Home > Customers > LDCs & Transmission-connected > Outage Planning

Outage Planning for Transmission Customers

Hydro One as a Transmitter has a responsibility to maintain and repair equipment to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to our customers. Scheduling outages is critical to the performance of the Transmission system.

The Operating Planning Department working out of Hydro One's Ontario Grid Control Centre (OGCC) manages the scheduling and coordination of outages based on requests from customers, Hydro One Station Maintenance, Provincial Lines and System Investment projects.

Customer Requirements

• Schedule all planned work with the Transmitter's (Hydro One Networks) controlling authority* to coordinate outages that directly affect Hydro One's transmission facilities
  * The OGCC is the controlling authority for Hydro One Networks Transmission system.
• Take reasonable steps to ensure that all anticipated outages for the upcoming year are submitted to Hydro One by October 1 of each year
• Keep your operating schedule updated
• Provide feedback on your outages.

Timeframes

Customer Accountabilities

• For planned work involving a feeder breaker to be opened or operated, 4 days advance notice via established communication protocols (e-mail, phone, fax) from the Customer's controlling authority to the appropriate Transmitter contact outlined in your Transmission Connection Agreement (TCA).
• For planned work involving a multiple feeder breakers, station bus or a whole transformer station, 10 days advance notice via established communication protocols (e-mail, phone, fax) from the Customer's controlling authority to the appropriate Transmitter contact outlined in your TCA.
• At least 4 days notice in advance of planned work, the Customer controlling authority must send requests to the appropriate Transmitter contact identified in the Operations Schedule in the TCA if the planned work involves:
• any disconnection from the Transmitter's transmission facilities of less than 50 kV (e.g. disconnection from a feeder breaker owned by the Transmitter or Customer);
• load changes greater than 5 MW; or
• load transfers or switching operations that directly affect the Transmitter's transmission facilities.

NOTE: The customer must follow IESO protocols for equipment outage requests according to the Market Rules.


Transmitter Accountabilities

• For planned work involving a feeder breaker to be opened or operated, the Transmitter will provide at least 4 days advance notice via established communication protocols (e-mail, phone, fax) to at least 10 days advance notice of planned work that requires the operations of multiple feeder breakers, station bus or whole transformer station, that directly affects the Customer's facilities.
  

Making Changes

• Either the Customer or the Transmitter's controlling authority must request changes in the time or date of scheduled work via established communication protocols (e-mail, phone, fax). Changes must be made no later than 2 days in advance of the scheduled date.
• If a change cannot be reasonably accommodated, both Parties (Customer & Transmitter) will establish a new date. If they cannot agree, they will refer to the dispute resolution process set out in the TCA.