RAPID/Roadmap/8-NB-b
New Brunswick Transmission Connection Approval (8-NB-b)
The Connection Approval procedure is applicable to all prospective and actual connection applicants (developers) who may or may not be transmission users at the time the Connection Approval procedure is implemented and applies in the case of new or materially modified facility connections to the IES. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 2.2. A connection applicant (developer) is a person who applies to the TSO Division for approval of a connection of a new or materially modified facility to the IES or for approval to make or modify an interconnection. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix A, Electricity Business Rules Definitions. A facility is considered materially modified if:
- A transformer is changed;
- A distribution feeder is added, or its breaker rating upgraded,
- Protection is changed, including breaker ratings or settings;
- Switchyard configuration changes such as electrical relocation of switches or breakers;
- Capacitors are added or removed;
- Load increase exceeding 1 MW; or
- Other parameters of the connection or the facility connected are altered in a way that may impact the IES.
Transmission Connection Approval Process
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8-NB-b.1 – Application for Feasibility Review for Transmission Lines and/or Substations Form B-02
A developer must submit an Application for Feasibility Review for Transmission Lines and/or Substations Form B-02 (Feasibility Application Form B-02) with a non-refundable fee of $5,000 plus applicable taxes per project to the TSO Division to request a feasibility review for the proposed project. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, ss. 4.2., 8.
8-NB-b.2 to 8-NB-b.3 – Review Feasibility Application Form B-02 for Completeness
The TSO Division reviews the Feasibility Application Form B-02 for administrative and technical completeness and advises the developer if it is incomplete.
8-NB-b.4 to 8-NB-b.5 – Conduct Feasibility Review
The TSO Division conducts a feasibility review of the project and makes a determination of needs within approximately ten (10) days of receiving a completed Feasibility Application Form B-02. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 5.2. A feasibility review determines the technical acceptability of a new or modified facility or connection to the IES by identifying potential problems with the proposed project’s design, grid-related information needed to design the project, and any non-standard design requirements. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, ss. 3.1, 4.2.
A determination of needs provides a list of assessments and studies required for the project, the time and costs estimates of the identified assessments and studies, and the TSO Division’s determination as to whether the project requires a System Impact Study (SIS). New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 3.2.
The TSO Division may require an SIS if it determines that the proposed project may have an adverse impact on the reliability of the IES or that the project may create a probability of additional constraints by causing the IES to operate at or close to its normal operating limits. If an SIS is required, the developer must submit a System Impact Study Agreement Package to the TSO Division. If the TSO Division determines that a project will not have an adverse impact on the IES or cause additional constraints to the IES, it issues a Connection Approval without requiring an SIS. A Connection Approval is subject to an undertaking by the developer to pay its portion of the costs of transmission system upgrades as assigned or allocated by the TSO Division in accordance with the approved transmission tariff Transmission and System Operator Division Electricity Business Rules, s. 2.2.2.
8-NB-b.6 – System Impact Study Application Package
The developer must submit a complete System Impact Study Application Package (SIS Application Package) to the TSO Division to request an SIS. A completed SIS Application Package includes, at a minimum, the following:
- A complete System Impact Study Datasheet Form B-03 (available at New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 8;
- An executed SIS Agreement Form B-05. The TSO Division will provide a developer with a draft Schedule A SIS Agreement Form B-05. The SIS Agreement Form must include at minimum:
- a description of the developer;
- the name and a brief description of the project;
- SIS cost and time estimate;
- SIS deposit amount; and
- a provision for sign-off as part of a SIS Application Package.
- A deposit in the amount determined by the TSO Division in the SIS Agreement Form B-05; and,
- All other information requested by the TSO Division to complete the SIS.
New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 4.2.7, 4.4, 8; Transmission and System Operator Division Electricity Business Rules, s. 2.2.2.
8-NB-b.7 to 8-NB-b.8 – Review System Impact Study Application Package for Completeness
The TSO Division reviews the SIS Application Package for technical and administrative completeness and promptly advises a developer if it considers an SIS Application Package incomplete. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 4.4.
8-NB-b.9 to 8-NB-b.12 – Review System Impact Study Application Package for Approval
The TSO Division must review the SIS Application Package for approval within 30 days after receiving a complete application, or within the time estimate set out in the SIS Agreement Form B-05 and issue a System Impact Study Report (SIS Report). New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 5.1. The SIS Report either grants the Connection Approval, subject to conditions that the TSO Division believes necessary, or rejects the Connection Approval with reasons. A Connection Approval is subject to an undertaking by the developer to pay its portion of the costs of transmission system upgrades as assigned or allocated by the TSO Division in accordance with the approved transmission tariff. The TSO Division must make the SIS Report available to the public after providing it to the developer. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 4.8. If the TSO Division issues an SIS Report granting a Connection Approval, it will provide the developer with a draft Schedule A to a Facilities Study Agreement Form B-04. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 4.8.
8-NB-b.13 – Facilities Study Application Package
The developer must submit a Facilities Study Application Package to the TSO Division within 30 days of the issuance of the Connection Approval or the issuance of an SIS Report granting a Connection Approval. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 5.3.
A complete Facilities Study Application Package includes the following:
- A complete Feasibility Application Form B-02;
- An executed Facilities Study Agreement Form B-06, which includes, at a minimum:
- a description of the developer and the project;
- the scope of the facilities study;
- facilities study cost and time estimate;
- facilities study deposit amount; and
- a provision for sign off as part of a complete Facilities Study Application Package.
- A deposit in the amount shown in the Facilities Study Agreement Form B-06;
- A Commitment to Implement (Optional); and
- All other information requested by the TSO Division to complete the facilities study.
8-NB-b.14 to 8-NB-b.15 – Review Facilities Study Application Package for Completeness
The TSO Division reviews the Facilities Study Application Package for administrative and technical completeness. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 4.9.
8-NB-b.16 to 8-NB-b.17 – Review Facilities Study Application Package for Approval
Within approximately one month of receiving a complete Facilities Study Application Package, or within the time frame set out within the Facilities Study Agreement Form B-06, the TSO Division reviews the Facilities Study Application Package for approval and issues a Facilities Study report. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, s. 5.4. The Facilities Study report sets out the nature and design of the facilities and upgrades required to accommodate the project, the cost estimates and schedule to implement the project, the TSO Division’s allocation of responsibility for the costs of the project and an identification of any uncertainties remaining with regards to project costs and time. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, ss. 3.5, 4.11. The Facilities Study report is confidential unless released by the developer. New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division Appendix B, Connection Assessment Procedure Form, ss. 2.4, 4.11.
8-NB-b.18 – Commitment to Implement
Prior to synchronizing a new connection, a developer must make a commitment to the implementation of the project (Commitment to Implement). A developer may include a Commitment to Implement as part of its Facilities Study Application Package.
The Commitment to Implement must contain:
- A financial commitment to the New Brunswick Power Corporation (Corporation) for the construction of all transmission system upgrades as specified in the Facilities Study Application Package;
- A commitment to the TSO Division that the project will be constructed in accordance with the SIS and Facilities Study;
- A commitment that the developer will secure the modification of any third-party facilities as specified in the Facilities Study; and,
- Notice to the TSO Division that the project is going forward and notification of the project schedule.
Agencies
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Regulations
References
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New Brunswick Power Corporation
General Contact
(506) 458-4444
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New Brunswick Transmission and System Operator Division
Transmission System Operator Division
(506) 458-4444
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New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Finance
(506) 658-2504
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