Path Rating Catalog 2013 - Western Electricity Coordinating Council

Revised December 2010
65. Pacific DC Intertie (PDCI)
Accepted Rating
Existing Rating
Other
Location:
Definition:
Transfer Limit:
Critical
Disturbance
that limits the
transfer
capability:
When:
System
Conditions:
Line from Celilo station (Big Eddy area) in northern Oregon to Sylmar station
in southern California
The PDCI line is a ±500 kV DC multi-terminal system. This system is
divided into the northern and southern systems, the demarcation point is the
Nevada-Oregon state line border (NOB).
Based on the sending end measured power:
Celilo to Sylmar (North to South): 3100 MW
Sylmar to Celilo (South to North): 3100 MW
Loss of the PDCI bipole line.
North to South:
The rating upgrade from 2000 MW to 3100 MW was through the
DC Expansion Review Group studies performed in 1985-1988 and the
1100 MW Expansion Project progress reports of March 25, 1985 and
September 26, 1985. The DC Expansion Review Group was established by a
letter to PCC on March 28, 1984. The Expansion Project was put in
commercial operation on May 4, 1989.
The rating was established by the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power, and the Bonneville Power Administration.
South to North:
The 3100 MW rating was based on the publication of the “3100 MW Southto-North
Pacific DC Intertie Rating” report of July 1992.
The rating was established by the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power, and the Bonneville Power Administration, in conjunction with the
California Power Pool.
North to South:
The system transfer capability is most sensitive to the power flow level on the
COI. High level of northern California hydro on line is also important for
voltage support of 3100 MW bipole outage if the static VAR devices in the
Northwest and PG&E areas are out of service.
South to North:
The system transfer capability is sensitive to the south to north power flow
levels on the COI, the Midway-Vincent lines, and the east to west transfer
levels on the Idaho-Northwest lines (West-of-Borah flows).
PART VI Item 1-170