Large Load Study Process

The requestor will sign a Study Agreement committing to the cost of the studies, regardless of whether the request results in an energized customer. We commit to estimated timelines and study reports that include growing levels of commitment to capacity allotment, costs and schedule.

In enhanced planning areas, as defined by PGE, a cluster study will be required for all requests 4 MW and greater. This allows us to study the impact of multiple load requests at once to enable more efficient planning. If a customer withdraws from the study process after the initiation of the System Impact Cluster Study and creates a material need for re-study, there will be a financial penalty. This withdrawal penalty supports the cost to re-study the other customers who will now require additional work. The withdrawal penalty is outlined in the Cluster Study Agreement.

The requestor will be eligible for one of the following service agreements following the study process. Each contract has an increasing level of commitment corresponding with the planning commitment required by PGE.

1. Line extension cost agreement (1MW - 30MW, no substation upgrades, costs under $1m)

   1. Line extension allowance and contract (six-month expiration without deposit)

   2. Refundable deposit following design phase

2. Minimum load agreement (1MW - 30MW, substation upgrades or costs over $1m)

   1. Five-year minimum load agreement (distribution)

   2. Capacity reservation (transmission, no cost commitment)

   3. 10-year contract with excess usage penalty (based on reservation)

   4. Exit penalty (distribution)

3. Large load customer agreement (>30 MW)

   1. Reservation deposit at time of contract signing

   2. Eight-year flat load agreement (distribution)

   3. Capacity reservation (minimum 80% of reserved transmission)

   4. Long-term contract with excess usage penalty (based on reservation)

   5. Exit penalty (distribution)

The load study will expire 60-90 days following its conclusion, save for approved exceptions by a Manager. A customer who isn’t prepared to sign a contract as outlined above may want to consider the timing of their study to ensure they’re prepared for the next steps. Please talk to your PGE contact regarding this timing and your best options.

The larger the request, the higher the complexity of the study. The System Planning teams will have to do deeper analysis and additional work to understand the system needs to enable additional load at greater magnitudes. The larger requests also require additional teams to provide input and consultation prior to approving a load report. Study durations may be significantly affected if coordination with other utilities is required.

The System Planning team will determine what studies are required. The core determinants on which studies are required include the availability of system capacity at the location of the load request and if the request is within an Enhanced Planning Area. A Pre-Feasibility study will help determine what subsequent studies will be needed.

An enhanced planning area is an area within the Company’s service territory in which the transmission system requires more complex planning efforts in order to reliably serve expected capacity requirements. Enhanced planning areas are subject to change over time due to the dynamic nature of the electrical system. PGE will identify whether a request is within an EPA during the pre-feasibility study phase.

The landscape in large load requests has changed considerably in the past few years. The volume of requests of this magnitude have traditionally been small and had a high rate of transition to a construction project. Today, we are seeing a dramatic increase in volume of request and increased volatility in the commitment level of these requests. To protect customers, and assign direct costs to the directly benefitting customers, we have changed this process.

Load flexibility may provide more options for faster and phased or incremental load interconnection. The System Planning team requires the flexible load profile up front to accurately perform the study. Adding or changing flexible load during the study process may require a re-study.

Infrastructure planning for transmission requires years of preparation and for us to invest in any additional investment to serve new load, there needs to be assurances that it will be realized. The MLA and LLCA contracts are designed to be long lived contracts due to investment costs of the infrastructure.

We recognize the potential timeline to obtain a check for payment. Please talk to your PGE partner to discuss options. Please reach out as quickly as possible if payment remission is expected to be an issue of time.

The reconciliation process requires several internal steps, including a minimum wait period of two weeks to account for the timecard billing cycle. We aim to complete reconciliation within 45-60 days from the end of the study process.

For multiple large load requests in an area with enhanced planning needs, the cluster study allows us to more efficiently review the system needs to serve the new load. The cluster approach allows for a more strategic view of infrastructure needs and allotment given the volume of requests and available capacity. This creates a more efficient process to assign costs and infrastructure needs for customer requests of this nature.

A requestor who signs a Study Agreement and pays a prepayment and application fee is responsible for any costs incurred to perform work for their request. If they withdraw during the study process (mid-study or between study phases), then they will be reconciled based on actual cost incurred. These costs are based on the study performance cost and not assigned with design or construction.

The one exception is if a request is being studied within a cluster study. If a request with material impact is withdrawn after a cluster study has started, then that customer may be assigned a financial penalty. The Cluster Study Agreement will outline the withdrawal penalty details.

An area within the Company’s service territory in which the transmission system requires more complex planning efforts in order to reliably serve expected capacity requirements.

The PGE team member working with the customer may know from the onset that the location of this request is in an EPA and can communicate with the customer. Formally, System Planning will include this designation during a Pre-Feasibility Study.

While we work to meet all load requests requested on a reasonable timeline, there may be constraints that preclude us from committing to the full requested demand on the requested timeline. Potential influences to load allotment or timeline include: available transmission, transmission project timelines, long-lead time items, flexible load availability, etc. These will be better clarified for each request via the System Impact and Facilities Studies. This load study process is designed to help us better plan for growing load to proactively strategize investment and infrastructure needs. Please talk to your PGE team member to best understand any constraints based on your specific request.

All requests 1MW and greater need to be reviewed by our System Planning team. This will require analysis by System Planning to be performed before we could have answers such as arc flash studies, metering requirements, conduit/vault requirements and design/construction timelines. We appreciate the importance of timely information in preparation for construction and will work with our requestors to give them information as quickly as possible. Due to the nature of system planning and the complexity of adding new load, there will be a waiting period while we perform their study.

There are many factors that determine the breadth and depth of analysis required to provide the customer with answers to their site needs. During the pre-feasibility review (no cost or study agreement required), the System Planning team will determine whether a customer load request is possible within the timeframe for amount of load requested and which studies will be required for that request. This will help breakdown anticipated timing and other requirements.