Bulletin Index 2003

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 2003 are listed below. Select another year in the drop-down to view bulletins from the archive.

Title	Bulletin Date
Displacement Testing	August 15, 9:54 a.m.
Urgent Notice - BCTC Servers Restored	August 13, 10:20 a.m.
Urgent Notice - BCTC Server Problems	August 13, 9:10 a.m.
Link to OATI Functional	August 11, 3:48 p.m.
Link to OATI Not Working	August 11, 1:29 p.m.
Planned Outage	August 11, 8:33 a.m.
Planned Outage	August 11, 8:28 a.m.
Scheduling Path Map	August 7, 1:45 p.m.
Planned Outage	August 6, 8:17 a.m.
BCTC - August 1st	August 1, 2:37 p.m.
British Columbia Transmission Corporation	July 30, 2:16 p.m.
Planned Outage	July 28, 11:18 a.m.
General Wheeling Agreement Nominations	July 22, 1:59 p.m.
PRECONFIRMED Status Change	July 17, 3:13 p.m.
OASIS and AB.BC POR/POD Operational	July 17, 11:04 a.m.
AB.BC POD/POR - Planned Outage	July 17, 10:53 a.m.
Planned Outage – July 11 2003	July 11, 3:07 p.m.
Bulletin for PPOA.BC > AB.BC	July 10, 2:43 p.m.
Planned Outage – July 9, 2003	July 7, 2:42 p.m.
OASIS Requests Remaining Queued	July 4, 1:51 p.m.
Client Services Manager	July 4, 12:19 a.m.
OASIS	June 24, 3:20 p.m.
OASIS Outage	June 24, 12:55 a.m.
2L112 Back In Service	June 19, 1:40 p.m.
Interim Redirect Business Practice for Long-term CONFIRMED Contracts	June 4, 1:54 p.m.
2L112 - Switched Out-of-Service	June 3, 11:18 a.m.
System Impact Study for BC Hydro Generation Line of Business NITS-2001 - Update	May 30, 2:21 p.m.
New Functionality in Pre-schedule - OUTAGE	May 14, 8:04 a.m.
New Functionality in Preschedule	May 7, 7:59 a.m.
OASIS Back in Service	May 5, 1:19 p.m.
OASIS Outage	May 5, 11:49 a.m.

Displacement Testing

Posted on August 15 , 9:54 a.m.

BCTC will be doing some co-ordinated testing/training of displacements on our test systems later today. To enhance the scenarios we would like willing market participants to submit OASIS requests from their systems to our test server. If interested, please contact Brett Hallborg @ BCTC (604-293-5852).

Urgent Notice - BCTC Servers Restored

Posted on August 13 , 10:20 a.m.

BCTC servers related to the scheduling systems have been restored. Please resume normal scheduling procedures. Faxed transmission reservations and E-tags will not be accepted as of 10:20 Pacific.

Urgent Notice - BCTC Server Problems

Posted on August 13 , 9:10 a.m.

BCTC is currently experiencing problems with the servers associated with it's scheduling system. You must use follow official backup procedures for both OASIS reservations and E-Tags until further notice. Backup procedures include faxing all requests for both transmission and energy schedules.

Link to OATI Functional

Posted on August 11 , 3:48 p.m.

The link between BCTC and OATI is functional. eTags can be submitted as per usual business practices. Thank you for your patience.

Link to OATI Not Working

Posted on August 11 , 1:29 p.m.

The link between OATI and the BCTC scheduling system is currently not available. Please follow official backup procedures for eTags until further notice.

Planned Outage

Posted on August 11 , 8:33 a.m.

Please note outage time change.

BCTC is upgrading its link with OATI and an outage is required on August 11th, 2003 from 11:50 – 12:20 Pacific. As a result, official backup procedures for this outage will be in effect for Real-time and Pre-schedule during this time period.

Planned Outage

Posted on August 11 , 8:28 a.m.

Please note outage time change.

Scheduling Path Map

Posted on August 7 , 1:45 p.m.

We are pleased to announce the addition of the Scheduling Path Map web page to the BCTC web site. The Scheduling Path Map can be used as a guide to determine appropriate scheduling paths for wheeling energy. Simply place your cursor over the region where your generating source or POR is located and the available scheduling paths with associated POR/POD combinations will pop up. The information is located at the System Maps and Path Names section of the BCTC web site.

Planned Outage

Posted on August 6 , 8:17 a.m.

Grid Operations is upgrading its link with OATI and an outage is required on August 6, 2003 from 11:50 – 12:05 Pacific. As a result, official backup procedures for this outage will be in effect for Real-time and Pre-schedule during this time period.

BCTC - August 1st

Posted on August 1 , 2:37 p.m.

Effective 1 August, 2003, British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC), located in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, assumes the operating responsibilities of the British Columbia Hydro electric system, including all Control Area Operator functions for the BCHA control area. Most of the BCTC employees are transferred from the Transmission Line of Business in B.C. Hydro, including staff in the control centres, asset management and planning functions. Please refer to the enclosed Internet link for more details about BCTC.

http://www.bctc.com/

British Columbia Transmission Corporation

Posted on July 30 , 2:16 p.m.

The British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) begins operation August 1, 2003.

We are pleased to make this announcement and look forward to working with you in this new capacity. You can expect the same high level of service from BCTC and we plan to explore further the ways we can facilitate increased transmission business.

The transition from BC Hydro Grid Operations/Transmission Line of Business to the BCTC will be smooth. There will be no change to the business processes customers currently employ to query transmission availability, reserve transmission, or schedule energy.

You will notice changes related to the appearance of our OASIS front page, web site and other documentation due to the company name change and new logo. In particular, the BCTC Website will replace the Grid Operations web site. The address of the BCTC Website available on August 1, 2003 is www.bctc.com. Information related to the WTS Tariff, scheduling business practices, actual flow data, etc. will be located on the BCTC Website. Please change your links on August 1, 2003.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call any of the following:

Laura Letourneau 604 473-2707

Mark Prosperi-Porta 604 293-5898

Brett Hallborg 604 293-5852

Thank You.

Further Background

BCTC was established in legislation on May 29, 2003. As of August 1 2003, it is responsible for maintaining, operating, and planning for the growth of British Columbia's electric transmission system, and supply competitive services for generation dispatch and distribution operations.

BCTC is an independent government-owned B.C. Company Act company with its own 10 member Board of Directors, which was appointed on June 12, 2003. BC Hydro will continue to own the BC Hydro transmission assets.

For more information on BCTC structure or regulation, the contact is Arlene Shwetz at 604-623-4422 until August 27. New contact information will be provided at that time.

Planned Outage

Posted on July 28 , 11:18 a.m.

Grid Operations is upgrading its link with OATI and an outage is required on July 29, 2003 from 11:45 – 12:15 Pacific. As a result, official backup procedures for this outage will be in effect for Real-time and Pre-schedule during this time period.

General Wheeling Agreement Nominations

Posted on July 22 , 1:59 p.m.

Pursuant to the General Wheeling Agreement, BC Hydro accepted Aquila Network Canada (BC) Ltd (Aquila) nomination for operating year 2007/08. Aquila’s nomination was 160 MW at the new Okanagan Point of Interconnection, 33 MW at Creston Point of Interconnection and 0 MW at Princeton Point of Interconnection.

PRECONFIRMED Status Change

Posted on July 17 , 3:13 p.m.

Until we identify the problem between our automated scheduling system and OASIS, please refrain from checking off the PRECONFIRMED checkbox when confirming an ACCEPTED request. At present time, checking off the PRECONFIRMED checkbox when confirming an ACCEPTED request may result in your transmission request not coming into our system, while maintaining a CONFIRMED appearance on OASIS.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

OASIS and AB.BC POR/POD Operational

Posted on July 17 , 11:04 a.m.

Further to the bulletin posted July 17, 2003@10:53, we are pleased to announce that OASIS is operational effective immediately.

The AB.BC POR/POD is now in effect. Customers must now use AB.BC POR/POD for transmission reservations and eTags to and from Alberta. If customers use PPOA.BC POR/POD on eTags after the outage, the eTags will be denied and customers must resubmit the eTags with the AB.BC POR/POD.

Thank you for your patience regarding this matter.

AB.BC POD/POR - Planned Outage

Posted on July 17 , 10:53 a.m.

There will be an outage affecting OASIS and eTags today beginning at 11:00:00 PDT for approximately 15 minutes hour to change the PPOA.BC POR/POD to AB.BC as per the bulletin posted July 10, 2003 14:43.

Customers must log off NWOASIS at 11:00:00 PDT otherwise the POR/POD update will not be seen on their session. Prior to the outage, customers must continue to use PPOA.BC POR/POD for transmission reservations and eTags to and from Alberta. After the outage, customers must use AB.BC POR/POD for transmission reservations and eTags to and from Alberta. If customers use PPOA.BC POR/POD on eTags after the outage, the eTags will be denied and customers must resubmit the eTags with the AB.BC POR/POD.

The scheduled outage will affect both Pre-schedule and Real-time operations. Customers needing to pre-schedule during this outage must follow the Backup Procedures for an OASIS Outage and eTag System Outage. Customers must not submit transmission requests through OASIS during the outage. Any transmission requests that are submitted on OASIS during the outage will be INVALID.

With respect to Real-time operations, customers must follow the official Backup Procedures for an OASIS Outage and eTag System Outage. In addition, please note that BC Hydro will be the default supplier for all Ancillary Services reservations including losses, and that, if required, BC Hydro will perform curtailments. Customers will be notified via bulletin when eTag and NWOASIS resumes normal operation or if further outage time is required. Thank you for your patience regarding this matter.

Planned Outage – July 11 2003

Posted on July 11 , 3:07 p.m.

Grid Operations is upgrading its link with OATI and an outage is required on July 11, 2003 from 11:45 – 12:15 Pacific. As a result, official backup procedures for this outage will be in effect for Real-time and Pre-schedule during this time period.

Bulletin for PPOA.BC > AB.BC

Posted on July 10 , 2:43 p.m.

The POD/POR border point between BCHA and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) will be changed from PPOA.BC to AB.BC.

Full information: Changing PPoA.BC POR/POD to AB.BC

Planned Outage – July 9, 2003

Posted on July 7 , 2:42 p.m.

Grid Operations is upgrading its link with OATI and an outage is required on July 9, 2003 from 18:45 – 19:15 Pacific. As a result, official backup procedures for this outage will be in effect for Real-time during this time period.

OASIS Requests Remaining Queued

Posted on July 4 , 1:51 p.m.

Grid Ops has been experiencing problems lately with OASIS requests remaining QUEUED. A procedure has been implemented to deal with this issue until a permanent fix can be installed on July 9 2003. We are asking customers with requests that remain QUEUED for more than 1 minute to call the appropriate scheduling department to implement the procedure.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause our customers.

Client Services Manager

Posted on July 4 , 12:19 a.m.

We are extremely pleased to announce that Brett Hallborg - System Power Dispatcher at SCC - has accepted a position as Client Services Manager with Market Operations.

Brett has played an instrumental role over the past few years in real time scheduling, scheduling training, supporting the maintenance and enhancements of our scheduling systems and customer scheduling support and training. Brett will bring valuable operations knowledge and experience to Market Operations thus strengthening our overall ability to support and serve our transmission customers.

Brett has started his position as of July 2nd and can be reached @ (604)293-5852 or brett.hallborg@bchydro.com

OASIS

Posted on June 24 , 3:20 p.m.

OASIS
Posted on @OASIS returned to service backup proceedures no longer in effect.

OASIS Outage

Posted on June 24 , 12:55 a.m.

OASIS Outage will be going to back up proceedures untill further notice.

2L112 Back In Service

Posted on June 19 , 1:40 p.m.

2L112 (NLY-BDY) has been switched back into service as of 00:28 June 17, 2003 (please refer to bulletin posted June 3, 2003 @ 11:18 for background). Although there is still a possibility that 2L112 may again need to be switched out, operating conditions are improving and it is expected that 2L112 will remain in service.

Interim Redirect Business Practice for Long-term CONFIRMED Contracts

Posted on June 4 , 1:54 p.m.

Grid Operations is currently unable to process redirects of long-term firm transmission contracts to Secondary transmission to paths that are not discounted. Any path containing a POD within BCHA is a non-discounted path.

A technical resolution to this issue is expected in the near future. Until the fix is implemented, the following business practice is in effect to Redirect original long-term CONFIRMED transmission contracts to non-discounted paths:

Redirect by submitting a Non-Firm transmission request with the comments "Redirect of OASIS No. XXXXXX".
The amount of the Non-Firm transmission request is the amount to be redirected. Customers will not pay for this Non-Firm transmission.
Customers cannot schedule energy above the remaining available energy capacity on the original contract after the redirect of the original contract.

For example, if 75 MW of a 100 MW original request is redirected, the customer can schedule 75 MW on the Non-Firm transmission (as per above steps) and 25 MW on the original request. However, if a customer schedules 75 MW on the Non-Firm transmission (as per the above steps) and 50 MW on the original contract (25 MW above the remaining available energy capacity), the customer will pay transmission charges on the Non-Firm transmission.

Customers wishing to redirect back to their original firm transmission service must phone Grid Operations Pre-schedule or Real-time within the applicable Transmission Scheduling Time (Refer to Section 4.3) to zero out the Non-Firm transmission. The customer can then schedule energy on the full amount of the original contract. In this case, customers will not pay for the Non-Firm transmission.

Customers must follow the Scheduling Business Practices Section 6.1 when redirecting Long-term firm to Secondary service wherein the paths that are discounted.

Please contact Mark Prosperi-Porta for more information.

2L112 - Switched Out-of-Service

Posted on June 3 , 11:18 a.m.

2L112 (NLY-BDY) is currently switched out-of-service to comply with 5L91+5L98 flow limit and NLY Phase Shifter operating limit. With 2L112 out-of-service, the US-to-BC import limit is expected to be 1600 to 1800 MW or more restrictive with the Rotational Energy Import Limit. If there are lightning activities in the Trail area or in the BDY-Bell transmission corridor area, 2L112 will be switched back to service to maintain reliability in the ANC Trail system. This will further reduce the US-to-BC import limit to the 600 to 1000 MW range. These operational conditions are expected to continue for the next few weeks during the freshet period.

System Impact Study for BC Hydro Generation Line of Business NITS-2001 - Update

Posted on May 30 , 2:21 p.m.

The System Impact Study for BC Hydro Generation Line-of-Business NITS 2001 identified the requirement for a new 230 kV transmission line from Selkirk Substation (SEL) to Cranbrook Substation (CBK).

This new 230 kV line from SEL to CBK will not be required due to revisions to the Scheduling Business Practices Section 2 (see TTC/ATC bulletin posted on 3 March 2003 and 21 March 2003).

For more information, please contact Stephen Tran at 604 293-5861.

New Functionality in Pre-schedule - OUTAGE

Posted on May 14 , 8:04 a.m.

Further to the bulletin posted 7 May 2003 @ 7:59, this is a reminder that the new functionality in Pre-schedule will be implemented today, 14 May from 13:00 to 13:15 PDT. As a result, official backup procedures for this outage of our Scheduling Application will be in effect for both Real-time and Pre-schedule during this time period.

Again, this new functionality allows customers with transmission requests who submit a valid match during the displacement process to retain their energy schedules. This is accomplished by our Scheduling Application automatically transferring the customer’s existing energy schedules to the new matching OASIS reference number. Therefore, customers will no longer have to resubmit existing eTags in order to reference the new matching transmission reservation number.

New Functionality in Preschedule

Posted on May 7 , 7:59 a.m.

We are pleased to introduce new functionality to our Scheduling Application, which will be implemented at 13:00 PDT on 14 May 2003. This new functionality allows customers with transmission requests who submit a valid match during the displacement process to retain their energy schedules. This is accomplished by our Scheduling Application automatically transferring the customer’s existing energy schedules to the new matching OASIS reference number. This will enable customers to save time since they will no longer have to resubmit existing eTags in order to reference the new matching transmission reservation number.

This new functionality will not impact the eTag system and how customers submit and modify their eTags. In OATI, customers will not see their existing eTags change to the new OASIS reference number as a result of a successful match. Instead, our Scheduling Application will automatically find their reserved match. Notwithstanding this, customers who submit new eTags after the match is CONFIRMED must reference that new OASIS reference number NOT the displaced OASIS reference number.

OASIS Back in Service

Posted on May 5 , 1:19 p.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on May 5, 2003 @ 11:49, we are pleased to announce that OASIS is operational effective immediately. Thank you for your patience regarding this matter.

OASIS Outage

Posted on May 5 , 11:49 a.m.

OASIS is not functioning in both Pre-Schedule and Real Time. Backup procedures are in place until further notice. We will post another notice once OASIS is back on-line. Thank you for your patience.