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Home > Electricity Updates
Request For Proposal (RFP) Expedited Process - Pre-Bid
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Before you submit your bid for the Ontario government's RFP, you
must complete Pre-Bid work with Hydro One. The steps involved in
the Pre-Bid process with Hydro One vary slightly, depending on whether
you plan for your project to connect with Hydro One's transmission
or distribution system. This section will help you determine what
you need to do to submit your bid. You'll find information on:
The expedited process shown applies to both the 200 MW
and the 1000 MW RFPs.
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Transmission or Distribution?
Deciding whether your project is connected through our transmission
or our distribution
system depends on a number of factors such as the type and availability
of nearby facilities. Generally, the higher the voltage of the system,
the more generation capacity can be connected to it.
Transmission facilities operate at voltages above 50 kilovolts
(kV).
Transmission lines are not as plentiful as the distribution
lines. See
map of Ontario's transmission lines.
For a transmission-connected facility, generators
must have Hydro One conduct a Transmission Customer Impact Assessment
as well as a System
Impact Assessment conducted by the Independent Electricity
System Operator (IESO).
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Distribution facilities operate at voltages of 50 kV or less.
For a distribution-connected facility, a Distribution
Connection Impact Assessment is required to assess the impacts
on the electricity system. If the proposed generating capacity
is 10 MVA or greater, a Transmission Customer Impact Assessment
must be completed by Hydro One and a System Impact Assessment
must be completed by the IESO as well.
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RFP Process for Transmission Generation Connections
For proposed projects connecting to Hydro One's transmission system, Hydro One will work with you to complete the following items. Note: The templates can be accessed online. Proponents are recommended to carefully review the RFP submission requirements related to the IESO and Hydro One reviews. Contact Hydro One’s Generation Connections Department at 1-866-280-7712 if you have questions about your Hydro One transmission connection application.
For the 200 MW Renewables III RFP:
1a) Complete and sign the Transmission
Preliminary Study Agreement for new projects where the Generator
has not executed a Preliminary Customer Impact Assessment Agreement
with Networks or projects that have already been assessed as
part of the 300 MW or 1000 MW Renewables' RFP but there is an increase
or decrease in MW size that is 10% or more; OR for projects that
are either identical in MW size or the increase or decrease in MW size
is less than 10% and identical in technology, location, connection point
and connection arrangements to projects already assessed as part of
the 300 MW or 1000 MW Renewables' RFP.
1b) For all other projects that do not fit in the above categories
please e-mail gen.connect@hydroone.com or call 1-866-280-7712.
2) Complete the Transmission
System Connection Application Form required for the project's Preliminary
Customer Impact Assessment.
For the 1000 MW Renewables II RFP:
1) Complete and sign the Transmission
Preliminary Study Agreement for new applicants or for
applicants who have bid on the previous 300 MW renewable RFP for
the project's Preliminary Customer Impact Assessment. This requires
a payment to Hydro One and includes a description of the scope of work.
2) Complete the Transmission
System Connection Application Form required for the project's Preliminary
Customer Impact Assessment.
Note: Please confirm the requirements for the RFP in the Government RFP's official releases. Questions on RFP issues should be directed to the Government's official RFP Web site at www.ontarioelectricityrfp.ca.
To help bidders meet the tight deadlines of the Government RFP, we
have an expedited process for providing a Preliminary
Customer Impact Assessment.
Generators must apply to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for a System Impact Assessment.
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RFP Process for Distribution Generation Connections
For proposed projects connecting to Hydro One's distribution system,
Generators participating in the RFP need to work with Hydro One to fulfill
the following components for their bid. The templates can be accessed
online.
For the 200 MW Renewables III RFP:
1) Complete and sign the Preliminary
Study Agreement for Generating Facilities 10 MVA or Greater, or
for
Generating Facilities for Less than 10 MVA. This requires a payment
to Hydro One and includes a description of the scope of work.
2) Complete the Distribution
System Connection Application Form and provide supporting documents.
This is required for the Preliminary Connection Impact Assessment.
Note: Please confirm the requirements for the RFP in the Government
RFP's official releases. Questions on RFP issues should be directed to
the Government's official RFP Web site at www.ontarioelectricityrfp.ca.
To help bidders meet the tight deadlines of the Government RFP, bidders
can use an expedited process, which provides a Preliminary
Distribution Connection Impact Assessment.
If the planned generation capacity is 10 Mega Volt Amperes (MVA) or greater,
the generator is also required to complete and submit an application for
a System Impact Assessment to the IESO.
The technical requirements generators must meet to connect to Hydro One's
distribution system are outlined in Technical
Requirements for Generators Connecting to Hydro One's Distribution System.
These requirements are in place to ensure public and employee safety,
protect the integrity of Hydro One's system and provide reliable and quality
service to our customers. The generator is responsible for the protection
of its own facilities and personnel.
For the RFP process, the proponents submit their application for a Distribution
Connection Impact Assessment. The "application" will consist of
a Preliminary Study Agreement, the application form and required supporting
documents.
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Helping you meet RFP Deadlines
To meet the RFP's accelerated timelines, Hydro One has modified its normal
processes. For both the transmission and distribution connection processes,
the normal time required for assessment and estimating exceeds the RFP
timelines. Hydro One has developed expedited processes to provide preliminary
assessments and preliminary cost estimates to proponents. In trying to
meet the increased demand for assessments and work within the limited
time, it is imperative that ALL required data be submitted with the application.
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Approvals and Regulations External to Hydro One
Connecting your generation project to our transmission or distribution
system requires approvals from and following the rules and codes of various
bodies and regulators that govern the electricity business in Ontario.
Here are the organizations you will need to work with on your way to connection.
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) - System
Impact Assessment
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) manages Ontario's
power grid, provides the hourly energy spot market prices, and provides
the Market Rules for participating in the Ontario electricity market.
Participation in the Renewable Energy Supply Contract requires applying
to the IESO to become a registered market participant and complying
with all market rules including metering requirements.
A System Impact Assessment is conducted by the IESO for generating
facilities 10MVA or greater connecting to the distribution system, and
for all generating facilities connecting to the transmission system.
Ontario Energy Board (OEB)
The Ontario Energy
Board regulates Ontario's electricity and gas industry.
The OEB's
Distribution System Code (DSC) sets out the minimum conditions that
an Ontario distributor must meet in carrying out its obligations to
distribute electricity in Ontario under its license. Included in the
DSC are conditions applying to all transactions and interactions between
distributors and generators.
The Transmission
System Code (TSC) sets out the minimum conditions that an Ontario
transmitter must meet in carrying out its obligations to transmit electricity
in Ontario under its license. The TSC includes conditions applying to
all transactions and interactions between a transmitter and generators.
The Ontario
Energy Board Act, 1988, Section 57, requires that electricity market
participants be licensed in order to generate, deliver or sell electricity
in the province. Application
forms for licenses are available for generators, transmitters, distributors,
wholesalers, and retailers.
Board approval is required for the construction of electricity
transmission lines two kilometres or longer in length - see Filing
Requirements for Electricity Transmission Facilities Applications.
Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE)
The Ontario
Ministry of Environment sets environmental standards for electricity
projects in Ontario and ensures that generators, distributors and transmitters
follow strict rules
and standards when constructing and operating facilities.
Environment
Assessment Regulation for Electricity Projects O.Reg. 116/0, provides
the environmental assessment regulations for generation, transmission
and high voltage distribution facilities.
Guide
to Environmental Assessment for Electricity Projects provides the
environmental assessment requirements for electricity projects. They
apply equally to the public and private sectors.
Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)
Ontario's Electrical
Safety Authority sets and enforces standards for electrical safety
through the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Before connecting to Hydro
One's system, generating facilities are required to have the ESA inspect
their facility and provide Connection Authorization.
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
The Canadian Environmental
Assessment Agency controls the federal
environmental assessment process and it applies whenever a federal
authority has a specified decision-making responsibility for a project.
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Would you like to know more about Hydro One's generation
connection process?
Still have questions?
If you are interested in connecting a generation facility to Hydro One's
system, please e-mail gen.connect@hydroone.com
or call 1-866-280-7712.
If you are planning to install a generator that employs a renewable technology
and is less than 50 kW, please consider our Net Metering program. All
residential and solar panel installations would benefit from this program,
as would small wind turbines. Please visit our Net
Metering site or call 1-877-447-4412 for information.
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