2017 Fall Green Tariff Shared Renewables Solicitation

Latest News & Update

Respondents are encouraged to check this Request for Offers (RFO or the solicitation) Website periodically for updates, notices, and postings. SDG&E, at its sole discretion, pursuant to orders from the CPUC, may change the terms, requirements and schedule of this solicitation. Respondents should monitor the RFO Website for announcements regarding any updates or changes including posted questions & answers. SDG&E will post all solicitation announcements, including scheduling changes or RFO amendments to this website. In particular, participants should check the RFO website for (i) details on the pre-bid conference call and (ii) posting of answers to submitted questions.

• 11/7/17 - The FAQ document has been updated with questions and answers.
• 10/31/17 - Questions and Answers Posted
• 10/20/17 - Bidders' Conference Slides Posted 
• 10/16/2017 - Launched!

SDG&E’s Fall 2017 RFO Seeking Green Tariff Shared Renewable Program Power Purchase Agreements

In accordance with Decision (D.)16-05-006, D.15-01-051, D.17-07-007 and Resolution (R-)4734 (together the GTSR Decisions) issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission), San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) is issuing this Green Tariff Shared Renewables (GTSR) Program joint RFO seeking contracts with facilities that produce Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)-eligible energy for the purpose of implementing its Enhanced Community Renewables and Green Tariff programs, as described below. 

The GTSR Decisions mandate SDG&E to implement the GTSR Program, which includes two components: (1) a Green Tariff (GT) program (EcoChoice), allowing customers to choose a higher percentage of renewable generation than they already get from SDG&E; and, (2) an Enhanced Community Renewables (EcoShare), allowing customers to participate in community-based projects. 

The programs are intended to:  1) make clean, renewable energy available to bundled utility customers, whether they own a home and/or can afford a significant capital investment; (2) increase the overall volume of renewable energy in the San Diego area; and (3) increase options for institutional, commercial and residential customers to meet their renewable energy goals.  Overall, SDG&E’s GTSR program is designed to ensure sufficient eligible capacity is available to meet customer demand of up to 59 MW, with 10 MW of the total program capacity being set aside for projects located in designated Environmental Justice (EJ) areas.

SDG&E held one EcoChoice solicitation in 2015, and will hold two EcoShare auctions in 2017 and 2018, or until all available GTSR capacity is reserved subject to customer participation in these programs.  To meet its EcoShare targets, SDG&E will seek offers sized 20 MW or less for either its EcoShare or EcoChoice programs.  Distributed Energy Resource Providers (DERP) participating in the EcoShare program can aggregate resources to meet the CAISO 0.5 MW minimum size requirement to bid into the market.   Offers consisting of DERP resources are eligible to bid into this solicitation provided they meet the other requirements outlined in the EcoShare solicitation document.   This solicitation is not requesting bids for feed-in-tariff projects (e.g. Re-MAT, Bio-MAT), BioRAM, or other RAM or RPS procurement activities that currently exist or are being contemplated.

Solicitation Protocols:

Details regarding the solicitation process and eligibility requirements are provided in the RFO document below.

• EcoChoice Solicitation Protocol Document
• EcoShare Solicitation Protocol Document

Required Forms and Documents:

1. Offer Form - There is no limit on the number of Forms that can be submitted. Therefore, respondents are encouraged, but not required, to submit additional offers for our consideration with shorter tenors or with escalators.
2. Interconnection Agreement or Phase II Interconnection Study (or distribution level equivalent) and / or Fast Track Documentation - Submit a copy of the most recent completed interconnection agreement, Phase II interconnection study or equivalent Fast Track documentation.  For Projects located in Imperial Valley and dynamically transferred via pseudo-tie into SDG&E's service territory by the CAISO, submit copies of a completed Phase II interconnection study and provide documentation certifying the existence of the dynamic transfer arrangements.
3. Site Control Documentation - Submit copies of site control documents demonstrating: a) direct ownership; b) a lease; or c) an option to lease or purchase upon PPA approval (must be an exclusive option to the Bidder that will last until the completion of the RFO cycle).
4. Site Maps - Submit copies of all project maps showing location, facilities, layout, Interconnection, etc. and the Project single line diagram.
5. Resource Report - please submit a verifiable fuel resource plan
6. Full PVSyst Model (Solar Only) - the full PVSyst file must be submitted by exporting the entire project that contains the prj, met, inv, pan, etc. files.

Reference Forms and Documents:

This solicitation employs a non-modifiable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure.  These documents are pre-approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and may not be changed by either SDG&E or the winning bidder(s).  Only the blanks may be filled in with project specific information.  All respondents should submit bids per the terms of these agreements only.  

• GTSR Power Purchase Agreement  (for EcoShare and EcoChoice projects);
• ECR Rider  (for EcoShare projects without DERP), or
• ECR DERP Rider (for EcoShare projects with DERP)

RFO Response Instructions:

A Respondent must submit their offer electronically via PowerAdvocate®, and attach all required forms and bid materials to the offer.  All offers must be uploaded to PowerAdvocate® no later than 12:00 p.m. (i.e. Noon), Pacific Standard Time, on November 17, 2017.  Offerors intending to submit an Offer but who do not yet have an existing account must first register to create a username/password to receive access to the event. The PowerAdvocate® solicitation website can be accessed at:

https://www.poweradvocate.com/pR.do?okey=73146&pubEvent=true

RFO Communication

All questions or other communications regarding this RFO should be submitted via e-mail to ECRRAMSolicitation@sdge.com for the EcoShare product or RAMSolicitation@sdge.com for the EcoChoice product.  In either case, you MUST CC the Independent Evaluator, Frank Mossburg of Bates White frank.mossburg@bateswhite.com. 

SDG&E will not accept questions or comments in any other form, except at the bidder’s Conference.  Question submitted after the deadline as specified in RFO Schedule will only be answered at the sole discretion of SDG&E or the IE.  All questions and their answers will be posted publicly on this website anonymously soon after receipt.  We cannot respond directly to or confidentially to any questions.  Respondents are encouraged to check this RFO Website periodically for updates, notices, and postings.

Bidder’s Conference

SDG&E will hold one bidder’s conference via web conference.  Participation in the conference call is not mandatory for those ultimately submitting a proposal.

When: October 23, 2017
Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM PPT
JOIN WEBEX MEETING
https://intercall.webex.com/intercall/j.php?MTID=m39d75c57eb2d78e46ede8d8dc09a57e0
Meeting number: 594 875 127

JOIN BY PHONE
Dial-In Number: (844) 621-8112
Conference ID: 1845464

Can't join the meeting?
https://help.webex.com/docs/DOC-5412

The audio of the bidder’s conference will be posted as soon as possible after the conference.  To access this, use the original event link.

​2017 Fall GTSR Schedule

The following schedule and deadlines apply to this RFO.  SDG&E reserves the right to revise this schedule at any time and in SDG&E’s sole discretion.  Respondents are responsible for monitoring the RFO Website for updated schedules and possible amendments to the RFO or the solicitation process.  For a detailed schedule, please see the protocols for each product type.

Participation from Diverse Business Enterprises

SDG&E encourages Diverse Business Enterprises (“DBEs”), “Women-Owned Businesses” or “Minority-Owned Businesses” or “Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises” as defined in G.O. 156[1], to participate in this All Source RFO. 

Furthermore, SDG&E encourages developers to utilize DBEs during various stages of project development and construction. As a part of G.O. 156, SDG&E will require developers to identify and verify their DBE contractor/subcontractor spending if any.

Additional information on SDG&E’s DBE program and utilizing DBEs can be found at:

http://www.sempra.com/about/supplier-diversity/

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/supplierdiversity/

SDG&E’s DBE Program representatives will provide a presentation during the bidders’ outreach event.  DBEs can request additional information by contacting SDG&E at vendorrelations@sdge.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

• 2017 GTSR FAQs
• ECR I FAQs