2020 DRAM RFO

Latest News & Update

Respondents are encouraged to check this RFO 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, check the RFO website for (i) details on the pre-bid conference call and (ii) posting of answers to submitted questions.

  • 10/11/19 - Launch
  • 10/31/19 - DRAM 2020 FAQs posted
  • 11/05/19 - DRAM 2020 FAQs updated

Key RFO Documents

This website provides an overview of the market solicitation. Respondents must read the RFO Protocol document to fully understand all aspects of this RFO.

Offerors do not need to submit SDG&E’s version of the DRAM Purchase Agreement (PA) with their Offer; it is for informational purposes only during the bidding phase. For each Shortlisted Offer, SDG&E intends to send the Offeror a redlined version for execution.

427.29 KB
PDF
RFO Protocols
RFO Protocols
313.92 KB
DOCX
DRAM PA
DRAM PA

Overview and History

In accordance with Decision (“D.”) 14-12-024 – Decision Resolving Several Phase Two Issues and Addressing the Motion for Adoption of Settlement Agreement on Phase Three Issues (“DR Phase Two and Three Decision”) approved on December 4, 2014 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission) and D.16-06-029, Decision Adopting Bridge Funding for 2017 Demand Response Programs and Activities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company (“SDG&E”) is issuing its 2019 DRAM RFO. The 2019 DRAM RFO is seeking local, system and flexible Resource Adequacy (“RA”) resources via a standard, non-negotiable Demand Response Auction Mechanism Purchase Agreement (“DRAM PA” or “PA”) for execution in accordance with the RFO Protocols.

Ordering Paragraph (“OP”) 5 and 6 of the DR Phase Two and Three Decision ordered the California Investor-owned utilities, including SDG&E, to file an advice letter with a standard contract (the PA) outlining the parameters of the 2016 DRAM pilot. Advice Letter 2729-E was filed on April 20, 2015 containing this information. This advice letter was approved, with certain modifications, on July 23rd, 2015 in the Resolution E-4728. As ordered, a supplemental Advice Letter (AL 2729-E-A) was then filed on August 24th, 2015 with further modifications to the PA and SDG&E’s DRAM 2016 pilot program.

SDG&E submitted Advice Letter (“AL”) 2796-E on October 9, 2015 with the programmatic details of the 2017 DRAM pilot. R.4754 approved AL 2796-E on January 28, 2016 with modifications that were required to be filed in a supplementary AL. Consistent with OP 14 of R.4754 SDG&E filed AL.2796-E-A on February 8, 2016 with the final DRAM 2016 contract and qualitative factors.

D.16-06-029 OP19 authorized a third auction pilot, the 2018 DRAM RFO Pilot, for which SDG&E filed AL 2949 on September 1, 2016. This AL was approved by R.4817 on January 19, 2017 with modifications. SDG&E filed supplemental AL 2949-A with these modifications on February 2., 2017. In accordance with R.4817 SDG&E submitted AL 3041 outlining SDG&E’s registrations for the 2018-2019 DRAM. As required by D.17-10-017 OP 10 SDG&E to worked with the Energy Division to use capacity values in bid selection criteria that appropriately prioritize bids for local resource adequacy.

Most recently, Decision (“D.”) 19-07-009 – Decision Addressing Auction Mechanism, Baselines, and Auto Demand Response for Battery Storage approved on July 11, 2019 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission), San Diego Gas & Electric Company (“SDG&E”) is issuing its 2020 DRAM RFO. The 2020 DRAM RFO is seeking local and system resources via a standard, non-negotiable Demand Response Auction Mechanism Purchase Agreement (“DRAM PA” or “PA”) for execution in accordance with the RFO Protocols.

On August 12, 2019, SDG&E filed advice letter 3418-E, along with Southern California Edison (4054-E) and Pacific Gas & Electric (5615-E), in compliance with Ordering Paragraph 4 of D.19-07-009, seeking approval of the 2020 DRAM Pilot. Additionally, on September 17, 2019, SDG&E filed a supplemental advice letter, 3418-E-A, along with Sothern California Edison (4054-E-A) and Pacific Gas & Electric (5615-E-A). SDG&E’s advice letter and supplemental was approved on September 25, 2019. effective as of September 11, 2019. The advice letter and supplemental contain programmatic details of the DRAM pilot for 2020.

D.19-07-009 OP 4 authorized a fifth auction pilot, the 2020 DRAM RFO Pilot, for which SDG&E filed Advice Letter 3418-E on August 12, 2019, and Supplemental 3418-E-A on September 17, 2019. These Advice Letters were approved on September 25, 2019, effective as of September 11, 2019, and address the modifications made over the 2019 DRAM solicitation.

SDG&E Electric Rule 32 governs how SDG&E manages third party demand response providers (“DRPs”.) The Commission, in D. 19-07-009, has made significant modifications to the past DRAM decisions, which has again authorized SDG&E to put in place certain processes and systems to facilitate a DRP's ability to bid Proxy Demand Resources (PDRs) into the wholesale market. The DRAM PA is subject to the provisions of Rule 32 and any limitations authorized by the Commission relative to its implementation.

The DRAM is a pay-as-bid auction of monthly system, and flexible (with system) RA for Offerors to bid directly in the California Independent Operator System (“CAISO”) market, with participation from customers in the SDG&E’s service territory. Offerors must bid directly into the CAISO energy market and any resulting revenues or liabilities allocated solely to the Offeror. Offeror’s DR resource shall be comprised of a Proxy Demand Resource (PDR) or or multiple PDRs that aggregate customers within SDG&E’s Sub-LAP. SDG&E has a single Sub-LAP (as opposed to the other California IOUs that have multiple Sub-LAPs) so, in effect, any SDG&E customer, whether receiving commodity service from SDG&E or an Energy Service Provider, is eligible.

Scheduling Coordinator Request for Information

As part of 2016 DRAM, the IOUs were issued a Request for Information from Scheduling Coordinators open to providing SC services to demand response aggregators. Information provided in response to the RFI, and subsequent updates since, have been made public as part of the 2020 DRAM.

Non-Binding Schedule for the 2020 DRAM

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.

No

Event

Date/Time

1

Launch 2020 DRAM RFO

10/11/19

2

Pre-Bid Conference

10/18/19

3

Deadline to Submit Questions

10/25/19

4

Responses to Questions Posted

10/31/19

5

2020 DRAM RFO Offer Package Due: 12 pm PPT 

11/8/19

6

Notification for Non-conforming Offerors (request to “cure”)

11/15/19

7

Offeror “Cure” Period Concludes

11/22/19

8

SDG&E Notifies Offerors of Shortlist Selection

12/4/19

9

Shortlisted Bidders Notify IOUs of Acceptance/Rejection

12/9/19

10

All Contracts are Executed

1/6/20

11

Contract Collateral Due

1/9/20

12

SDG&E Files Tier 1 Advice Letter Seeking CPUC Approval of Contracts

1/10/20

13

Approximate CPUC Contract Approval

2/10/20

14

First QC Estimates to be Submitted to SDG&E

3/16/20

15

DRPs Submit First Supply Plans

4/1/20

16

First Deliveries

6/1/20

CAISO Bidding Information

DRAM winners or "Sellers" providing RA to SDG&E will be solely responsible for registering their proxy demand resources (PDR) at the CAISO and acquiring a resource ID. An initial step of this process is to input customer location information into the CAISO demand response system. SDG&E requires that the Seller obtain customer authority to access historical and ongoing customer specific information which is needed for this CAISO registration process and for energy settlements.

Contact Information

All questions or other communications regarding this Resource Adequacy RFO MUST be submitted via email to BOTH DRAMRFO@sdge.com with a CC to waynejoliver26@gmail.com (Independent Evaluator). 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.

Registration and Submission Information

A maximum of 20 offers or offer variations per recipient will be allowed. The RFO and all subsequent revisions and documents are available for download from the RFO Website. Potential Offerors are responsible for monitoring the RFO Website for subsequent updates, notices and postings.

Offerors must submit bids into the 2020 DRAM RFO event on the PowerAdvocate® website. Offerors intending to submit an Offer but who do not yet have an existing account with PowerAdvocate® must first register to create a username/password to receive access to the event. Please review the RFO protocols for more information.

Please note that no late bids will be accepted.

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/

DBEs can request additional information by contacting SDG&E at vendorrelations@sdge.com.

Solicitation Submittal Documents

62.72 KB
XLSX
Offer Form
Offer Form
71.50 KB
DOC
Credit Application
Credit Application
49.63 KB
XLSX
Qualifying Capacity Assessment
Qualifying Capacity Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

93.87 KB
PDF
DRAM 2020 FAQs
DRAM 2020 FAQs
DRAM 2019 FAQs
DRAM 2019 FAQs
DRAM 2017 FAQs
DRAM 2017 FAQs
DRAM 2016 FAQs - 1st set
DRAM 2016 FAQs - 1st set
DRAM 2016 FAQS - 2nd set
DRAM 2016 FAQS - 2nd set
DRAM 2016 FAQs - 3rd set
DRAM 2016 FAQs - 3rd set
SDG&E Service Territory Map
SDG&E Service Territory Map

Pre-Bid Conference Webinar

SDG&E, SCE, and PG&E will be hosting a conference call for those considering making an offer into this solicitation. Participation in the conference call is not mandatory for those ultimately submitting a proposal.

When: October 18, 2019

Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM PPT

Audience link: https://meet.lync.com/edisonintl-sce/anne.gustafson/ZGF84894

Toll-Free Dial-in: 800-857-9632

Conference ID: 9308122

Webinar Audio Recording
Webinar Audio Recording