulletin for details) and offered an incentive for early responders.

I'm pleased to announce that Brent Kuehl from Aquila Canada has won the prize! To claim your prize Brent please contact Brenda Ambrosi so she can make the arrangements for you. Brenda can be reached at (604) 293-5852. Congratulations Brent!

Thank you to all of you who responded to our request. For those who were unable to respond, we will be following up by phone to gather and confirm the required customer information. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

GOUP Customer Training Sessions

Posted on March 28 , 3:14 p.m.

We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel of our Grid Operations Upgrade Project and are very confident that the new scheduling system will rollout effective May 29, 2001. To help you prepare for changes in rules and procedures that will impact you, we are proposing to hold 2 full day training courses - one in Vancourver and one in Calgary. We are anticipating to hold both sessions arround May 6th and would like to know who is interested in attending in order to begin making preparations.

In addition we plan on circulating a comprehensive documentation of all the post GOUP business practices and procedures prior to the sessions hoping that you will review them thoroughly and provide us with areas of interest or confusion. This will give you additional time to understand the rules and give us a better chance at answering everyone's questions and issues.

Please send an email to Ann Morrison to indicate if you or others in your organization will be interested in attending a session focused scheduling process, rules and requirements.

Help Us Serve You Better

Posted on March 7 , 9:58 a.m.

As you know rapid growth is occurring in the Wholesale Transmission Services (WTS) market and many WTS-related policies are changing. Our focus at BC Hydro Commercial Operations is to ensure that our clients stay on top of the changes that affect their business. To do this, we are placing a greater emphasis on client communications and client services, such as improving application processing times and introducing a new billing and settlements system.

But before we are up and running, we will require some information from you. What's in it for you? All customers who provide us with the following completed information (click here) and send it back to us by 20 March 2001, will be entered in a draw to win a gift certificate for dinner (valued at Cdn $150). We will make the draw on 23 March 2001 and will anounce the winner in a bulletin on our web site.

Please send this information to Brenda Ambrosi or fax her at (604) 293-5813 by 20 March 2001.

Thank you, in advance, for your time and cooperation!

Further Study for Long-term Firm Requests

Posted on March 5 , 6:18 p.m.

2001 March 5 OASIS Bulletin:

In working with the time requirement specified in the tariff, BC Hydro uses existing methods and technologies to conduct planning and engineering studies for Long-Term Point-to-Point transmission requests. The ATC identified using these methods is currently limited compared to the large number of requests. However, further studies using advanced technologies in modeling and equipment may result in transmission capacity being identified beyond that identified to date, and it may be possible for timeframes for additional transmission capacity to be advanced. BC Hydro will be exploring these possibilities as part of further study of transmission options, technical and operational issues, alternative and/or additional system reinforcements and/or upgrade opportunities. Given the size and complexity of this undertaking, this study work is expected to be completed on or before March 2002.

As stated in study report dated 2001 March 5 (see Engineering reports and studies under the Transmission System menu), unless additional capacity is identified on the Interior Lower Mainland path on the BC Hydro transmission system, a number of existing requests in the queue for transmission service prior to 2009 would be refused on the basis of study results to date. Should additional capacity be identified as a result of the further study work being undertaken now, we will advise customers via OASIS.

NW Oasis Site Down for Specified Times on Wednesday, February 28

Posted on February 27 , 1:56 p.m.

BPA has notified us that the NW OASIS site will be down from 12:00 to 15:00 (PST) and again for a short period at 18:00 on Wednesday, February 28. The work is being done to upgrade the system's performance and increase uptime.

During the scheduled down time, BC Hydro (BCHA) will fax ATC postings to all customers indicating when the bidding window for that ATC will open. The time frame between faxing ATC and the bidding could be as short as 15 minutes so we encourage you to monitor you fax machines frequently if you're interested. We would also like to reiterate that it is each and every customer's responsibility to ensure that we have your most recent contact (fax) information. You may confirm that we have the correct information via fax: (604) 473-2722.

Of course during the OASIS outage, you will be required to follow official backup procedures and fax in your requests to our preschedule office at (604) 473-2722. Official fax forms can be obtained from our website at reqfax.pdf

Thank you for your patience on this matter.

Laura Letourneau

Grid Operations Upgrade Project - Client Update

Posted on February 26 , 11:29 a.m.

Grid Operations Upgrade Project - Client Update (DOC)

Grid Operations Power Flow Case Study Data Files

Posted on February 8 , 2:38 p.m.

BC Hydro Grid Operations has posted two "Power Flow Data" files on our website under "Studies". These files are developed from power flow basecases corresponding to the following system conditions;

i) 2001 Summer Peak Case - G01HS.RAW26
ii) 2001/2002 Winter Peak Case - G01HW.RAW26

Any user may view the data in these files. To conduct powerflow simulation studies using these files would require a copy of PSS/E version 26 (Power System Simulator for Engineering by Power Technology Inc.) program or other programs that can import and process data in that format.

For questions and comments on the files and basecases, you may call Gerry Garnett, Manager of Network Operation Services at (604) 473-2726.

Extension to System Impact Studies for OASIS No.'s 273602 and 311567

Posted on February 2 , 11:26 a.m.

While performing the System Impact Studies for OASIS No.'s 273602 and 311567, BC Hydro T&D Grid Operations and Inter-utility Affairs has discovered complex technical issues associated with system reliability that require more time to complete the study. As per Section 19.3 of the BC Hydro Tariff, BC Hydro T&D Grid Operations and Inter-utility Affairs has advised the Transmission Customer of the delay. The System Impact Studies for OASIS No.'s 273602 and 311567 are not expected to be complete until April 2001.

Transmission Customers to Submit Their Own OASIS Requests for Transmission Services

Posted on February 2 , 11:22 a.m.

Through the early stages of WTS, BC Hydro has endeavored to assist its WTS customers to establish an application process for Long-term Firm Point-To-Point Transmission Service. WTS has been in effect for a number of years and a process has been established. Therefore, effective 9 February 2001, Grid Operations and Inter-utility Affairs will cease to enter Long-term Firm Point-to-Point Transmission requests into OASIS on behalf of Transmission Customers. Transmission Customers or their agents must be registered and be enabled on the BC Hydro OASIS. The Transmission Customer should use OASIS to submit their requests for long-term firm transmission service. For information on the BC Hydro OASIS registration process, please call Susan Heming at (604) 473-2750.

E-Tags and Loss

Posted on January 22 , 9:58 a.m.

Please read the attached document which outlines BC Hydro's procedures around losses and eTags. BCHA_WTS_CUSTOMER.doc

BCHA Realtime eTag Rules

Posted on January 12 , 9:52 a.m.

WSCC will be implementing Realtime eTag effective 00:00 17 January 2001 CST. Please find the business practices that BC Hydro will adhere to, with respect real time etagging.

If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding our policies you contact either Laura Letourneau or Gordon Rawlings.

I have had some concern expressed regarding the wording of #7, which states, "If another entity denies an eTags or a late eTag (received after T-30) is not actively approved that eTag and its associated energy schedule will not be implemented, regardless of our approval status."

The intent in this statement was to say that if an approval entity does not agree to the underlying energy schedule it won't get scheduled. If for some reason the etag was incorrectly denied for example and we were notified appropriately we would schedule energy.

BC Hydro Grid Operations will adhere to the WSCC agreed business practices and RT eTag Implementation Plan.