2025-INT 00012 Published On: 08/18/2025
Question: We have a few FERC jurisdictional projects we would like to submit to the 2025 RFP. Will these be submitted to Duke's usual portal shown here?: https://dukeenergy.my.site.com/s/interconnection-request If not, could you please send me the correct website?
Answer: Yes, that is the correct portal link for both State and FERC jurisdictional projects to submit their Interconnection Requests for the 2025 RFP. Bidders are strongly advised to submit their Interconnection Request ahead of the Proposal Due Date (September 30, 2025) to ensure no technical or other issues would prevent them from qualifying for participation in the RFP. Additional instructions on how to submit an Interconnection Request are included in the Bidders Conference deck from August 13, 2025, available at https://www.dukeenergyrfpcarolinas.com/StakeholderMaterials.
2025-INT 00011 Published On: 08/18/2025
Question: Thanks for changing the IA termination requirements in the 2025 RFP. A few questions to understand it better: a. Is the IA termination eliminated? b. What is the 60-day window for alternative offtake arrangement, if not selected as a Finalist? Is this the GSAC RAO option? c. Or instead of immediate termination of the IA, the developer now has a 60-day window to find an alternative offtake before the IA is terminated? d. It was mentioned that this requirement will be addressed as part of a termination agreement of an existing PPA or an IA amendment. Can you please elaborate more on the process of this requirement? When will this happen? Before the MP participates in the RFP?
Answer: For projects with IAs that participate in the RFP and are not chosen in Early Selection, their IA will not automatically be terminated, so long as it is still progressing and meeting IA milestones. However, a project with an executed IA that seeks to amend the IA milestones will also have the amendment include a clause requiring that within 60 days of RFP Early Selection being announced, an offtake agreement must be established. A GSA contract would be one option, or a negotiated PURPA contract is another option. In order to participate in the RFP, a bidder may not have an active PPA at the time of bid submission. When a counterparty requests termination of a PPA, Duke Energy will provide a Mutual Termination Agreement for review. The contract termination must be complete prior to the close of the bid window for the project to qualify.
2025-INT 00010 Published On: 08/15/2025
Question: We’ve been reviewing the 2025 RSC Q&A and wanted to confirm - for avoidance of doubt - our understanding of QF co-location guidelines. Could two sub 80-MW projects be sited under common ownership and bid in the PPA Track if they’re over 1-mile apart (measured from electrical generating equipment)?
Answer: Two sub 80-MW facilities could be considered separate QFs if they do not share physical characteristics or ownership characteristics outlined in Part 8b of FERC Form 556, are each registered separately as QFs via filed Form 556s, and are more than 1 mile apart from each other. When the projects are submitted into the RFP, they will be subject to review by CRA and by the Renewable Integration Team to ensure compliance.
2025-INT 00009 Published On: 08/08/2025
Question: Section III.D.(c) of the 2025 RFP document states that only projects with a fully executed Interconnection Agreement (IA) from the legacy serial study process, Transitional Cluster Study Process, or 2022 DISIS Process are eligible to submit an Early Selection Proposal. Should these IAs need to be FERC or State-jurisdictional, or will both types of IAs be eligible for the Early Selection?
Answer: If the project is bidding into the RFP as UOT only, the Interconnection Agreement can be either FERC- or State-jurisdictional. Projects bidding into the PPA track must be State-jurisdictional and the project must be a Qualifying Facility (QF).
2025-INT 00008 Published On: 08/05/2025
Question: What is the expected construction timeline for projects in the 2025 RSC?
Answer: At this time Duke Energy is not able to predict the timeline for projects entering into the 2025 RFP or the RSC. This information will become available once the 2025 RSC Phase 1 study is completed.
2025-INT 00007 Published On: 08/05/2025
Question: Can you please confirm that Solar-Only PPA bids are limited to 80MWac size each? Can you please explain the reasoning for this project size limitation, if so? Thank you
Answer: For a power purchase agreement (PPA) track project, the maximum size is up to and including 80 MWac (based on the interconnection request) in both DEC and DEP. However, projects bidding into the Utility Ownership Track (UOT) of the RFP can be larger than 80 MWac (and any project greater than 80 MWac would be submitting their interconnection request as a FERC jurisdictional project).
2025-INT 00006 Published On: 07/07/2025
Question: Would you please clarify if both user written models and generic models are required for both 2025 RFP and RSC submittals or will providing the recommended generic model be sufficient for submittals?
Answer: PSSE models are required. If the PSSE models are not included with the initial Interconnection Request submission, the interconnection study team will request them during the Customer Engagement Window as this information is required for the Resource Solicitation Cluster study performed by Transmission Planning. Sections 7h and 8h of the Inverter Based Resource Data Request form located on the OASIS site (Duke_Energy_Inverter_Based_Resource_Data_Request_Form_(DEC,DEF,DEP).pdf (oati.com)) provides guidance for inverter and reactive power PSSE modeling.
2025-INT 00005 (revised 07/08/2025) Published On: 06/13/2025
Question: Will projects with an executed interconnection agreement resulting from the serial interconnection process be allowed to enter the 2025 RFP?
Answer: Initially, the draft 2025 RFP did not anticipate allowing projects with executed interconnection agreements resulting from the serial interconnection process to participate. However, in response to stakeholder feedback, these projects may now be considered for inclusion in the 2025 RFP. Additional details will be provided when the finalized RFP is released at https://www.dukeenergyrfpcarolinas.com/2025-RFP-Documents. To receive a notification when the finalized RFP documents become available, register at https://www.dukeenergyrfpcarolinas.com/Registration.
2025-INT 00004 Published On: 05/28/2025
Question: Is a developer allowed to connect two Solar facilities at the same point of interconnection and file one application as a phased project?
Answer: No. The RFP and PPA do not contemplate “phased” projects, as there is one date that begins the term of the PPA and the facility is expected to perform at its as-bid MW and MWh. See Section III (Facility Eligibility Requirements and Proposal Tracks) for additional details.
2025-INT 00003 Published On: 05/15/2025
Question: After reading Appendix O, it looks like we post a study deposit to enter the RSC cluster of $35,000 + $1/kWac. Then, to enter Phase I, we post 1X the study deposit. There is guidance on refundability / withdrawal penalties for those that withdraw after Phase I, but there’s no guidance on refundability / withdrawal penalties on the initial study deposit posted to enter the cluster. What happens to that study deposit our project is not selected to the “Short List” on 1/6/26?
Answer: If the interconnection request is withdrawn, any refunds of unspent deposit will be processed in accordance with the applicable procedures (Sections 6.3.3 of the NCIP; or Section 6.3.3 of the SCGIP ; or Section 4.7 of Attachment K to the LGIP).
2025-INT 00002 Published On: 04/24/2025
Question: We are trying to understand all the financial requirements and corresponding refundability for the Resource Solicitation Cluster that will take place in parallel with the bid process. • What are the study costs / fees to enter Phase 1? • What is the refundability, if any, of the study costs during Phase 1? • How are the study costs remitted to Duke Energy. Is that cash? LOC? Bond? • As we understand it, if our project is invited to Short List, we enter Phase 2. Are there are additional study costs / deposits required to remain in RSC into Phase 2? o If so, what is the refundability of these additional study costs? • We understand that if our project is invited to Short List, we are to post a security in connection with the RFP. o How is that calculated? o What is the refundability of the security? o If Duke accepts our project, but requires us to offer a PPA price that is lower than we originally submitted, are we able to withdraw and keep our security? • Other than Network / Facility upgrade costs, are there any other financial requirements on the project to continue on through the RSC or the bidding process (other than what’s stated above)?
Answer: Please refer to the RFP Guidance document for the solicitation along with the applicable interconnection procedures for details regarding the financial requirements. The North Carolina Interconnection Procedures, the South Carolina Appendix CS and the Large Generator Interconnection Procedures are all available online. The LGIP is part of the Open Access Transmission Tariff and is posted on OATI OASIS.
2025-INT 00001 Published On: 04/15/2025
Question: Can you confirm that the pending FERC approval interconnection service procedures dated 1/9/25 is the applicable procedure for the 2025 RFP/RSC? If not, can you please confirm the applicable rules and tariff?
Answer: The currently effective LGIP can be viewed here.