Grid Access Transformation Project

The purpose of the Grid Access Transformation (GAT) project is to develop changes to BPA processes for evaluation and expansion of the Federal Columbia River Transmission System. GAT is composed of the following program areas:  

Transition Planning

The Transition Planning effort will restart processing Transmission Service Requests and enable, as well as maximize, transmission service offers to customers with near-term need.

BPA is largely addressing the issues in the Transition Planning program in a tariff proceeding process (TC-27). More information on the TC-27 tariff proceeding and the pre-proceeding workshops is available on the TC-27 Tariff Proceeding webpage. 

Rapid Access Products & Interconnection Delivery (RAPID)

The RAPID initiative will deliver products and services for large load interconnections while minimizing the financial burden, caused by rapid load growth, for rate payers. It will include a new open season concept called Speed to Power Request for Interim Non-Firm Transmission (SPRINT) to get large loads on the grid at an accelerated rate and a fast-track option for large loads with co-located generation (Paired Load and Integrated Dispatch (PLAID).

Proactive Planning

The Proactive Planning effort will establish a forward-looking approach to grid expansion, commercial and product planning, and a new open season for transmission service to anticipate the region's growing and evolving needs for a 10-to-20-year time horizon.

Accelerate Expansion

The Accelerate Expansion effort will establish a delivery pipeline that enables BPA to provide transmission service in five to six years, or less, on a consistent basis, across customer types, request vintages and evolving system constraints.

This page is intended to provide a central location for workshop materials and other resources to support the collaborative discussions and implementation of each GAT initiative. Any comments, clarifications or questions can be submitted to techforum@bpa.gov with the subject line Grid Access Transformation.