Bulletin Index 2007

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 2007 are listed below. Select another year in the drop-down to view bulletins from the archive.

Title	Bulletin Date
Incremental Transmission Losses for Generation Connected Near Skeena	August 30, 10:32 a.m.
NE Economic Test Results for August 29-30 – UPDATE	August 28, 1:15 p.m.
NE Economic Test Results for August 29-30	August 28, 12:05 p.m.
Extended Windows for Labour Day	August 27, 4:02 p.m.
Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Grid - Future Reinforcements	August 24, 10:42 a.m.
Bulk Transmission System Cost of Incremental Firm Transmission For the NITS 2004 Facilities Study Supplemental CIFT Posting	August 24, 2:48 p.m.
Northwest Transmission Line Study	August 21, 1:59 p.m.
Northwest Transmission Project (NTL) Stage 1 (2009) - Construction Power	July 25, 2:02 p.m.
Open Season - Additional Qs & As	July 25, 2:24 p.m.
System Outage	July 24, 12:19 p.m.
2L294 Nelway-Lambert Planned Outage - Update	July 17, 5:41 p.m.
2L294 Nelway-Lambert Planned Outage Deferred	July 17, 4:40 p.m.
Open Season - Additional Qs & As	July 6, 2:52 p.m.
Dynamic Scheduling	July 5, 7:43 a.m.
Open Season - Additional Qs & As	July 4, 11:04 a.m.
Unplanned Outage	July 3, 6:35 p.m.
Unplanned Outage is Over	July 3, 7:21 p.m.
System Impedance Scans	June 29, 4:45 p.m.
Extended Windows for Independence Day	June 28, 11:43 a.m.
Interior to Lower Mainland Project - Costs	June 22, 2:26 p.m.
Open Season – Questions & Answers	June 19, 11:11 a.m.
MCW & Spin/Con Tariff – Customer Comments	June 18, 2:34 p.m.
Open Season	June 11, 3:37 p.m.
MCW & Spin/Con Tariff - Soliciting Customer Comments	June 7, 8:56 a.m.
OATI OASIS outage is over.	June 5, 6:27 p.m.
OASIS Outage on June 5	June 5, 2:01 p.m.
WECC WIT Validation Effective 08:00 PPT on May 30	May 29, 4:24 p.m.
Interior to Lower Mainland Reinforcement Project (ILM)	May 28, 1:54 p.m.
Network Economy Implementation - Continued	May 23, 8:58 a.m.
ETS outage is complete	May 23, 11:03 p.m.
Network Economy Implementation - Today	May 22, 9:05 a.m.
Extended Windows for Memorial Day	May 19, 9:10 a.m.
Network Economy Implementation – System Outages	May 16, 4:16 p.m.
Revelstoke Integration G5 Report	May 16, 11:38 a.m.
System Outage	May 10, 1:30 p.m.
Network Economy – Business Practice Testing & Implementation	May 8, 4:52 p.m.

Incremental Transmission Losses for Generation Connected Near Skeena

Posted on August 30 , 10:32 a.m.

The following information release entitled: Incremental losses for generation near Skeena has been posted to the BCTC website.

NE Economic Test Results for August 29-30 – UPDATE

Posted on August 28 , 1:15 p.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on August 28 at 12:05 pm, BCTC hereby presents the correct results for the Network Economy Economic Test Results for August 29 – 30 (XLS, 18KB). Again, we apologize for this inconvenience.

NE Economic Test Results for August 29-30

Posted on August 28 , 12:05 p.m.

BCTC has identified that there is an issue with the Network Economy (NE) Economic Test Results (ETR) for August 29 – 30. Therefore, please disregard the NE ETR that are currently posted on our website. We will post, via bulletin, the correct results imminently. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Extended Windows for Labour Day

Posted on August 27 , 4:02 p.m.

Market Operations is pleased to visually clarify the opening of the extended windows for purchasing transmission during Labour Day, September 3, 2007. Extended Windows for Labour Day (WORD 58.5 KB)

Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Grid - Future Reinforcements

Posted on August 24 , 10:42 a.m.

The following information release entitled: Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Grid - Future Reinforcements has been posted to the BCTC website.

Bulk Transmission System Cost of Incremental Firm Transmission For the NITS 2004 Facilities Study Supplemental CIFT Posting

Posted on August 24 , 2:48 p.m.

BCTC has posted a document entitled: Bulk Transmission System Cost of Incremental Firm Transmission For the NITS 2004 Facilities Study Supplemental CIFT Posting - 24 August 2007.

Northwest Transmission Line Study

Posted on August 21 , 1:59 p.m.

BCTC has posted a report entitled Potential Northwest Transmission Line Project Preliminary Facility Ratings and System Data.

Northwest Transmission Project (NTL) Stage 1 (2009) - Construction Power

Posted on July 25 , 2:02 p.m.

BCTC has posted a report entitled Northwest Transmission Project Stage I (2009) Construction Power Requirements Preliminary System Impact and Interconnection Facilities Study Report.

Open Season - Additional Qs & As

Posted on July 25 , 2:24 p.m.

Further to the bulletins posted on June 19 at 3:43 pm, July 4 at 11:04 am, and July 6 at 2:52 pm, BCTC has received one additional question from a customer regarding its Open Season. As such, BCTC has updated its initial document located in the June 19 bulletin to include this additional question and response, which is identified as number 10.

System Outage

Posted on July 24 , 12:19 p.m.

Please be advised that there will be a short scheduled outage to TSS, OASIS and eTag systems from 13:55 to 14:10 PPT today, Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Please revert to Section 13 entitled Backup Procedures for Scheduling System Outages during this time period for both pre-schedule and real-time operations. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you in advance for your cooperation regarding this matter.

2L294 Nelway-Lambert Planned Outage - Update

Posted on July 17 , 5:41 p.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on July 17, 2007 at 4:40PM, the deferral of the insulator replacements for 2L294 Nelway-Lambert is deferred, effective HE 21:00 PPT July 17, 2007 and not 19:00 PPT July 17, 2007. If the effective time changes a new bulletin will be posted.

2L294 Nelway-Lambert Planned Outage Deferred

Posted on July 17 , 4:40 p.m.

Please be advised the insulator replacements scheduled from July 17, 2007 8:00 to July 20, 2007 16:00, continuous, to 2L294 Nelway-Lambert is deferred, effective 19:00 PPT July 17, 2007. The deferral is to accommodate market demands. If the effective time changes a new bulletin will be posted today by 17:30 PPT.

Open Season - Additional Qs & As

Posted on July 6 , 2:52 p.m.

Further to the bulletins posted on June 19 at 3:43 pm and July 4 at 11:04 am, BCTC has received two additional questions from customers regarding its Open Season. As such, BCTC has updated its initial document located in the June 19 bulletin to include these additional questions and responses, which are identified as numbers 8a and 9.

Dynamic Scheduling

Posted on July 5 , 7:43 a.m.

BCTC is investigating the possibilities of enabling dynamic scheduling services to Balancing Authorities in Alberta and Montana. BCTC will advise customers when more information is available as to the timing or other aspects.

Open Season - Additional Qs & As

Posted on July 4 , 11:04 a.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on June 19 at 3:43 pm, BCTC has received two additional questions (PDF, 35KB) from customers regarding its Open Season. As such, BCTC has updated its initial document located in the June 19 bulletin to include these additional questions and responses, which are identified as numbers 7 and 8.

Unplanned Outage

Posted on July 3 , 6:35 p.m.

Please be advised that we are experiencing an unplanned outage to TSS effective immediately. Please revert to Section 13 entitled Backup Procedures for Scheduling System Outages during this time period for both pre-schedule and real-time operations. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you in advance for your cooperation regarding this matter.

Unplanned Outage is Over

Posted on July 3 , 7:21 p.m.

The unplanned outage is now over. Regular business practices can now resume. Thank you for your patience.

System Impedance Scans

Posted on June 29 , 4:45 p.m.

At the request of a third party, BCTC has provided the following information regarding the system impedance frequency scans in the North Coast area.

Extended Windows for Independence Day

Posted on June 28 , 11:43 a.m.

Market Operations is pleased to visually clarify the opening of the extended windows for purchasing transmission during Independence Day, July 4, 2007. Extended Windows for Independence Day (DOC, 60.5KB)

Interior to Lower Mainland Project - Costs

Posted on June 22 , 2:26 p.m.

On June 15, 2007, BCTC received some questions regarding the cost estimates for the Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Project. The responses to these questions can be viewed here (PDF, 28KB).

Open Season – Questions & Answers

Posted on June 19 , 11:11 a.m.

On June 5, 2007, BCTC posted an Open Season Business Practice (PDF, 38KB). Since then, BCTC has received several questions from customers regarding this Business Practice. BCTC compiled these questions (PDF, 35KB) and is pleased to post them with its responses for the benefit of all customers.

Please refer to the bulletin posted on June 11 at 3:37 pm for details regarding BCTC’s Open Season.

MCW & Spin/Con Tariff – Customer Comments

Posted on June 18 , 2:34 p.m.

In the bulletin dated June 7, 2007, at 8:56 am, BCTC solicited feedback from customers on its Mixed Class Wheelthrough (MCW) Tariff and its Spinning Reserve and Contingency Reserve Transmission Service Tariff. BCTC did not receive comments on either of these Tariffs.

However, BCTC wishes to provide clarification regarding a question received from one customer regarding the reservation procedure of the MCW transmission service. The MCW transmission service is a Short-Term Point-To-Point Transmission Service on the US to Alberta path consisting of the following two Transmission Services, combined into one transmission reservation on OASIS (Point of Receipt at BC.US Border and Point of Delivery at AB.BC), of equal amount and duration: (1) a firm service on the US to BC path; and (2) a non-firm service on the BC to Alberta path. BCTC will only accept MCW transmission requests submitted as set out in the bulletin dated April 19, 2007, at 5:12 pm and described in the draft tariff in the above mentioned bulletin.

BCTC will be submitting an application to the BCUC, for approval, shortly. This application will include all of BCTC’s changes to its Short-Term Transmission Services.

Open Season

Posted on June 11 , 3:37 p.m.

Pursuant to Section 15.8 of OATT, BCTC will hold an Open Season commencing July 3 and ending July 31, 2007 for the following paths:

BPAT-BCTC;

BCTC-AESO; and

BPAT-AESO.

For more information, please refer to Open Season in Section 18 of the Business Practices.

MCW & Spin/Con Tariff - Soliciting Customer Comments

Posted on June 7 , 8:56 a.m.

In 2006, BCTC posted two bulletins dated February 20, 2006 at 3:53 pm and March 6, 2006 at 11:06 am with regard to BCTC’s Mixed Class Wheelthrough (MCW) transmission service. The February 20 bulletin solicited customer comments regarding the termination of MCW transmission service. The March 6 bulletin stated that BCTC would continue providing the MCW transmission service based on customer comments received that supported the retention of the service. As a result, BCTC is pleased to provide a draft MCW Tariff for customer comment.

At this same time, BCTC is also pleased to provide a draft Spinning Reserve and Contingency Reserve Transmission Service Tariff for customer comment. Please provide your comments on both Tariffs to Brenda Ambrosi by Friday, June 15, 2007. Shortly thereafter, BCTC will submit both Tariffs to the BCUC for approval.

OATI OASIS outage is over.

Posted on June 5 , 6:27 p.m.

The OATI scheduled outage to webOASIS is now complete. Regular business practices can now resume. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

OASIS Outage on June 5

Posted on June 5 , 2:01 p.m.

Please be advised that OATI has scheduled an OASIS maintenance outage from 5:50 to 6:20 PPT today, Tuesday, June 5, 2007, to apply system level patches. During this time period back-up procedures will be in effect in accordance with Business Practice Section 13.2. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you, in advance, for your cooperation regarding this matter.

WECC WIT Validation Effective 08:00 PPT on May 30

Posted on May 29 , 4:24 p.m.

The full validation process of the WECC Western Interchange Tool (WIT) will be effective at 08:00 PPT on May 30, 2007. This means that any eTags that are created that do not pass validation will be rejected by the WIT. No eTag Approval Entities will receive or see the eTag; therefore, eTag authors will have to correct the tag and resubmit. If paths or adjacencies are not registered in the WECC registry, it will take a minimum of 24-36 hours to register this information in the WIT. Please ensure that your templates are correct for the WIT, and refer to the WECC letter and the bulletin posted on January 26, 2007 at 3:38 pm for additional information regarding the WIT. Contact Raj Hundal at 604-837-2500 or the pre-schedule office at 604-699-7575 or the real-time office at 604-473-5822 if you have any questions.

Interior to Lower Mainland Reinforcement Project (ILM)

Posted on May 28 , 1:54 p.m.

BCTC has identified its preferred alternative for increasing bulk transmission capacity between the BC Interior and the Lower Mainland and intends to seek approvals necessary to place the ILM project in-service by 2014.

An ILM Update can now be viewed.

Network Economy Implementation - Continued

Posted on May 23 , 8:58 a.m.

As a reminder please refer to the bulletin posted on May 16 at 4:16 pm, which outlines the 15 minute ETS system outage that is required today, May 23, from 22:50 to 23:05 PPT. During this time period Business Practice Section 13.3 (PDF, 13KB) applies.

In addition, refer to the bulletin posted on May 8 at 4:52 pm, which sets out the new curtailment procedures for the pre-schedule and real-time offices.

Again, we apologize for this inconvenience and thank you, in advance, for your patience and cooperation.

ETS outage is complete

Posted on May 23 , 11:03 p.m.

The scheduled ETS outage is now complete. All automatic systems are running and normal business practices can resume. Thank you for patience.

Network Economy Implementation - Today

Posted on May 22 , 9:05 a.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on May 19 at 9:10 am, BCTC will be posting Economic Test Results at 23:59 PPT for May 24 – 26 as a result of the Memorial Day long weekend, and postings of these results will continue at the same time thereafter.

As a reminder please refer to the bulletin posted on May 16 at 4:16 pm, which outlines a 15 minute system outage of OASIS, TSS, and ETS that is required today, May 22, from 18:50 to 19:05 PPT. During this time period all business transactions will cease in accordance with Business Practice 13.4 (PDF, 13KB).

Again, we apologize for this inconvenience and thank you, in advance, for your patience and cooperation.

Extended Windows for Memorial Day

Posted on May 19 , 9:10 a.m.

Market Operations is pleased to visually clarify the opening of the extended windows for purchasing transmission during Memorial Day, May 28, 2007.

Extended Windows for Memorial Day (DOC, 54KB)

Network Economy Implementation – System Outages

Posted on May 16 , 4:16 p.m.

Further to the bulletin posted on May 8, 2007 at 4:52 pm, BCTC hereby advises customers that there will be a 15 minute system outage of OASIS, TSS, and ETS on Tuesday, May 22 from 18:50 to 19:05 PPT. During this time period all business transactions will cease in accordance with Business Practice 13.4. Specifically, in real-time, ATC will not be posted to OASIS and all transmission requests received during this outage time will be REFUSED. The real-time office will rely on BCTC’s adjacent Balancing Authorities to establish the net schedule capacity amounts for the next operating hour in which all systems are down. Further, BCTC will not process e-Tags during this time period. However, adjustments/credits may be made after-the-fact.

In addition, there will be a 15 minute ETS outage on Wednesday, May 23 from 22:50 to 23:05 PPT in accordance with Business Practice 13.3. Specifically, during this time period, customers can telephone the real-time office at 604-473-2723 with their energy schedules; however, the telephone schedules must be backed up with a faxed eTag to the real-time fax at 604-473-2738 using the eTag Fax Request Form.

We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you, in advance, for your patience and cooperation.

Revelstoke Integration G5 Report

Posted on May 16 , 11:38 a.m.

BCTC has issued an ammendment to the Revelstoke 5 Integration report to include an additional question and answer in Appendix C.

Revision 4 of this report can now be viewed.

System Outage

Posted on May 10 , 1:30 p.m.

Please be advised that there will be a short scheduled outage to OASIS from 13:55 to 14:05 PPT today, Thursday, May 10, 2007. Please revert to Section 13 entitled Backup Procedures for Scheduling System Outages during this time period for both pre-schedule and real-time operations. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you in advance for your cooperation regarding this matter.

Network Economy – Business Practice Testing & Implementation

Posted on May 8 , 4:52 p.m.

On April 4, 2007, BCTC presented its new Network Economy Business Practices and reports pursuant to the Network Economy Settlement Agreement as set out in British Columbia Utilities Commission Order Number G-127-06. On May 3, in a follow-up session, BCTC showed how the Network Economy Business Practices would be implemented on OASIS.

From May 7 to May 18, inclusive, BCTC is allowing customers to submit transmission requests on the BCTC Test OASIS site (http://bctctest.oatioasis.com) and have them automatically processed. In addition, BCTC is permitting customers to submit E-tags on the DEMO ETS site (https://demo.oati.net/). Customers should use their current ID and Password for both the Test OASIS and DEMO ETS sites. In OASIS, customers must enter "TSSUAT1" in the customer comments field in order for the requests to be processed.

Implementation of the new Business Practices will be phased in over three days from May 22 – 24, inclusive, as set out below.

On May 22, the majority of internal system and database changes will be implemented. Network Economy Economic Test Results will be posted at 23:59 PPT for May 24 and postings of these results will continue at the same time thereafter.

On May 23, the pre-schedule office will process transmission requests for May 24 using Economic Test Results. Unused Network Economy transmission reservations will be curtailed by the pre-schedule office for May 24 at 17:00 PPT and curtailments will continue to be performed at the same time thereafter on a pre-schedule basis. The real-time office will perform its first curtailment of unused Network Economy at 23:40 PPT for HE01 on May 24.

On May 24, the real-time office will perform hourly curtailments of unused Network Economy transmission reservations at XX:40, as required. Remaining curtailments, as required, will continue to be performed at XX:40.

Contact Raj Hundal at 604-699-7475 if you have any questions.