June 3, 2011

As outlined in the province’s Long-Term Energy Plan, the Bruce to Milton Transmission project will allow the Ontario Power Authority to offer contracts for renewable energy projects under the Feed-in Tariff Program. Today the Ontario Power Authority is outlining the process to offer over 1,000 MW of renewable energy contracts.

Eligibility

• Projects that will be included in the assessment must be on the FIT Priority Ranking list for either the Bruce or West of London transmission areas.

Process

• Eligible proponents have five business days to change their connection points. The location of the project itself cannot change.
   
• Projects with connection points that trigger upgrades only to the connection parts of the system (the costs of which are the responsibility of the proponent) will be eligible to receive a contract offer where capacity is available.
   
• An updated Transmission Availability Table has been posted on the FIT website.
   
• When the five-day change of connection window closes, the OPA will carry out a Transmission Availability Test and, in conjunction with LDCs, a Distribution Availability Test, for all eligible projects.
   
• The OPA will offer contracts for up to 750 MW in the Bruce transmission area, and up to 300 MW in the West of London transmission area.
   
• Contracts will be offered based on transmission capacity availability and the priority project ranking in both of the eligible transmission areas.
   
• Please click here for the Connection Point Amendment Form and Instructions’

Timing

• The five-day change of connection point window is effective June 6 and closes June 10, 2011, at 5 p.m.
   
• TAT/DAT assessments will start immediately after the change of connection point window closes.
   
• The OPA anticipates offering contracts in late June.

Economic Connection Test

• In November 2010, the province released its Long-Term Energy Plan. Based on the plan, the OPA was directed to plan for 10,700 MW of installed non-hydroelectric renewable energy capacity by 2018. The plan also identified investments in five priority transmission projects.
   
• Projects that do not receive contract offers through the Bruce to Milton capacity allocation will remain on the priority ranking list. The OPA continues its work on the ECT process.

Webinar on Allocating Bruce to Milton Capacity  *UPDATED June 7, 2011

The OPA held a web-enabled teleconference on June 6, 2011 to provide information and answer questions on the assessment and contract offer process.
 

An archive of the session’s audio and presentation files are available below.

• http://www.snwebcastcenter.com/event/?event_id=1888
   
• Click here for presentation
  A revision has been made to the third bullet on Slide 12.

For more information on the Bruce to Milton assessment and contract offer process and other FIT-related issues please email fit@powerauthority.on.ca.

Questions

Questions that applicants have on the process should be sent by email to fit@powerauthority.on.ca.

The OPA will not be responding individually to questions received but will post questions it receives and their answers as quickly as possible at this link. This will ensure that the same information is available to all parties.

Transmission Table (Circuit)

Transmission Table (Station)

FIT Rules Version 1.5

FIT Contract Version 1.5

FIT Standard Definitions Version 1.5

Connection Point Amendment form and Instructions