Steps for Submitting an Application 1. Letter of Intent 2. Formal Application (including Distribution Agreement, Transmission Service Agreement and an Operating Agreement) What is contained in a Letter of Intent and when must it be filed? What is the timeline for the application process? What agreements are required for the application process? If I file do I have to reveal my contract in all terms?

Before filing an application for Retail Open Access, a prospective Eligible Customer must file a Letter of Intent with the required information as outlined in NAC 704B.320. An application for transmission service should also be made to the Transmission Provider by a Scheduling Coordinator (who has met or is able to meet the required qualifications) on behalf of the Eligible Customer prior to filing a Letter of Intent for Retail Open Access. The Transmission Service Agreement may require the longest lead-time. Once the Letter of Intent is filed, a Distribution Service Agreement should be initiated. Distribution application information can be found under Schedule DOS on the Nevada Power website or the Sierra Pacific Power website.

PUCN Approval
Any application for Retail Open Access must be approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN). A customer's application must:

• Demonstrate that customer is eligible.
  
• Demonstrate that energy is from a "new electric resource".
  
• Include information for PUCN to evaluate impact of proposed transaction on Utility and remaining customers.

Public Interest Tests
Additionally, a customer application must pass various public interest tests to demonstrate the pursual of Retail Open Access:

• Increased energy supply to Nevada
  
• Unimpaired electrical system reliability
  
• Avoids impairing Utility's ability to provide service to remaining customers
  
• No increased cost to any remaining customer
  
• No increased cost to Utility
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is contained in a Letter of Intent and when must it be filed?

  The prospective Eligible Customer's Letter of Intent must contain comprehensive customer information as well as the necessary energy, capacity and ancillary services information including:

  • Customer information (name, address, etc.)
    
  • Energy provider information
    
  • Applicable points of delivery (address, account number, etc.)
    
  • Description of proposed transaction and terms (date of commencement, scheduling coordinator, point(s) of receipt, MW/MWhr to be delivered, information about energy and capacity contracted for, ancillary services, source of new electric resources, etc.

  A Letter of Intent is required to be filed with the PUCN, BCP, and the Utility 30-days prior to the formal application filing.

• What is the timeline for the application process?
  

  The basic timeline is 30 days for a Letter of Intent prior to the filing of the Application. The Application Process is a minimum of 180-day process, but can be up to 240 days, after the Letter of Intent has been accepted by the PUCN. While the transmission process may run concurrently it may take longer to complete. (see NRS 704 for details)

  

  

  

• What agreements are required for the application process?

  The Application must contain information demonstrating that the eligible customer or provider has the ability to enter into all transmission service agreements necessary for the provider to deliver energy to the distribution system of the Utility. Generally this would include a distribution agreement, as well as transmission service and operating agreements. Additionally, non-government eligible customers of Nevada Power Company must have a binding offer to assign certain contractual rights to the Utility. The specific requirements are all defined by the regulations implementing NRS 704B.

• If I file, do I have to reveal my contract in all terms?

  No, per Chapter 704B.320 of the NRS "The eligible customer may designate as commercially sensitive any information regarding submission of the letter of intent and any information included with the letter of intent. If the eligible customer designates such information as commercially sensitive, the PUCN's Regulatory Operations Staff, the Bureau of Consumer Protection and the electric Utility shall protect the confidentiality of such information and shall not disclose the information to any other person."