Omaha Public Power District Seeks Proposals For Capacity And Related Energy

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
March 25, 2022

Nebraska public power utility Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) for capacity and related energy. Proposals are due April 5, 2022.

OPPD, which is a network transmission customer and member of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), is evaluating supply options for future needs and is seeking proposals.

All proposals provided in response to the RFP must include either: 1) capacity; 2) capacity and an energy product with an option; or 3) capacity and an on-peak energy (5×16) product.

The capacity and energy products must meet the requirements for accreditation and dispatch as defined by the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff, Integrated Marketplace Protocols, and Planning Criteria.

To receive final selection and a contract, OPPD will need to be able to procure firm SPP network transmission service to deliver power from the source within SPP to OPPD’s load. OPPD reserves the right to reject proposals if OPPD determines in its sole discretion that procuring said firm transmission service is uneconomical.

Parties with sources physically located outside of the SPP footprint are required to retain a firm transmission path from the source to the SPP border for the full duration of the contract, while OPPD will utilize firm SPP network transmission service for the remainder of the path.

OPPD may also elect to choose capacity from a resource that has deliverability to the SPP Balancing Authority Area based upon the results of the Oct. 1, 2022 SPP Deliverability Study.

The RFP notes that OPPD conducts ongoing expansion planning studies to determine how to best meet its power obligations. OPPD also performs ongoing evaluations of its existing resource portfolio in light of regulatory requirements and restrictions.

Respondents may submit in their proposals separate exercisable options for any period listed. The minimum megawatt (MW) offer amount for submitted capacity offers will be 25 MW. OPPD is willing to accept multiple Proposals from a respondent.

The RFP is available here.