Questions and answers for 2024 Call for Power
Questions on the Request for Proposals ("RFP"), the RFP process and related documents issued during the call process, and BC Hydro's responses, are posted on this page. They are numbered chronologically based on the date of posting. Most recent Q&As are posted first.
BC Hydro's answers to proponent's questions are for general information only. They do not constitute legal or other advice and did not amend or form part of the RFP, unless confirmed by Addendum or revised RFP documents.
Should there be any differences between the responses in these Q&As and the Request for Proposals (RFP) or the Specimen Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) issued by BC Hydro when the Call for Power is launched, or subsequently updated, the RFP and the Specimen EPA shall prevail.
Questions will be added regularly.
July 25, 2024
64. What type of evidence of site access is required for the use of municipal/local government lands (e.g. regional district road ROW)?
BC Hydro expects Proponents to provide demonstration of, or a plan to obtain, site access on municipal lands as may be required by legislative requirements that are established by municipal/local governments.
63. Is "a plan to obtain access/control" for properties in the Project site (including transmission facilities) that occur on private lands sufficient in order to satisfy the BC Hydro RFP requirements, in the case that ownership rights, lease agreements or options to lease have not been obtained.
Confirmed.
62. Does the Project company need to be created at the time of Proposal Submission? If so, does the Project company need to be the entity that submits the Proposal?
No, the Project company will not need to be created at the time of Proposal submission. However, the participants of the project company should be identified and provide their percentage ownership and financial information to BC Hydro for the evaluation.
If the Project company has been created, then it would submit the Proposal. If the Project company has not been created, one of the participants of the Project company should submit the Proposal on behalf of all participants of the Project company.
61. In situations where Bid Prices are very similar/identical, how will BC Hydro evaluate qualitatively to choose between Proponents?
BC Hydro will be following the Proposal evaluation process described under section 11.0 of the RFP in its evaluation of Proposals.
60. Will BC Hydro accept a support letter in place of a commitment letter for Form 6 from a designated Project debt provider?
We encourage debt providers to use the template letter to indicate their firm commitment to the Project, which they can modify to reflect a different level of commitment or support, and we will assess accordingly.
59. How will Network Upgrade costs be derived in the case that a proposed Plant Capacity is revised from what was originally provided in the CEAP IR?
Refer to Q&A #6 for permissible changes between CEAP IR and Proposal submissions, and section 2.2 in the RFP (inclusive of updates in applicable Addenda) for Project Eligibility Requirements.
Provided that the change does not result in a material inconsistency with the Network Upgrade cost estimate, it will be used in the evaluation.
58. Schedule 2 requires the provision of a GST Registration Number. Is there an option to provide this information after the RFP Closing Date?
Proponents are asked to provide a GST number if available at the time that Proposal is submitted. Otherwise, the GST number can be provided at a later time once a GST number is available.
57. Please confirm that the Line Losses that occur after the Point of Interconnection do not impact the Energy Price defined in the EPA.
Confirmed. The Energy Price applies to the amount of Energy delivered at the POI as recorded by the Meter which adjusts for losses of Energy, if any, associated with the transmission of Energy and other electricity on the Seller's Side of the POI.
The Seller is responsible for all Line Losses and all costs and liabilities relating to the transmission of Energy and other electricity, if applicable, on the Seller's Side of the POI.
Transmission Line Losses on BC Hydro's side of the POI will be considered in the Evaluation to assist in calculating the Evaluation Price per section 11.2 of the RFP.
56. Can the Bid Security be in the form of a Letter of Credit from an Insurance Company?
Letters of credit are the only form of security contemplated for in the Call. Since letters of credit are issued by banks, it is unlikely that an insurance company will be able to issue a letter of credit. Issuers of the letter of credit must meet the credit requirement outlined in section (a) of Form 1 and must be in the form provided in Form 1.
55. Form 4 – General Instructions, asks Proponents to: "(b) Attach signed letter(s) as an Exhibit to Schedule 4 – First Nations Consultation and Economic Participation."
Can BC Hydro please confirm if by "signed letter(s)" you mean the attestation on page 2 of Form 4? Or do you require a separate signed letter to be provided with the attestation as an exhibit?
To satisfy BC Hydro's request for evidence of First Nations equity ownership in a Project, Proponents need only submit a completed Form 4. Note that to submit a completed Form 4, Proponents must provide all information requested on pages 2 and 3, and that if more than one First Nation is receiving equity ownership in a Project then a separate Form 4 must be submitted for each First Nation.
54. Is Excess Energy based on the Hourly Limit at the POI?
Excess Energy is any amount of Delivered Energy in excess of the Hourly Limit. If the Hourly Limit is 200 MWh per hour at the POI, any Delivered Energy in excess of 200 MWh in any hour would be Excess Energy.
BC Hydro is not obligated to accept any Excess Energy and no amount will be payable for Excess Energy. Since the Hourly Limit is set based on the lesser of the Plant Capacity and the Maximum Power Injection Limit, the Hourly Limit can be no more than 200 MWh per hour.
If Plant Capacity is greater than 200 MW, note that the Project will not be in compliance with Project Size Eligibility Requirement for the RFP.
53. Can a Proponent decrease the Plant Capacity below what was specified in their CEAP IR? If so, what is the range of a decrease as this deviation may result in impacts to the Network Upgrade costs?
Whether or not any change to the Proponent's Plant Capacity results in a change to the Network Upgrade cost can be confirmed only through an interconnection study (i.e. System Impact Study).
Each regional system is different and BC Hydro cannot provide a general range/scale to indicate the magnitude of change that could result in a change to Network Upgrades. In general, the reduction of MW has less impact to the Network Upgrade cost.
52. Please confirm if after the execution of the EPA Projects will fall under OATT M-1 instead of OATT M-2?
The OATT Attachment M-2 CEAP (Competitive Electricity Acquisition Process) governs the process until the successful Proponents execute a Combined Study Agreement. Once the successful Proponents execute a Combined Study Agreement and provide required deposits within the specified timelines under OATT Attachment M-1 Standard Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP), the rest of the interconnection process will follow the terms of OATT Attachment M-1 SGIP.
51. Is it BC Hydro's expectation that letters of intent or final agreements be in place related to Site Service Agreements (Schedule 3 – Section A 5.2 Site Service Agreements) by the time of Proposal submission?
No, Proponents are not required to have letters of intent or final agreements related to site services at the time of Proposal submission. However, Proponents are asked to provide such documentation if available at the time of Proposal submission.
50. Schedule 3 – Section A 3.5 Environmental Impacts asks for a description of the Project environmental mitigation plan. Can BC Hydro provide further clarity regarding the expectation on this requirement?
Recognizing the early stage of Projects when Proposals are submitted, BC Hydro will be looking for the Proponent to provide the current status of any steps taken to develop and implement its environmental mitigation plan and the process that it expects to follow to fill any outstanding gaps in that plan as the Project develops.
49. Is there any flexibility to amend the location of the Point of Interconnection in order to optimize interconnection costs?
The Interconnection Feasibility Study considers only the POI that was proposed in each Proponent's valid CEAP IR. No changes to the POI can be made prior to the completion of the Interconnection Feasibility Study and the delivery of the report.
Shortly after the completion of the Interconnection Feasibility Studies, Proposals under the RFP will be submitted and one of the conditions of the RFP is that the submission reflects the CEAP IR. Therefore, any changes to the POI before such submission would not align with that RFP requirement.
If you are a successful Proponent, the terms and conditions of any changes to the POI will be governed by the Electricity Purchase Agreement.
48. The RFP states that the Fairness Monitor is available to Proponents should fairness concerns arise during the RFP Process. How does a Proponent go about contacting the Fairness Monitor in the event of a fairness concern?
As specified in Section 11.7 of the RFP, BC Hydro has appointed John Singleton, K.C., of Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP (the "Fairness Monitor") to act as an independent observer of the fairness of the administration of this RFP. Proponents with a fairness issue may contact Mr. Singleton at:
John R. Singleton, K.C. | Chair
925 W. Georgia St., Suite 1200, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L2
D 604 673 7422 | M 604 377 7557 | F 604 682 1283
Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP | singleton.com
Vancouver | Toronto
July 4, 2024
47. Please confirm if the instructions for Schedule 8 – EPA Side Letter need to be attached when a selected Preferred Proponent provides the EPA Side Letter.
Preferred Proponents are asked to submit a signed copy of the EPA Side letter that is provided as a template in Schedule 8 with an executed EPA. Proponents do not need to attach the general instructions shown in Schedule 8.
46. Will BC Hydro accept changes proposed by financial institutions to Form 1 – Form of Letter of Credit?
BC Hydro will consider proposed changes by financial institutions to Form 1 – Form of Letter of Credit, but BC Hydro has discretion to accept or reject those proposed changes.
45. Can BC Hydro please clarify what information Proponents are required to provide as evidence of Community Consultation under section 6.8 of Schedule 3 to the RFP?
BC Hydro is seeking to understand what efforts the Proponent has taken to consult with the local community where the Project will be located. The second paragraph of section 6.8 details the information that is requested as evidence of community consultation.
44. Please confirm that Proponents are not required to attach the Interconnection Feasibility Study Agreement as an exhibit.
Confirmed.
43. Section 1.2 of Schedule 3 references project generation technology and the provision of other such instances wherein this technology has been used. Does this requirement pertain to the type of technology (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal etc.) or more specifically to the specific make or model of the equipment?
The proven technology requirement refers to the generation technology type (e.g. wind, solar, biomass, hydro, etc.), and not the specific make or model of a given technology.
42. How should degradation affecting solar panels be reflected in section 2 of Schedule 3?
Proponents should provide their year-one generation estimates for solar Projects.
41. Please clarify the ownership structures, arrangements, or otherwise that would require the Indigenous Partner to provide financial statements.
BC Hydro is seeking financial statements for all entities that will make up the Proponent, regardless of commercial arrangement, and whether or not the entity is a First Nation.
40. How will you quantify the credit/adder for transmission line losses? Are you considering future loads nearby? Will BC Hydro share information to enable developers estimating transmission line losses prior to September 2024?
BC Hydro will conduct project-specific loss studies that will determine the losses for a given project in consideration of the interaction of that project with the system as a whole based on its current configuration.
Yes, where the future loads are identified in the BC Hydro Load Forecast, they are included in the study assumptions for the 2024 Call for Power. Note that where queued future transmission voltage customers have not yet completed a System Impact Study, those loads typically are not yet in the forecast.
The loss study results will be provided to Proponents as outlined in the RFP schedule.
39. How can a Proponent change the Primary Contact for RFP registration purposes?
Please have the Primary Contact send an email to the RFP Administrator advising of the new Primary Contact.
38. Which site services should be included in response to Section 5.1 and 5.2 of Schedule 3 to the RFP?
Generally, site services pertain to those services that are required for the construction and operation of the Project in accordance with the terms of the Specimen EPA. Some examples may include, but are not limited to, access roads, water, sanitary/sewer systems, and camp facilities, amongst others.
37. Section 3.3 of Schedule 3 references Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) approval for projects that include reserve land. In the event the Project does not include reserve land, please confirm if Section 3.3 of Schedule 3 applies.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada approval is required if the project is located on reserve land. Section 3.3 of Schedule 3 does not apply if the Project is not located on reserve land.
36. Can the Seller engage an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to enter into a services agreement for certain aspects of the operation and maintenance of the project to meet the requirements of Section 6.1 of the EPA?
Yes, the Seller may engage a service provider to maintain and operate the project, however, the Seller shall remain responsible for the operations of the Seller's Plant at all times during the Term.
35. How do I obtain info/presentations from the Province of B.C. and/or the Canada Infrastructure Bank?
BC Hydro facilitated participation by the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and the provincial permitting agencies to provide information on their respective areas of expertise.
For further information about the loan products the CIB is offering to support the Call for Power, please email: CFP-BCH-2024@cib-bic.ca.
For information on the B.C. permitting processes, please contact:
- Callforpower.EAO@gov.bc.ca – for the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office
- Dillon.Stuart@gov.bc.ca – for the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
34. Does the band need to hold the equity in the Project or can individuals within the band own the equity ownership?
First Nations Equity Ownership must be held, directly or indirectly, by one or more Proposal First Nations, and not individual band members. Please refer to the Request for Proposals and seek professional legal guidance as necessary to help with preparing your Proposal.
33. Will BC Hydro consider the utilization of the transmission lines by existing generators at different times of year when considering the amount of transmission that is available for resources that bid into this Call?
When conducting transmission generator interconnection Feasibility Studies in consideration of new generators, BC Hydro does not base its assessment of available transmission on hourly or seasonal generation patterns of existing generators. This is to avoid potentially oversubscribing our transmission resources should there be greater supply when compared to historical and expected generation of existing and new resources respectively.
32. How should Proponents plan to respond to the Schedules and Forms that are part of the RFP? Should all schedules be compiled into a single document, or multiple documents? Are there any size restrictions?
Each Schedule or Form should be completed on an individual basis. As applicable, instructions are provided in the Schedules to provide guidance on how to organize the submission. BC Hydro will be posting these details later this summer and will be hosting a session in August to provide Proponents with an understanding of the Proposal submission requirements.
June 5, 2024
31. Do I need to consult with all First Nations in whose territory my Project is located or just the one(s) with whom we are planning to partner?
You need to consult with all the First Nations in whose territory your Project is located. As BC Hydro has noted in Schedule 4 – First Nations Consultation and Economic Participation, "Proponents are expected to consult with all First Nations potentially impacted by the Project."
In addition, Proponents are expected to "provide a description of the engagement and consultation activities with First Nations that have been undertaken as part of its Proposal development."
If BC Hydro has concerns about the consultation information you provide, BC Hydro may seek additional clarifying information from you and/or First Nations.
For provincial requirements, please contact FrontCounter BC.
30. Is the Bid Security refundable?
Yes, please refer to Section 7.3 (Return of Bid Security) of the Request for Proposals for details.
29. Can a Proponent request an extension to a deadline under the Request for Proposals Schedule?
No, the deadlines are as specified in the RFP Schedule and apply to all Proponents.
28. Where can we find BC Hydro's Contractor Standards for Ethical Conduct?
BC Hydro's Contractor Standards for Ethical Conduct document can be found on BC Hydro's website contractor standards for ethical conduct [PDF, 59 KB].
27. The RFP notes that details of a Cybersecurity Risk Management Questionnaire will be evaluated but are not included in a schedule or form. It looks to be capitalized as a defined term but not a definition. Can you please provide additional details and a draft form or further information?
Section 11.4 (b)(v) states that BC Hydro may request a Proponent to complete the Cybersecurity Risk Management Questionnaire if it's deemed necessary in which case a copy of the Questionnaire will be provided. At this point in time BC Hydro is not anticipating that the Questionnaire will be required.
26. In reference to Schedule 3, Section 2.3, Additional Energy Resource Information (for wind), bullet a), please clarify the requirement to provide a "Project site model." Please specify what should be included in this model.
BC Hydro is looking to understand the basis for the energy estimate that is provided in the Proposal, including desktop modelling if provided by the Proponent. It is up to the Proponent to determine the modelling approach and it is advisable that Proponents seek guidance from technical and legal professionals as necessary to help with preparing your Proposal.
25. Please confirm the delivery method for the proposals, including energy resource data that is requested in Section 2.3 of Schedule 3 to the Request for Proposals? What happens if the file is too large to send via email?
BC Hydro will be accepting Proposal submissions via email as detailed in Section 8 of the Request for Proposals. If the energy resource data is too large to send via email, an alternative means of submitting the data will be provided. Details of this alternative submission process will be provided in a session that will be scheduled in August 2024.
24. Can BC Hydro clarify the site control requirements and expectations for a "plan to obtain site control"?
Site control requirements are outlined in Schedule 3 – Project Information Requirements and Form 2 – List of Anticipated Permits. We note that Addendum 2 provides further clarification to Section 3.2 of Schedule 3 pertaining to the project information requirements for Site Access/Control.
It is advisable that Proponents seek guidance from technical and legal professionals to determine if the specific project is viable considering the requirements set out in the RFP.
23. Can we change the name of the entity and other company details between the RFP registration and Proposal?
Yes. For the purpose of the RFP, the entity specified on the Registration Form does not have to match the entity that submits the Proposal.
22. Can a First Nation partner on more than one Proposal with different Proponents in this RFP? If so, what kind of disclosure must be made to BC Hydro, if any, by the First Nation and by the Proponent/Proponent's Team? How does a First Nation's partner/member of Proponent's Team become aware of any partnership(s) of that First Nation with other Proponents without the First Nation stating their "intent to participate or not participate in this RFP" and potentially triggering the No Collusion clause?
Yes, it is possible for a First Nation to partner on more than one Proposal. Proponent Team members are responsible for establishing procedures to ensure compliance with Section 14.11, No Collusion, to ensure they are not sharing information contemplated in that Section with other Proponents.
In the event there has been sharing of information between Proponents, disclosure should be made to BC Hydro in accordance with the RFP. This Section is not intended to prevent a First Nation from disclosing to any Proponent its involvement with another Proponent's Team provided the terms of Section 14.11 are complied with.
21. Will BC Hydro confirm our calculations related to this RFP?
BC Hydro will not be confirming a Proponent's calculations related to the RFP. BC Hydro recommends that each Proponent seek independent legal and technical advice in preparing its submission as may be necessary.
20. Please explain why the Bid Security and Performance Security are different than in your previous calls? How are First Nations expected to provide their contributions to these securities?
BC Hydro engaged extensively on the design of the Call for Power throughout fall 2023, which included Bid Security and Performance Security, and reviewed approaches used in other recent power calls across Canada. For summaries of the engagement process, see background and development.
A Project's financial arrangements are up to a Proponent to determine.
May 10, 2024
19. Please confirm the specific layer on iMapBC that is to be used to identify the territory attributed to a First Nation. Please specify the acceptable successor website administered by the Province of B.C. that is intended to provide equivalent public information regarding First Nations' territories.
iMapBC is a tool that is owned by the Government of B.C. Accordingly, BC Hydro cannot provide instructions on how to use the tool and we recommend reaching out directly to the B.C. Government or experienced professionals if support is needed on how to use iMapBC.
We are not aware of a successor to iMapBC. The RFP provides information in the event that iMapBC is replaced by another tool.
18. May I ask BC Hydro about how to interpret provisions of the RFP and associated documents in the context of my particular project? Can I provide company or project brochures to help BC Hydro understand my question?
BC Hydro is unable to give project-specific advice in order to maintain fairness to all participants. Please seek professional guidance as necessary to help with preparing your Proposal. Potential Proponents should not attach materials when submitting an inquiry. These materials will not be considered in BC Hydro's responses to questions.
17. Does BC Hydro have any guidelines for how bidders should take the proposed federal government's Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program into consideration in developing their bid price? In other words, are Proponents able to bid on a project with two bid prices, i.e., one bid price that is conditional on the federal government's ITC being approved and one bid price that applies in the event of the ITC not proceeding?
BC Hydro is not able to provide guidance on how Proponents should formulate their bids in consideration of the Investment Tax Credit. In accordance with the RFP, Proponents must submit a single bid price for their proposal.
16. We noticed a possible discrepancy in the bidding instructions. The RFP says that failure to respond to the CEAP IR pre-submission request by April 19 precludes participation in the RFP, but in the RFP instructions to bidders it indicates pre-registration by May 1 is voluntary. Did we miss a deadline?
Please refer to the RFP for clarification on the different timelines that are associated with the 2024 Call for Power. The CEAP IR deadline has now passed and is separate from the RFP registration deadline. Only Proponents who have shown an intent to submit a Proposal by meeting the April 19, 2024, CEAP IR pre-submission deadline are eligible to register for the RFP by submitting a Registration Form.
April 18, 2024
15. Does an accepted Competitive Electricity Acquisition Process Interconnection Request (CEAP IR) mean that my Project will be eligible under the Request for Proposals (RFP)?
No, the CEAP IR process is separate and distinct from the RFP and therefore a valid CEAP IR is not indicative that a Project will meet the Eligibility Requirements under the RFP. Proponents are solely responsible for ensuring that their CEAP IR(s) and Proposal(s) meet the relevant requirements of both CEAP and the RFP.
14. I have submitted my CEAP IR with a Commercial Operation Date (COD) that is outside the Eligibility Requirement COD range (being October 1, 2028 to October 1, 2031). In order to meet the Eligibility Requirements under the RFP, I need to change my COD in my CEAP IR. How do I do so?
If a Proponent wishes to change the COD in their CEAP IR, they need to send an email to CEAP2024@bchydro.com to notify BC Hydro of the COD change. The notification must include the Project name, the COD listed in the original CEAP IR, and the revised COD. The original and revised CODs must include the day, month and year. If you are in the process of correcting deficiencies for your CEAP IR, please do not change the COD on your Interconnection Request form and re-submit the form for the purpose of changing the COD. We request you send a separate email notifying of the new COD as described above.
Please note that in order for any COD change to be reflected in the Interconnection Feasibility Studies, notification of such change needs to be delivered to BC Hydro by May 21, 2024.
13. Can we change the name of the entity and other company details between the CEAP IR submission and proposal deadline?
Yes. For the purpose of the RFP, the entity that submits the CEAP IR does not have to match the entity that submits the Proposal. Pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) M-1 (Standard Generator Interconnection Procedures), an interconnection customer may transfer its queue position to another entity if such entity acquires the specific generating facility identified in the Interconnection Request and the Point of Interconnection (POI) does not change. We will provide each applicant a CEAP IR number that you need to include in your bid submission which will allow us to link the CEAP IR to the bid.
12. Can BC Hydro please provide maps displaying the Cost of Incremental Firm Transmission (CIFT) boundaries for Kelly Lake/Nicola to the Lower Mainland as well as for Vancouver Island? Also, and in relation to the boundaries of Kelly Lake/Nicola to Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, could BC Hydro please clarify if all the areas outside of those boundaries are considered neutral?
BC Hydro cannot provide a map that delineates the CIFT boundaries explicitly for those projects that are in proximity to Kelly Lake and Nicola 500 kV substations or to Vancouver Island. Certain details need to be confirmed on a case-by-case basis based on the plant Point of Interconnection (POI) with the BC Hydro system.
BC Hydro confirms that projects that are located in the Lower Mainland are neutral from the perspective of the CIFT evaluation adjuster.
11. BC Hydro pays for curtailed energy but is excused from this obligation if there is an emergency event or during the first 24 hours of a BC System constraint event. Please confirm the period during which BC Hydro is excused from the obligation to pay.
There is no payment or liability for BC Hydro related to curtailment due to an emergency event. During curtailment for a BC Hydro System Constraint, BC Hydro will pay for Deemed Energy after the first 24 hours of the BC Hydro System Constraint.
10. When will additional details be available regarding the RFP information sessions that are planned to take place on May 14 and 16?
Details about the information sessions are provided in the RFP under Section 5.6 of the RFP.
9. Can I meet with BC Hydro to discuss my project or the Call more generally?
We cannot meet with potential proponents to discuss project-specific matters. This is because we are in an active competitive procurement process and need to maintain fairness with all potential proponents.
Please refer to Section 5 of the RFP for further information on the Q&A process.
8. In the scenario where a wind or solar project's proposal can provide a Designated Capacity Commitment, will the Resource Integration Cost still be added to the Evaluation Price?
For the purposes of Proposal evaluation, the Resource Integration Cost adder will be applied to the Evaluation Price for all wind and solar projects, including those that provide a Designated Capacity Commitment.
This is because, in the event that a Project provides a Designated Capacity Commitment, it would only cover a portion of the Plant Capacity, and because the Capacity Commitment Period only applies for part of the year. As such, BC Hydro must continue to hold reserves for wind and solar resources, the cost of which are accounted for in the evaluation by the Resource Integration Cost adder.
April 15, 2024
7. Will BC Hydro propose alternative Points of Interconnection (POI) and/or Project Sizes if the Interconnection Feasibility Study reveals that a project is not possible or too costly?
BC Hydro is not able to provide alternatives based on information that is provided in the Competitive Electricity Acquisition Process interconnection request (CEAP IR). To help inform Project configuration and location, BC Hydro made available information on our transmission system in the document [PDF, 370 KB] that was provided in the fall, as well as via the Pre-CEAP process [MS Word, 45 KB] that took place in December and January where Proponents were invited to submit details on proposed Projects for a preliminary assessment.
6. Are Proponents permitted to change the parameters of their bids (e.g., Project Size, Commercial Operations Date (COD), equipment specifications, etc.) between what is submitted in the CEAP IR and the Proposal Schedules?
As specified in Table 1 of the RFP under Section 2.2, and further clarified in Addendum No. 1, the details contained in the CEAP IR must be consistent in all material respects with the information that is provided pursuant to the Schedules of the RFP. A material inconsistency would include any inconsistency that, in BC Hydro's opinion, could reasonably be expected to have an impact on the proposed interconnection including Network Upgrade schedule, or any costs to be borne by BC Hydro in relation thereto. This is important because the cost of Network Upgrades are considered in the evaluation. Accordingly, Proponents should not change the details in their Proposal, otherwise the project may not meet the eligibility requirement.
Notwithstanding the above, the COD reflected in the CEAP IR may be different from the Proposal if the Interconnection Feasibility Study (as defined in the Open Access Transmission Tariff [OATT]) conducted by BC Hydro determines that the COD proposed in the CEAP IR cannot be met due to the time required to complete Network Upgrades. In this circumstance, the COD in the Proposal Schedule may differ from the COD in the CEAP IR provided that the COD in the Proposal Schedule falls between the date by which BC Hydro determines that Network Upgrades may be completed and October 1, 2031.
We provide the following illustrative examples for clarity:
- A change to COD may or may not be material depending on whether or not the change has implications to the Network Upgrade cost estimate and schedule which could be impacted by how many months the COD moves between what was proposed in the CEAP IR and the Proposal Schedules. A COD cannot move to an earlier date in the Proposal Schedules than what was proposed in the CEAP IR because it may not be possible to accelerate the schedule of the Network Upgrades on the BC Hydro System.
- A change in the make, model, number of turbines is not expected to be material as long as the maximum injected capacity is consistent or less than the corresponding Interconnection Feasibility Study.
5. Should a project achieve a COD ahead of the Guaranteed COD, is this time included in the term of the EPA, or is it in addition to the term? Put another way, if there is a 30-year EPA agreement, does a COD 60 days before Guaranteed COD mean the contract goes 30 years + 60 days, or does the agreement term simply start earlier?
The Term of the contract ends on the 30th anniversary of the date that the project reaches COD, pursuant to section 2.1 of the EPA. If a Project achieves a COD prior to the Guaranteed COD, the Term will not be extended to account for the time between the actual COD and the Guaranteed COD.
4. Will future calls allow for expansions of projects that are awarded EPAs under the 2024 Call for Power?
BC Hydro cannot comment on the design of future calls because each call will be informed by BC Hydro's system needs at the time future calls are designed.
3. Does the Project Size requirement apply to the injection at the POI with the BC Hydro system, or the total output of the proposed project (before losses to the POI)?
The Project Size requirement applies to the maximum electrical output of all generating units of the proposed project combined before accounting for i) line losses to the Point of Interconnection (POI), and (ii) transformers between the generators and the POI.
In general, the maximum electrical output for each generating unit corresponds to its nameplate capacity. For all project types except solar projects, the Project Size requirement is based on the total nameplate capacity of all turbine/generator sets combined. For Solar projects, the Plant Capacity is the total nameplate capacity of all inverters combined, based on alternating current output.
2. I am looking to submit a project whose design might need to spread across two parcels that are separated by a road. Are there any RFP rules that deny such a project design/location?
BC Hydro cannot provide project-specific advice as Proponents are responsible for ensuring that their projects meet the requirements of the RFP and its associated Schedules. It is advisable that Proponents seek guidance from technical and legal professionals to determine if the specific project is viable considering the requirements set out in the RFP.
1. Can you confirm that the $5,000 company registration fee is no longer applicable for the May 1 deadline? It was referenced in early documentation but we are unable to locate that requirement in the recently released RFP.
We confirm that there is no longer a registration fee in order to register to participate in the 2024 Call for Power.