FAC-013-2: Assessment of Transfer Capability for the Near-term Transmission Planning Horizon

Purpose
To ensure that Planning Coordinators have a methodology for, and  perform an annual assessment to identify potential future Transmission System weaknesses and limiting Facilities that could impact the Bulk Electric System’s (BES) ability to reliably transfer energy in the Near-Term Transmission Planning Horizon.

Applicability
Planning Coordinators

Effective Date
In those jurisdictions where regulatory approval is required, the latter of either the first  day of the first calendar quarter twelve months after applicable regulatory approval or the first day of the first calendar quarter six months after MOD-001-1, MOD-028-1, MOD-029-1, and MOD-030-2 are effective.

In those jurisdictions where no regulatory approval is required, the latter of either the first day of the first calendar quarter twelve months after Board of Trustees adoption or the first day of the first calendar quarter six months after MOD-001-1, MOD-028-1, MOD-029-1 and MOD-030-2 are effective.

Requirements
R1. Each Planning Coordinator shall have a documented methodology it uses to perform an  annual assessment of Transfer Capability in the Near-Term Transmission Planning Horizon (Transfer Capability methodology). The Transfer Capability methodology shall include, at a minimum, the following information: [Violation Risk Factor:  Medium ] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning ]

1.1. Criteria for the selection of the transfers to be assessed.

1.2. A statement that the assessment shall respect known System Operating Limits (SOLs).

1.3. A statement that the assumptions and criteria used to perform the assessment are consistent with the Planning Coordinator’s planning practices.

1.4. A description of how each of the following assumptions and criteria used in performing the assessment are addressed:

1.4.1. Generation dispatch, including but not limited to long term planned outages, additions and retirements.

1.4.2. Transmission system topology, including but not limited to long term planned Transmission outages, additions, and retirements.

1.4.3. System demand.

1.4.4. Current approved and projected Transmission uses.

1.4.5. Parallel path (loop flow) adjustments.

1.4.6. Contingencies

1.4.7. Monitored Facilities.

1.5. A description of how simulations of transfers are performed through the adjustment of generation, Load or both.

R2. Each Planning Coordinator shall issue its Transfer Capability methodology, and any revisions to the Transfer Capability methodology, to the following entities subject to the following: [Violation Risk Factor: Lower] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]

2.1. Distribute to the following prior to the effectiveness of such revisions:

2.1.1. Each Planning Coordinator adjacent to the Planning Coordinator’s Planning Coordinator area or overlapping the Planning Coordinator’s area.

2.1.2. Each Transmission Planner within the Planning Coordinator’s Planning Coordinator area.

2.2. Distribute to each functional entity that has a reliability-related need for the Transfer Capability methodology and submits a request for that methodology within 30 calendar days of receiving that written request.

R3. If a recipient of the Transfer Capability methodology provides documented concerns with the methodology, the Planning Coordinator shall provide a documented response to that recipient within 45 calendar days of receipt of those comments.  The response shall indicate whether a change will be made to the Transfer Capability methodology and, if no change will be made to that Transfer Capability methodology, the reason why.  [Violation Risk Factor: Lower][Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]  (Retirement approved by FERC effective January 21, 2014.)

R4. During each calendar year, each Planning Coordinator shall conduct simulations and document an assessment based on those simulations in accordance with its Transfer Capability methodology for at least one year in the Near-Term Transmission Planning Horizon. [Violation Risk Factor: Medium] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]

R5. Each Planning Coordinator shall make the documented Transfer Capability assessment results available within 45 calendar days of the completion of the assessment to the recipients of its Transfer Capability methodology pursuant to Requirement R2, Parts 2.1 and Part 2.2. However, if a functional entity that has a reliability related need for the results of the annual assessment of the Transfer Capabilities makes a written request for such an assessment after the completion of the assessment, the Planning Coordinator shall make the documented Transfer Capability assessment results available to that entity within 45 calendar days of receipt of the request [Violation Risk Factor: Lower] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]

R6. If a recipient of a documented Transfer Capability assessment requests data to support  the assessment results, the Planning Coordinator shall provide such data to that entity  within 45 calendar days of receipt of the request.   The provision of such data shall be subject to the legal and regulatory obligations of the Planning Coordinator’s area regarding the disclosure of confidential and/or sensitive information.  [Violation Risk Factor: Lower] [Time Horizon: Long-term Planning]

Measures
M1. Each Planning Coordinator shall have a Transfer Capability methodology that includes the information specified in Requirement R1.

M2. Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence such as dated e-mail or dated  transmittal letters that it provided the new or revised Transfer Capability methodology in accordance with Requirement R2  Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence, such as dated e-mail or dated transmittal letters, that the Planning Coordinator provided a written response to that commenter in accordance with Requirement R3.  (Retirement approved by FERC effective January 21, 2014.)

M3. Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence such as dated assessment results, that it conducted and documented a Transfer Capability assessment in accordance with Requirement R4.

M4. Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence, such as dated copies of e-mails or transmittal letters, that it made its documented Transfer Capability assessment available to the entities in accordance with requirement R5.

M5. Each Planning Coordinator shall have evidence, such as dated copies of e-mails or transmittal letters, that it made its documented Transfer Capability assessment data available in accordance with Requirement R6.