Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20150812AVU to Staff 40 Attachment A.pdf COLUMBIAGRID PLANNING AND EXPANSION FUNCTIONAL AGREEMENT January 17, 2007 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 1 of 98 CONTENTS 1. Definitions.......................................................................................................................... 2 2. Biennial Transmission Plans and Updates....................................................................... 10 2.1 Adoption of Plans ................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Content of Draft Biennial Plans........................................................................... 10 2.3 Content of Biennial Plans .................................................................................... 11 2.4 Adoption of Plan Updates.................................................................................... 11 3. Plan Methodology............................................................................................................ 11 4. ColumbiaGrid Planning Process Requirements............................................................... 12 4.1 Duty to Cooperate................................................................................................ 12 4.2 Coordinated, Open, and Transparent Nature of Process...................................... 12 4.3 Notice to Potentially Interested Persons .............................................................. 13 4.4 Use of Study Teams............................................................................................. 13 4.5 Development of Protocol for Communications With and Receiving Input from States and Tribes......................................................................................... 13 4.6 ColumbiaGrid Development of WECC Submittals............................................. 13 4.7 Third Person Access to ColumbiaGrid Data and Analysis.................................. 14 5. Commitment to Move to Common Queue and Explore Other Improvements................ 14 6. Offer and Execution of Facilities Agreements; Other Agreements................................. 14 6.1 Agreements to Effectuate Approved EOPs.......................................................... 14 6.2 Tender and Execution of Form of Facilities Agreements for EOPs.................... 15 6.3 Facilities Petitions for EOPs................................................................................ 16 6.4 Waiver of Standing Arguments ........................................................................... 16 6.5 Prosecution of Facilities Petition Intervention..................................................... 17 6.6 Good Faith Efforts to Renegotiate Sections 6.2, 6.3, and 6.5.............................. 17 7. Regional and Interregional Transmission Coordination.................................................. 17 8. Payment............................................................................................................................ 17 8.1 Maximum Total Payment Obligation .................................................................. 17 8.2 Allocation of Corporate Overhead....................................................................... 18 8.3 Payor’s Payment Obligation................................................................................ 18 8.4 Allocation of the Payment Amount ..................................................................... 18 8.5 Allocation of Subsequent Payment Amounts and Allocated Shares for Subsequent Invoices in the Event of a New Payor .............................................. 20 8.6 Allocation of Subsequent Payment Amounts and Allocated Shares for Subsequent Invoices in the Event of Withdrawal of a Payor Because of an Adjustment to the Maximum Total Payment Obligation..................................... 20 8.7 Notice of Adjustment of Maximum Payor Obligations....................................... 21 8.8 Invoices................................................................................................................ 21 8.9 Use of Funds........................................................................................................ 23 8.10 Other Terms......................................................................................................... 23 Planning and Expansion -i- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 2 of 98 9. Budgets ............................................................................................................................ 23 9.1 Rolling Annual Budget........................................................................................ 23 9.2 ColumbiaGrid General Record-Keeping ............................................................. 23 9.3 Documentation of Costs Attributable to Specific Project.................................... 23 9.4 Annual Financial Reporting................................................................................. 24 9.5 Audit of ColumbiaGrid Records.......................................................................... 24 10. Standards of ColumbiaGrid Performance........................................................................ 24 11. Authorization for ColumbiaGrid to Perform Obligations Under This Agreement.......... 24 12. Limitation of Liability Among Planning Parties ............................................................. 24 13. Insurance, Indemnification, and Limitations of Liability................................................ 24 13.1 Insurance; Waiver of Subrogation Rights............................................................ 25 13.2 ColumbiaGrid’s Obligation to Notify Planning Parties with Respect to Insurance.............................................................................................................. 25 13.3 First Party Claims ................................................................................................ 25 13.4 Third Person Claims ............................................................................................ 26 13.5 Inaccurate or Incomplete Data or Information..................................................... 27 13.6 Limitation of Damages ........................................................................................ 27 14. Uncontrollable Force ....................................................................................................... 27 15. Assignments and Conveyances........................................................................................ 28 15.1 Successors and Assigns........................................................................................ 28 15.2 Assignment of ColumbiaGrid’s Rights and Obligations..................................... 28 15.3 Assignment of a Planning Party’s Rights and Obligations.................................. 28 15.4 Assignment of Facilities ...................................................................................... 28 15.5 Effect of Permitted Assignment........................................................................... 28 15.6 Consent Not Unreasonably Denied or Delayed................................................... 28 16. Confidentiality Obligations.............................................................................................. 29 16.1 Protection of Confidential Information................................................................ 29 16.2 Protection of Critical Energy Infrastructure Information .................................... 29 16.3 Disclosure Pursuant to Statute or Administrative or Judicial Order.................... 29 16.4 Disclosure of Information Subject to Standards of Conduct ............................... 30 17. Effective Date .................................................................................................................. 30 17.1 Original Parties .................................................................................................... 30 17.2 Subsequent Planning Parties................................................................................ 30 17.3 Regulatory Filings, if Any ................................................................................... 30 18. Withdrawal....................................................................................................................... 30 18.1 Notice of Potential Withdrawal ........................................................................... 30 18.2 Discussion of Concerns........................................................................................ 30 18.3 Notice of Withdrawal........................................................................................... 31 18.4 Effect of Default .................................................................................................. 31 18.5 Rescission of Notice of Withdrawal .................................................................... 31 Planning and Expansion -ii- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 3 of 98 18.6 Accelerated Withdrawal....................................................................................... 32 19. Miscellaneous .................................................................................................................. 32 19.1 Notices ................................................................................................................. 32 19.2 Amendment or Modification................................................................................ 34 19.3 Construction of Agreement.................................................................................. 34 19.4 Integration............................................................................................................ 34 19.5 Existing Agreements Preserved........................................................................... 34 19.6 Governing Law .................................................................................................... 34 19.7 Equitable Relief ................................................................................................... 35 19.8 Singular and Plural; Use of “Or” ......................................................................... 35 19.9 Headings for Convenience Only.......................................................................... 35 19.10 Relationship of the Parties................................................................................... 35 19.11 No Third Person Beneficiaries............................................................................. 35 19.12 No Dedication of Facilities.................................................................................. 35 19.13 Nonwaiver............................................................................................................ 36 19.14 Further Actions and Documents .......................................................................... 36 19.15 Counterparts......................................................................................................... 36 19.16 No Expansion of Commission Authority............................................................. 36 19.17 Representation of Qualified Person Status .......................................................... 36 19.18 Representation of Authority................................................................................. 36 19.19 Planning Parties Records and Information Sharing............................................. 36 19.20 Other Reports....................................................................................................... 37 Planning and Expansion -iii- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 4 of 98 APPENDIX A PLANNING PROCESS........................................................................... 1 1. On-Going Planning Activities; Iterative Process; Interim Approval................................. 1 2. Planning Criteria................................................................................................................ 1 3. System Assessment Report and Need Statements............................................................. 1 4. Study Teams....................................................................................................................... 3 5. Development of EOPs After Development of Needs Statements...................................... 4 5.1 Formation of Study Teams..................................................................................... 4 5.2 Elements of an EOP............................................................................................... 4 5.3 Non-Transmission Alternatives............................................................................. 4 5.4 Completion of a Proposed EOP............................................................................. 5 6. Requested Service Projects................................................................................................ 5 6.1 Receipt of Transmission Service or Interconnection Request............................... 5 6.2 Requested Service Assessment; Formation of Study Teams................................. 5 6.3 Elements of a Requested Service Project............................................................... 6 6.4 Completion of a Proposed Requested Service Project........................................... 6 7. Single System Projects....................................................................................................... 7 7.1 Notification of Single System Projects.................................................................. 7 8. Capacity Increase Projects................................................................................................. 8 8.1 Notification of Capacity Increase Projects ............................................................ 8 8.2 Formation of Study Team...................................................................................... 8 8.3 Elements of Capacity Increase Project .................................................................. 8 8.4 Request for Cost Allocation for Capacity Increase Project ................................... 8 9. Expanded Scope Projects................................................................................................... 8 9.1 Assessing Interest in Expanding the Scope of Project........................................... 8 9.2 Formation of Study Team...................................................................................... 9 9.3 Completion of a Proposed Expanded Scope Project.............................................. 9 10. Process for Adoption of Plans............................................................................................ 9 10.1 Draft Plan............................................................................................................... 9 10.2 Review Process.................................................................................................... 11 10.3 Basis for Plan Adoption....................................................................................... 11 10.4 Plan Adoption ...................................................................................................... 11 11. Initial Steps; Compilation of Existing Planning Documents........................................... 14 APPENDIX B PRO FORMA FACILITIES AGREEMENT Planning and Expansion -iv- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 5 of 98 COLUMBIAGRID PLANNING AND EXPANSION FUNCTIONAL AGREEMENT RECITALS A. ColumbiaGrid is intended to promote, in the public interest, coordinated and reliable planning, expansion, and operation of the interconnected transmission systems in the Pacific Northwest, taking into consideration environmental concerns, regional interests, and cost- effectiveness. B. This functional agreement (“Agreement”) is intended to support and facilitate multi-system planning through a coordinated, open, and transparent process and is intended to facilitate transmission expansion based upon such planning. This public planning process is open to all interested persons. C. ColumbiaGrid will prepare biennial transmission plans based on the principle of single-utility planning that, over a ten-year planning horizon, is intended to identify and resolve projected needs on the transmission systems of parties to this Agreement for serving existing long-term firm transmission obligations. ColumbiaGrid will facilitate an open and transparent planning process designed to promote consensus among affected entities to address such projected needs that affect more than one transmission system. If such consensus is not reached, ColumbiaGrid staff will propose transmission projects to resolve projected needs, including cost and benefit allocation, and submit such transmission projects to the ColumbiaGrid Board for approval. D. ColumbiaGrid will assume the obligations of Northwest Area Coordinator for submissions of planning data to the Western Electric Coordinating Council on behalf of the parties to this Agreement, and may also play an informational role in other regional transmission planning committees and work groups. E. The ColumbiaGrid transmission project planning process will incorporate the effect of non-transmission alternatives that are sponsored by the transmission system owners or operators that are parties to this Agreement and that delay or eliminate the need for transmission projects on such systems. F. The ColumbiaGrid planning process and biennial plans will also address transmission projects needed to serve new transmission and interconnection requests to the transmission system owners or operators that are parties to this Agreement and address expansions sponsored by such parties. The biennial plans will also list transmission projects developed by individual parties to the Agreement to address deficiencies affecting only their individual transmission systems. Planning and Expansion -1- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 6 of 98 AGREEMENT THIS PLANNING AND EXPANSION FUNCTIONAL AGREEMENT is entered into as of January 17, 2007 by and among Avista Corporation; the Bonneville Power Administration (“Bonneville”); Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, Washington; Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County, Washington; Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; the City of Seattle, a municipal corporation of the State of Washington, acting by and through its City Light Department; Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, Washington; the City of Tacoma, Department of Public Utilities, Light Division (dba Tacoma Power); and ColumbiaGrid, a Washington state nonprofit corporation. 1. Definitions 1.1 “Affected Persons” with respect to a Project means those Planning Parties and Persons that would bear Material Adverse Impacts from such Project or are otherwise materially affected by such Project. 1.2 “Agreement Limiting Liability Among Western Interconnected Systems” or “WIS Agreement” means at any time the Agreement Limiting Liability Among Western Interconnected Systems as it may have then been amended. 1.3 “Allocated Share” with respect to each Payor means at any time the percentage for such Payor as determined by ColumbiaGrid pursuant to the formula set forth in section 8.4, as such percentage may have then been adjusted pursuant to sections 8.5 or 8.6; provided, that the Allocated Share of any New Payor of any Invoice submitted to such New Payor pursuant to section 8.8.3 shall be equal to the $10,000 amount of such Invoice. 1.4 “Biennial Plan” means each biennial transmission plan adopted by the Board pursuant to section 2. A “Draft Biennial Plan” refers to a draft of a Biennial Plan presented by Staff to the Board for adoption pursuant to section 2 but not yet adopted by the Board. 1.5 “Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Board of Directors of ColumbiaGrid. 1.6 “Bylaws” means the then current bylaws of ColumbiaGrid. 1.7 “Capacity Increase Project” means a voluntary modification of the Regional Interconnected Systems that is (i) for the purpose of increasing transmission capacity on the Regional Interconnected Systems; (ii) voluntarily undertaken by one or more Planning Parties; and (iii) not an Existing Obligation Project or Requested Service Project. A “Proposed Capacity Increase Project” means a proposal for a Capacity Increase Project at such time as it is being discussed in the planning process, whether that be for purposes of identifying Planning and Expansion -2- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 7 of 98 unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts of such Project or for purposes of developing the Project under section 8 of Appendix A. 1.8 “Claims Committee” means a committee established pursuant to section 13.4 of this Agreement upon the receipt of a claim or prior to such time. 1.9 “Commission” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor entity. 1.10 “Confidential Information” shall mean: all information, regardless of the manner in which it is furnished, marked as “Confidential Information” at the time of its furnishing; provided that Confidential Information shall not include information: (1) in the public domain or generally available or known to the public; (2) disclosed to a recipient by a Third Person who had a legal right to do so; (3) independently developed by the receiving Party or known to such Party prior to its disclosure under this Agreement; (4) information that is normally disclosed by entities in the Western Interconnection without limitation; (5) disclosed in aggregate form; or (6) required to be disclosed without a protective order or confidentiality agreement by subpoena, law or other directive of a court, administrative agency or arbitration panel. 1.11 “CPI Index/GNP Deflator” means the Consumer Price Index for Portland, published monthly by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or, if the U.S. Department of Labor discontinues the publication of the CPI Index, or alters the same in some other material manner, then a substitute index or substitute procedure as selected by ColumbiaGrid that reasonably reflects and monitors changes in consumer prices similar to the altered or discontinued index. 1.12 “Critical Energy Infrastructure Information” or “CEII” means information as defined in 18 C.F.R. § 388.113(c), as may be amended from time to time, about existing and proposed systems or assets, whether physical or virtual, relating to the production, generation, transportation, transmission, or distribution of energy that could be useful to a person in planning an attack on such systems or assets, the incapacity or destruction of which would negatively affect security, economic security, or public health or safety. 1.13 “Designated Person” with respect to a form of Facilities Agreement means each of the Persons designated as such pursuant to section 6.1 by ColumbiaGrid in such form. 1.14 “Effective Date” means the date this Agreement becomes effective as set out in section 17. 1.15 “Electric System” has the meaning given for the words “electric system” in the WIS Agreement and means (a) electric distribution facilities or (b) generation facilities or (c) transmission facilities, or any combination of the three, and includes transmission lines, distribution lines, substations, switching stations, generating plants, and all associated equipment for generating, transmitting, distributing or controlling flow of power. The Electric System of a Person includes the facilities of another entity operated or controlled by such Person. “Electric System” includes any devices or equipment (1) by which information is originated on an electric system or by the Person operating such system, (2) by which such information is transmitted, and Planning and Expansion -3- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 8 of 98 (3) by which such information is received either for information or for operation of a system, whether by the originating system or by another system. 1.16 “Existing Obligation Project” or “EOP” means any modification to be made to the Regional Interconnected Systems that is (i) for the purpose of meeting a Need on a TOPP’s system; (ii) not a Single System Project; and (iii) approved by the Board and included as an EOP in a Plan. A “Proposed Existing Obligation Project” or “Proposed EOP” means a proposal for an EOP at such time as it is being proposed in the planning process; a “Recommended Existing Obligation Project” or “Recommended EOP” means a recommendation, developed by the agreement of Affected Persons pursuant to section 5 of Appendix A, for an EOP that is included as such in a Draft Biennial Plan or Draft Plan Update; a “Staff-Recommended Existing Obligation Project” or “Staff-Recommended EOP” means a recommendation, made by Staff pursuant to section 5.4 of Appendix A, for a Near-Term Existing Obligation Project that is included as such in a Draft Biennial Plan or Draft Plan Update. 1.17 “Expanded Scope Project” means any Project that is expanded pursuant to section 9 of Appendix A. 1.18 “Facilities Agreement” means an agreement tendered by ColumbiaGrid to Designated Parties for purposes of effectuating an EOP pursuant to section 6. 1.19 “Facilities Petition” means, with respect to an Existing Obligation Project, a petition by a Planning Party or any other Person to the Commission seeking relief in respect of a refusal or failure, by any Designated Person(s) that is named as a party in the form of Facilities Agreement for such Existing Obligation Project and is tendered such form pursuant to section 6.2, to enter into such agreement or to build or pay for the facilities identified in such Facilities Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof. 1.20 “Facilities Petition Intervention” means, with respect to a Facilities Petition, an intervention by ColumbiaGrid in the Commission proceeding in which such Facilities Petition has been filed; provided that any Planning Party may intervene in a proceeding with respect to a Facilities Petition. 1.21 “Interested Person” means any Person who has expressed an interest in the business of ColumbiaGrid and has requested notice of its public meetings. Such Interested Persons will be identified on the Interested Persons list compiled by ColumbiaGrid in accordance with Section 4.2 of the ColumbiaGrid Bylaws. 1.22 “Invoice” means an invoice submitted by ColumbiaGrid to all Payors (or to a New Payor) pursuant to section 8.8 for services rendered and corporate overhead under section 8.2. Planning and Expansion -4- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 9 of 98 1.23 “Material Adverse Impacts” with respect to a Project means a reduction of transmission capacity on a transmission system (or other adverse impact on such transmission system that is generally considered in transmission planning in the Western Interconnection) due to such Project that is material, that would result from a Project, and that is unacceptable to the Person that owns or operates such transmission system. For purposes of this Agreement, Material Adverse Impacts of a Project are considered mitigated if there would not be any Material Adverse Impacts due to such Project. 1.24 “Maximum Payor Obligation” for each Payor means the maximum total of Payment Amounts (specifically excluding any interest such Payor is obligated to pay under section 8.8.6.3 due to such Payor’s failure to pay its Allocated Share of a Payment Amount when due) such Payor is obligated to pay under section 8.3 of this Agreement. 1.25 “Maximum Total Payment Obligation” means the maximum total of Payment Amounts (specifically excluding any interest any Payor is obligated to pay under section 8.8.6.3 due to such Payor’s failure to pay its Allocated Share of a Payment Amount when due), which maximum total, for each Payment Cycle, is the sum to be provided to ColumbiaGrid in the aggregate by the Payors. The Maximum Total Payment Obligation equals (i) an amount equal to $4,200,000 for a Payment Cycle, as such amount may be adjusted by the CPI/GNP Deflator pursuant to section 8.1.2, or (ii) such other amount for a Payment Cycle as may be required pursuant to section 8.1.3, as such amount may be subsequently adjusted by the CPI/GNP Deflator pursuant to section 8.1.2; provided that in the event the first Payment Cycle is less than two fiscal years to allow for the alignment of the Payment Cycle and Planning Cycle and to allow Payment Cycles after the first Payment Cycle to commence at the beginning of a ColumbiaGrid fiscal year, the Maximum Total Payment Obligation for the first Payment Cycle shall be prorated to reflect the actual length of the first Payment Cycle. 1.26 “Near-Term Existing Obligation Project” or “Near-Term EOP” means, at any time, an Existing Obligation Project that must be commenced prior to the end of the then next Planning Cycle in order to have sufficient lead time for implementation to meet the Need giving rise to such Existing Obligation Project. 1.27 “Need” means any projected inability of a Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party (anticipated to occur during the Planning Horizon) to serve, consistent with the Planning Criteria, (i) its network load and native load customer obligations, if any, as those terms are defined in such Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party’s Open Access Transmission Tariff; and (ii) other existing long-term firm transmission obligations. Planning and Expansion -5- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 10 of 98 1.28 “Need Statement” means, with respect to a Need, a statement developed by Staff pursuant to section 3 of Appendix A and included for informational purposes in a Plan. A “Draft Need Statement” means a proposal for a Need Statement presented by Staff to the Board for review and comment. 1.29 “New Payor” means a Qualified Person that enters into this Agreement, and thereby becomes a Planning Party, subsequent to the Effective Date by executing a counterpart of this Agreement and delivering it to each Party; provided that a consortium of similarly situated Planning Parties, none of which operates a control area, may elect at the time they enter into this Agreement to be designated as a single Payor and shall thereby become jointly and severally liable for the Payment Cycle fixed payment amount (of $50,000) pursuant to section 8.4 and the New Payor fee (of $10,000) pursuant to section 8.8.3. 1.30 “Non-Transmission Alternative” means a non-transmission alternative that ColumbiaGrid has determined (i) results in the elimination or delay of a Need, (ii) results in a change in the loads or resources to be reflected in the system assessments, and (iii) is sponsored by one or more TOPPs. Examples of such alternatives that may constitute Non-Transmission Alternatives may include demand-side load reduction programs, peak-shaving projects, and distributed generation. The following examples are specifically excluded from Non- Transmission Alternatives: remedial action schemes, shunt capacitors, and reconductoring. 1.31 “Open Access Transmission Tariff” or “OATT” means, for each Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party, such Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party’s open access transmission tariff and, if such Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party does not have such a tariff, the Commission’s pro forma open access transmission tariff. 1.32 “Pacific Northwest” means the (i) sub region within the Western Interconnection comprised of Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming and (ii) any portions of the area defined in 16 U.S.C. § 839a(14) that are not otherwise included in (i). 1.33 “Party” means a signatory to this Agreement. 1.34 “Payment Amount” means the total amount of payment to be provided to ColumbiaGrid by the Payors (or by a New Payor(s)) in the aggregate pursuant to section 8.3 in response to an Invoice. 1.35 “Payment Cycle” means each period of two consecutive ColumbiaGrid fiscal years for which the budget for provision of services under this Agreement is to be prepared; provided that ColumbiaGrid shall endeavor to align its Planning Cycle with its Payment Cycle; provided further that the first Payment Cycle may be for a period less than two such fiscal years to allow for alignment of the Payment Cycle and Planning Cycle and to allow each Payment Cycle after the first Payment Cycle to commence at the beginning of a ColumbiaGrid fiscal year. For purposes of this Agreement, a fiscal year shall be a twelve-month period. 1.36 “Payor” means each Planning Party; provided that a consortium of similarly situated Planning Parties, none of which operates a control area, may elect at the time they enter into this Agreement to be designated as a single Payor and shall thereby become jointly and Planning and Expansion -6- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 11 of 98 severally liable for the Payment Cycle fixed payment amount (of $50,000) pursuant to section 8.4 and the New Payor fee (of $10,000) pursuant to section 8.8.3; provided further that each such Planning Party shall otherwise be a separate Planning Party under this Agreement. 1.37 “Person” means an individual, corporation, cooperative corporation, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, joint operating entity, limited liability company, mutual association, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government entity or political subdivision thereof (including a federal power marketing administration), or organization recognized as a legal entity by law in the United States or Canada. 1.38 “Plan” means at any time the then current Biennial Plan, as then revised by any Plan Updates. A “Draft Plan” refers to a Draft Biennial Plan or a Draft Plan Update. 1.39 “Plan of Service” means the technical modifications to the Regional Interconnected Systems to be effected by a Project. 1.40 “Plan Update” means an update to the then current Plan adopted by the Board pursuant to section 2.4. A “Draft Plan Update” means a plan update presented by Staff to the Board for adoption but not yet adopted by the Board. 1.41 “Planning Criteria” means the then current planning standards that ColumbiaGrid shall apply, as provided in section 2 of Appendix A, in any system assessment, System Assessment Report, or Needs Statement. 1.42 “Planning Cycle” means a period of approximately 24 months during which a Draft Biennial Plan is to be prepared and presented to the Board for adoption and during which a Biennial Plan is to be subsequently adopted by the Board. 1.43 “Planning Horizon” means, with respect to any Biennial Plan (or Plan Update), the period for which the system assessment for such Biennial Plan (or Plan Update) is made, which period shall be the longer of (i) ten years or (ii) the planning period required by the Commission in its pro forma OATT, as it may be amended from time to time. 1.44 “Planning Party” means each Party other than ColumbiaGrid. 1.45 “Project” means any of the following (including any expansion in the Plan of Service therefor pursuant to section 9 of Appendix A) included in a Plan: (i) Capacity Increase Project, (ii) Existing Obligation Project, (iii) Requested Service Project, or (iv) Single System Project. 1.46 “Qualified Person” means (i) a Person that operates or proposes to operate an Electric System in the Pacific Northwest or (ii) a Person that has an obligation under state, provincial, or federal law to engage in transmission planning or expansion activities in the Pacific Northwest. 1.47 “Regional Interconnected Systems” or “RIS” means the interconnected transmission systems in the Pacific Northwest. Planning and Expansion -7- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 12 of 98 1.48 “Remaining Maximum Total Payment Obligation” means, at any time during the Term, the amount of Maximum Total Payment Obligation for which Invoices have not been issued. Upon the addition of a New Payor, the Remaining Maximum Total Payment Obligation shall equal the Maximum Total Payment Obligation minus the sum of (i) the aggregate of all Invoices as of the date the New Payor executes and delivers this Agreement to each Party plus (ii) the Payment Amount requested by the Initial Invoice to such New Payor pursuant to section 8.8.3. 1.49 “Requested Service Assessment” means, with respect to a request to a TOPP for study related to a transmission service or interconnection, an assessment of the effect of such request on such TOPP’s Transmission System and on other transmission systems. 1.50 “Requested Service Project” means any modification of the Regional Interconnected Systems that (i) is for the purpose of providing service pursuant to a transmission service or interconnection request made to a TOPP; and (ii) involves more than one Transmission System. A “Proposed Requested Service Project” means a proposal for a Requested Service Project at such time as it is being proposed in the planning process under this Agreement; a “Recommended Requested Service Project” means a recommendation for a Requested Service Project that is developed by the agreement of Affected Persons and that is included in a Plan; a “Staff-Recommended Requested Service Project” means a recommendation by the Staff for a Requested Service Project following the inability of Affected Persons to reach agreement in a timely manner on a Recommended Requested Service Project. 1.51 “Single System Project” means any modification of a single Transmission System that (i) is for the purpose of meeting a Need that impacts only such single Transmission System; (ii) does not result in Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system; and (iii) is included as a Single System Project in a Plan. 1.52 “Staff” means the ColumbiaGrid staff, officers, or consultants hired or retained by ColumbiaGrid to perform the Staff’s responsibilities under this Agreement. The activities of Staff under this Agreement will be performed under the supervision and guidance of the ColumbiaGrid Board. 1.53 “Study Team” with respect to a Project being defined means a team that is comprised of ColumbiaGrid and the following that choose to participate in such team: (i) any Planning Parties, (ii) any Affected Persons identified with respect to such Project, and (iii) any Interested Persons; provided that the Study Team for a Requested Service Project shall include Planning and Expansion -8- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 13 of 98 only ColumbiaGrid and Affected Persons identified with respect to such Project. The Study Team for an Existing Obligation Project will develop solution(s) to meet the Need giving rise to such Existing Obligation Project. The Study Team for a Requested Service Project will develop a Project to serve the request giving rise to such Requested Service Project. The Study Team for any other Project will assist in either the identification or mitigation of Material Adverse Impacts, if any, resulting from such Project or, depending upon the type of Project and the election of the Project sponsor(s), participate in the planning of such Project. 1.54 “Supporting Planning Parties” for an EOP means: (i) all Planning Parties that have not opted pursuant to section 6.3 to institute, or that do not intervene on their own behalf in, a Commission proceeding on a Facilities Petition with respect to such EOP. 1.55 “System Assessment Report” means each system assessment report developed by Staff pursuant to section 3 in Appendix A. 1.56 “Third Person” means any Person other than a Party. 1.57 “Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party” or “TOPP” means a Party that is a transmission owner or operator. 1.58 “Transmission System” means the transmission facilities in the Pacific Northwest owned or operated by a Transmission Owner or Operator Planning Party. 1.59 “Uncontrollable Force” means any act or event that delays or prevents a Party from timely performing obligations under this Agreement, including an act of God, strike, lock- out, labor dispute, labor disturbance, act of the public enemy, act of terrorism, war, insurrection, riot, fire, storm or flood, earthquake, explosion, accident to or breakage, failure or malfunction of machinery or equipment, any curtailment, order, regulation or restriction imposed by governmental, military or lawfully established civilian authorities (other than, as to its own performance, by such Party that is a federal power marketing administration, municipal corporation or other federal, tribal or state governmental entity or subdivision thereof), or any other cause beyond such Party’s reasonable control and to the extent without such Party’s fault or negligence. Economic hardship shall not constitute an Uncontrollable Force under this Agreement. 1.60 “Voting Payor” means, as of the time of any request for a modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation pursuant to section 8.1.3, each Payor that is then a Party to this Agreement (and has not then given notice of withdrawal pursuant to section 18.3 and is not then deemed to have given notice of withdrawal pursuant to section 18.4). 1.61 “Website” means the website maintained by ColumbiaGrid at www.columbiagrid.org. 1.62 “Western Electricity Coordinating Council” or “WECC” means the Western Electricity Coordinating Council or any successor entity. 1.63 “Willful Action” means an action taken or not taken by a Party, which action is knowingly or intentionally taken or failed to be taken, with intent that injury or damage would Planning and Expansion -9- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 14 of 98 result therefrom or which action is wantonly reckless. Willful Action does not include any act or failure to act which is involuntary, accidental, negligent, or grossly negligent. 1.64 “WIS Agreement”: see definition 1.2 above. 2. Biennial Transmission Plans and Updates 2.1 Adoption of Plans Each Planning Cycle, ColumbiaGrid shall develop and review a Draft Biennial Plan and shall adopt, by majority vote of the Board, a Biennial Plan. The first Biennial Plan will be adopted as soon as practicable but in no event later than 30 months after the Effective Date. The planning process to be followed under this Agreement by the Parties is more fully described in Appendix A. 2.2 Content of Draft Biennial Plans Each Draft Biennial Plan shall include the following elements: (i) System Assessment Report(s) and Need Statement(s) that have been previously submitted by Staff to the Board; (ii) Recommended Near-Term EOP(s), other Recommended EOP(s) that are ready for implementation pursuant to the agreement of the Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid, and Staff-Recommended EOP(s); (iii) Recommended Requested Service Project(s) and Staff- Recommended Requested Service Project(s); (iv) Capacity Increase Project(s) that have been submitted for inclusion in the Biennial Plan by the Planning Party (or Planning Parties) sponsoring such Project(s); (v) Single System Project(s) on a Transmission System that have been submitted for inclusion in the Biennial Plan by the TOPP that owns or operates such system; (vi) Expanded Scope Project(s) that are ready for implementation pursuant to the agreement of the Project sponsor(s) and other Affected Persons that are Planning Parties; (vii) Non-Transmission Alternatives; and (viii) Other information included for informational purposes, for example, (a) the status of agreement among Affected Persons with respect to any Project; (b) a description of the extent to which any Project is an Expanded Scope Project; (c) information regarding any Project for which planning through ColumbiaGrid is underway but which is not yet ready for implementation; (d) any Planning and Expansion -10- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 15 of 98 Project for which planning is still at a conceptual or preliminary stage; and (e) disposition or status of any Project included in the prior Plan. 2.3 Content of Biennial Plans Each Biennial Plan shall include the following elements: 2.3.1 as approved by the Board— (i) EOP(s); and (ii) Requested Service Project(s); 2.3.2 included for informational purposes— (i) System Assessment Report(s); (ii) Need Statement(s); (iii) Capacity Increase Project(s); (iv) Single System Project(s); (v) Expanded Scope Project(s); (vi) Non-Transmission Alternative(s); and (vii) Such other information that the Board finds appropriate for inclusion in the Biennial Plan for informational purposes. 2.4 Adoption of Plan Updates If at any time ColumbiaGrid determines that changes in planning assumptions or other conditions require the definition and approval of a Near-Term EOP or Requested Service Project, or otherwise make a Plan Update appropriate, prior to the adoption of the next Biennial Plan in order for there to be sufficient lead time for implementation, Staff shall develop and the Board shall consider for adoption, a Plan Update of the then current Plan to address such planning assumptions or other conditions. Any Plan Update shall to the extent practicable be based on the then most current assumptions and conditions. After adoption of a Biennial Plan or Plan Update, ColumbiaGrid shall provide all Study Team participants with a copy thereof, and post such Biennial Plan or Plan Update on its Website. 3. Plan Methodology In developing each Plan, ColumbiaGrid will conduct such activities consistent with this Agreement and will endeavor to: Planning and Expansion -11- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 16 of 98 (i) facilitate analysis of Projects as if a single utility owned all relevant generating, transmission, and distribution facilities to enhance efficiency and reduce duplication of facilities, environmental impacts, and costs; (ii) model and study the RIS facilities through a system assessment and other analyses assuming all such facilities are available for Projects; (iii) recognize each TOPP’s responsibility for planning Projects on its Transmission System and responsibility for the planning necessary for its Single System Projects and service of its local loads from its Transmission System; (iv) coordinate with the planning activities of other sub regional and regional planning entities; and (v) with respect to Non-Transmission Alternatives, defer to the development of such alternatives in other appropriate forums and limit analysis of such alternatives to analysis of whether a TOPP-proposed Non-Transmission Alternative will meet or defer a Need. 4. ColumbiaGrid Planning Process Requirements 4.1 Duty to Cooperate Each Planning Party shall cooperate with and support ColumbiaGrid in the implementation of its responsibilities under this Agreement, which shall as applicable include providing data relating to its Electric System or proposed Electric System and individual TOPP planning criteria and performing technical studies regarding its Transmission System as it relates to the RIS. Specifically, each Planning Party shall participate in, and support, ColumbiaGrid’s performing annual system assessments and shall participate actively in the Study Teams that are formed to address Needs or develop Projects for which such Planning Party is an Affected Person. Each Planning Party performing studies contemplated under this Agreement shall keep the Staff informed about those studies and seek the input of the Staff, as appropriate, and shall provide the final studies to the Staff for the use of ColumbiaGrid. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit a Planning Party from constructing a transmission facility or expanding its Electric System in a manner that has not yet been reflected in a Plan; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall preclude ColumbiaGrid from determining through a system assessment that there are still unmet Needs notwithstanding any such facility or expansion or any other facility or expansion. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent ColumbiaGrid from performing studies as needed in accordance with Appendix A. 4.2 Coordinated, Open, and Transparent Nature of Process ColumbiaGrid shall endeavor to implement the planning processes under this Agreement in a coordinated, open, transparent, and participatory manner, subject to ColumbiaGrid’s obligation to protect Confidential Information and CEII pursuant to this Agreement. This process is not intended to create any Third Person remedies or rights as to the adequacy of ColumbiaGrid’s processes or public review. Planning and Expansion -12- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 17 of 98 4.3 Notice to Potentially Interested Persons ColumbiaGrid in consultation with each Study Team shall endeavor to notify the following Persons of the formation and scope of activities of such Study Team with respect to a Project: (i) all Affected Persons with respect to such Project, (ii) all Persons potentially interested in such Study Team, and (iii) the Interested Persons list, including Pacific Northwest transmission owners and operators and State and Tribal representatives on the Interested Persons list. ColumbiaGrid shall develop a protocol regarding procedures designed to identify and notify States, including agencies responsible for facility siting, utility regulation, and general energy policy, Tribes, and Pacific Northwest transmission owners and operators that are potentially impacted by Needs or solutions regarding the activities of Study Teams addressing such Needs or solutions. For example, the protocol should include a provision stating that at such time as it becomes apparent to a Study Team that Tribal resources or lands may be impacted, the Study Team should make a reasonable attempt to notify potentially impacted Tribes of its work. ColumbiaGrid may work with the Planning Parties and Pacific Northwest Tribes to compile a database of Tribal lands and culturally significant areas for use under such a protocol. 4.4 Use of Study Teams ColumbiaGrid shall assemble Study Teams as more fully described in Appendix A. Such Study Teams are intended to be the primary tool for participation by Planning Parties, Affected Persons, and Interested Persons in the development of Projects defined and included in the Plan. Study Team participants shall bear their own costs of participation. ColumbiaGrid may establish terms and conditions it determines appropriate for participation by any Person in a Study Team, including terms and conditions relating to protection of Confidential Information and CEII. 4.5 Development of Protocol for Communications With and Receiving Input from States and Tribes ColumbiaGrid shall develop a protocol to foster the collaborative involvement of States, including agencies responsible for facility siting, utility regulation, and general energy policy, and Tribes in the ColumbiaGrid planning process. Such protocol shall guide ColumbiaGrid’s communications with such entities, and shall include provisions to keep such entities informed regarding ColumbiaGrid’s activities. 4.6 ColumbiaGrid Development of WECC Submittals ColumbiaGrid Staff shall, in consultation with each TOPP (and other Planning Parties as appropriate), develop data submittals on behalf of such TOPP for WECC base case development purposes (which is a task that Bonneville previously performed for many Northwest transmission owners). Bonneville will transfer to ColumbiaGrid this coordinator function with respect to each TOPP and assist, as determined by Bonneville and ColumbiaGrid, in the training of Staff to perform this function. Each TOPP agrees to submit to ColumbiaGrid its underlying data for the WECC submittals once this transfer has taken place. As with the Bonneville process, TOPPs will have the opportunity to review proposed base cases during the normal WECC review process. Planning and Expansion -13- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 18 of 98 4.7 Third Person Access to ColumbiaGrid Data and Analysis ColumbiaGrid shall develop, and revise as necessary, policies regarding the provision of planning data or analysis to Third Persons subject to the appropriate treatment of Confidential Information, information relating to Standards of Conduct matters, and CEII; provided that ColumbiaGrid shall make clear on its Website and in other distributions that such data and analysis is being provided as is and that any reliance by the user on such data or analysis is at its own risk and, specifically, shall make clear (and shall require Third Persons receiving such data or analysis from ColumbiaGrid to enter into separate contracts agreeing) that any such data or analysis is not warranted by ColumbiaGrid or any Planning Party and that neither ColumbiaGrid nor any Planning Party is responsible for any such data or analysis, for any errors or omissions in such data, or for any delay or failure to provide any such data or analysis to such Third Persons. 5. Commitment to Move to Common Queue and Explore Other Improvements It is the intent of the Parties to develop and adopt separate agreements or amendments to this Agreement that are mutually agreeable to the Parties, pursuant to which a common queue for requests for transmission service and interconnection to any of the TOPPs is implemented. The Parties will endeavor to adopt such agreements or amendments and implement such a common queue as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. The Parties recognize that implementation of such a common queue will probably require modification of the Open Access Transmission Tariffs of the TOPPS that have such OATTs. ColumbiaGrid may explore improvements to the planning process set out in Appendix A and recommend such improvements to the Planning Parties and recommend amendments to this Agreement that would effectuate such improvements. 6. Offer and Execution of Facilities Agreements; Other Agreements 6.1 Agreements to Effectuate Approved EOPs 6.1.1 In the absence of other arrangements that ColumbiaGrid determines will effectuate any EOP, ColumbiaGrid shall develop a form of Facilities Agreement for such EOP, which shall be substantially in the form of Appendix B and which shall include the following from the specification of such EOP in the Plan: (i) a description of the Plan of Service for such EOP, including each modification to be made to the RIS by the EOP and the Person(s) to make each such modification; (ii) each Person to bear the costs of the EOP and the allocation of such costs; and (iii) each Person to receive a share of the transmission capacity, if any, added or maintained by the EOP and the allocation of such benefits to and among such Person(s). Planning and Expansion -14- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 19 of 98 Each Person designated in item (i), (ii), or (iii) (“Designated Person”) shall be named as a party in the form of Facilities Agreement for such EOP. 6.1.2 Ownership and use of any transmission capacity that is (i) added or maintained as a result of an EOP, and (ii) added or maintained on the transmission system of a party to a Facilities Agreement as a result of any of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service under such Facilities Agreement, but (iii) specified in Exhibit F of such Facilities Agreement to be owned by another party to such Facilities Agreement, shall only be pursuant to and shall be governed by a written separate capacity agreement between such parties to be mutually agreed upon between such parties and entered into contemporaneously with such Facilities Agreement; provided that in the absence of such a capacity agreement, the use of any additional capacity resulting from an EOP that is (i) added or maintained as a result of an EOP, and (ii) added or maintained on the transmission system of a party to a Facilities Agreement as a result of any of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service under such Facilities Agreement, but (iii) specified in Exhibit F of such Facilities Agreement to be owned by another party to such Facilities Agreement, shall be governed by a transmission agreement between parties to such Facilities Agreement. 6.2 Tender and Execution of Form of Facilities Agreements for EOPs ColumbiaGrid shall tender the form of Facilities Agreement prepared pursuant to section 6.1 for any EOP to each Designated Person named as a party in such form and allow each such Designated Person 60 days (or such longer period as ColumbiaGrid may determine) after its receipt of such tender to execute and return such form to ColumbiaGrid. No such Designated Person shall have any obligation under this Agreement to enter into such tendered form of Facilities Agreement; provided that any such Designated Person that does not enter into such tendered form of Facilities Agreement within such 60 days may be named in a Facilities Petition pursuant to section 6.3 below. ColumbiaGrid shall provide, with each such tender of a Facilities Agreement for an EOP, a description of the Need giving rise to such EOP and the record supporting the Board’s decision to approve such EOP, including a description of the process used to develop such EOP and a reference to the Board’s decision to approve such EOP. If ColumbiaGrid receives the form of Facilities Agreement so executed by each such Designated Person within 60 days (or such longer period as ColumbiaGrid may determine) after receipt by each such Designated Person of the tender of such form, ColumbiaGrid shall also execute and deliver such Facilities Agreement to each such Designated Person. Planning and Expansion -15- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 20 of 98 Without the prior written consent of all Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, no Party that is a party to a Facilities Agreement shall amend such Facilities Agreement to be inconsistent with the pro forma Facilities Agreement. If this Agreement is amended by the Parties so as to amend its attached pro forma Facilities Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall offer an amendment to each then effective Facilities Agreement that would conform each such Facilities Agreement to such amended pro forma Facilities Agreement. 6.3 Facilities Petitions for EOPs In the event ColumbiaGrid has not received an executed Facilities Agreement from each Designated Person named as a party therein within 60 days (or such longer period as ColumbiaGrid may determine) after receipt by each such Designated Person of the tender of the form of such Facilities Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall determine whether any of the Planning Parties intends to file and pursue with the Commission a Facilities Petition with respect to the EOP for which the form of Facilities Agreement was tendered by ColumbiaGrid. If a Planning Party files such a Facilities Petition naming another Planning Party as a respondent, ColumbiaGrid shall intervene by filing and serving a Facilities Petition Intervention with the Commission. ColumbiaGrid shall not intervene in a proceeding in which only Designated Persons that are not Planning Parties are named as respondents. If a Person that is not a Planning Party files such a Facilities Petition naming a Planning Party as a respondent, ColumbiaGrid may intervene by filing and serving a Facilities Petition Intervention with the Commission. ColumbiaGrid shall not intervene in a proceeding in which only Designated Persons that are not Planning Parties are named as respondents. In any Facilities Petition Intervention, ColumbiaGrid shall support the Commission’s ordering relief consistent with section 1.20; provided that ColumbiaGrid shall not seek (and shall not advocate the imposition of) a fine, civil penalty, or forfeiture for failure to comply with any statute, rule, regulation, order of the Commission, contract, tariff, standard, or criteria; provided further that ColumbiaGrid shall not file with the Commission or support any Facilities Petition, and, except as otherwise expressly provided in section 6.3 or 6.5, shall not file or support any pleading with respect to the tendered form of the Facilities Agreement or the EOP that is the subject of such form of Facilities Agreement. ColumbiaGrid shall file each Facilities Petition Intervention that it files pursuant to this section 6.3 on its own behalf and on behalf of all Supporting Planning Parties for such EOP. In the event that a Canadian entity becomes a Planning Party, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith for an amendment to this Agreement to add a provision comparable to the provisions in this section with respect to ordering the construction of EOPs in Canada. 6.4 Waiver of Standing Arguments Each Planning Party waives any argument that any Planning Party lacks standing to file a Facilities Petition because the Planning Party filing such petition is not interconnected with the Person against whom such petition is filed. Planning and Expansion -16- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 21 of 98 6.5 Prosecution of Facilities Petition Intervention ColumbiaGrid shall not prosecute any Facilities Petition Intervention except for filing such Facilities Petition Intervention pursuant to section 6.3, providing factual data, and responding to requests for discovery. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude any Planning Party from prosecuting any Facilities Petition for any EOP filed with the Commission. 6.6 Good Faith Efforts to Renegotiate Sections 6.2, 6.3, and 6.5 In the event that the Commission (or any court with jurisdiction) determines that the Commission does not have, or in the event that the Commission declines to exercise, jurisdiction over all Designated Persons named as parties in the form of Facilities Agreement for which a Facilities Petition has been filed, jurisdiction over the subject matter of a Facilities Petition, or authority to order the relief sought by the Facilities Petition, each Party shall negotiate in good faith with all other Parties regarding whether and what amendments should be made to provisions of sections 6.2, 6.3, and 6.5 of this Agreement to provide a workable mechanism to facilitate implementation of EOPs for which Facilities Agreements have been tendered but not entered into by all Designated Persons named as parties therein. 7. Regional and Interregional Transmission Coordination ColumbiaGrid may become a member of and participate in appropriate transmission planning forums, committees, and work groups applicable to the geographic areas served by the Transmission Systems for purposes of collecting and sharing information; provided that this section or any such membership or participation shall not authorize ColumbiaGrid to undertake activities that it is not otherwise authorized to undertake pursuant to and consistent with this Agreement, its Articles of Incorporation, and its Bylaws. Subject to this section and with the prior written consent of a TOPP, ColumbiaGrid may coordinate and submit such TOPP’s Transmission System data as required by such forums, committees, and work groups. 8. Payment 8.1 Maximum Total Payment Obligation 8.1.1 Initial Maximum Total Payment Obligation. The initial Maximum Total Payment Obligation for a Payment Cycle shall be an amount equal to $4,200,000. The initial Maximum Total Payment Obligation may be adjusted pursuant to section 8.1.2 and modified pursuant to section 8.1.3. 8.1.2 Adjustment of Maximum Total Payment Obligation for Changes in CPI Index/GNP Deflator. As of the beginning of each Payment Cycle that is after the initial Payment Cycle, but for which there is no modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation pursuant to section 8.1.3, ColumbiaGrid shall adjust the Maximum Total Payment Obligation to reflect changes in the CPI Index/GNP Deflator. 8.1.3 Modification of Maximum Total Payment Obligation. ColumbiaGrid or any Payor may request from time to time a modification in the Maximum Total Payment Obligation for a Payment Cycle, by written request to each of the other Parties not later than 90 Planning and Expansion -17- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 22 of 98 days prior to the beginning of such Payment Cycle. The Voting Payors shall vote on such modification no later than 60 days after such request. Such modification shall be approved upon the two-thirds weighted affirmative vote of the Voting Payors (weighted in proportion to their respective percentage Allocated Shares as of the time of the vote). If such modification is so approved for such Payment Cycle, the Maximum Total Payment Obligation shall be as so modified for such Payment Cycle and each subsequent Payment Cycle (unless and until subsequently adjusted by the CPI/GNP Deflator pursuant to section 8.1.2 or subsequently modified pursuant to this section 8.1.3). 8.1.4 Notice of Adjustment or Modification of Maximum Total Payment Obligation. ColumbiaGrid shall promptly reflect any adjustment of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation pursuant to section 8.1.2 and any approved modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation pursuant to section 8.1.3, and the effective date of such modification or adjustment, in a table. ColumbiaGrid shall distribute such table to each of the Payors and post such table on its Website. 8.2 Allocation of Corporate Overhead ColumbiaGrid shall determine when and to what extent to allocate corporate expenses to its activities under its functional agreement(s) as provided in provision 7.2 of the Bylaws and shall make such allocation based upon a reasonable assignment (in light of generally accepted cost allocation principles) of costs to each function based upon the costs attributable to each such function. The initial Maximum Total Payment Obligation was set at a level that did not contemplate an inclusion of all such corporate expenses. It is contemplated that requests for modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation for Payment Cycles after the initial Payment Cycle may reflect an allocation of any additional corporate expenses. 8.3 Payor’s Payment Obligation Subject to section 8.8.4 and the other provisions of this Agreement, each of the Payors agrees to provide to ColumbiaGrid in response to an Invoice and pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement amounts equal to such Payor’s Allocated Share of each Payment Amount, all of which amounts shall be used by ColumbiaGrid as set forth in section 8.9.1. All dollar amounts set forth in this Agreement are U.S. dollars. 8.4 Allocation of the Payment Amount ColumbiaGrid shall determine and post on the Website each Payor’s Allocated Share of each Payment Amount under each of the Invoices and the effective date of such Allocated Shares pursuant to the following formula: Planning and Expansion -18- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 23 of 98 For each Payor (which includes the New Payor), the— Payor’s Allocated Share = $50,000 per Payment Cycle + {(MTPO – TEP) * ((X * [dollar value of net transmission plant of such Payor ! total dollar value of net transmission plant of all Payors]) + (Y * [Annual Area Load of such Payor ! total Annual Area Load of all Payors]))} Except, in the cases where the above equation results in the Bonneville share of costs exceeding 49.9% of the MTPO, the following revised equation shall be used to determine payment obligations of all Payors excluding Bonneville. Revised Payor’s Allocated Share = (Payor’s Allocated Share from above equation) + {(Bonneville’s Allocated Share from above equation – (MTPO * 0.499)) * ((X * (dollar value of net transmission plant of Payor) ! (total dollar value of net transmission plant of all Payors – dollar value of net transmission plant of Bonneville)) + (Y * (Annual Area Load of Payor) ! (total Annual Area Load of all Payors – Annual Area Load of Bonneville)))} Furthermore, in these cases, Bonneville’s Revised Payment Allocated Share shall be equal to (MTPO)* (0.499). Where, MTPO = Maximum Total Payment Obligation (pursuant to section 1.25) TP = Total Payors TEP = Total Equal Payments = TP * $50,000 X = the weighting share for transmission plant applied to the (MTPO – TEP) Y = the weighting share for annual load applied to (MTPO – TEP) Where X + Y = 1 and X = 4/7 and Y = 3/7 “Net transmission plant” of a Payor means such Payor’s net transmission plant as reflected in such Payor’s then most recent FERC Form 1 or equivalent report; Planning and Expansion -19- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 24 of 98 “Annual Area Load” of a Payor means such Payor’s then most recent twelve month load in Giga-watt hours, as reported to the Northwest Power Pool; alternatively, for a Payor that holds long term firm transmission rights on the RIS, but serves no load on the system, this “Annual Area Load” shall be determined by the: (contract amount of rights (MW)) * (8760 hours)/1000 or in cases where the party’s long term firm transmission rights are less than for a full year of hours the multiplier shall correspond to the number of hours in the year for which the party does have firm rights The Annual Area Load of each Party that is a control area operator is reduced if and to the extent any Qualified Person to which such control area operator provides control area services becomes a Party and such Party assumes the payment responsibility calculated using its own load 8.5 Allocation of Subsequent Payment Amounts and Allocated Shares for Subsequent Invoices in the Event of a New Payor When any Payor enters after the Effective Date into this Agreement with ColumbiaGrid and is thereby a New Payor (or is in a consortium of Planning Parties that together are a New Payor), ColumbiaGrid shall adjust each Payor’s Allocated Share of each Payment Amount for subsequent Invoices based upon the formula set forth in section 8.4 as of the date of the addition of such New Payor. ColumbiaGrid shall also recalculate the Maximum Payor Obligation of each Payor, which recalculated Maximum Payor Obligation of such Payor shall equal the (i) sum of the amount of each previous Invoice made to such Payor based on such Payor’s Allocated Share that was in effect for each such previous Invoice plus (ii) such Payor’s adjusted Allocated Share of the Remaining Maximum Total Payment Obligation as of the addition of such New Payor. 8.6 Allocation of Subsequent Payment Amounts and Allocated Shares for Subsequent Invoices in the Event of Withdrawal of a Payor Because of an Adjustment to the Maximum Total Payment Obligation When any Payor withdraws from this Agreement pursuant to section 18.3, with the resulting cap provided for in section 18.3, ColumbiaGrid shall adjust the Allocated Shares of the Payors which have not exercised, and have not been deemed to exercise, a withdrawal under section 18.3 resulting in a cap in their Maximum Payor Obligations. Such adjustment shall be by an amount necessary to restore the difference between the withdrawing Payor’s capped Maximum Payor Obligation, and the Maximum Payor Obligation it would have been assigned had it not opposed the increase and withdrawn. Payors’ Maximum Payor Obligations during the pending Payment Cycle shall be adjusted upward only due to the withdrawal of a Payor as a consequence of such Payor’s opposition to a modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation. Planning and Expansion -20- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 25 of 98 8.7 Notice of Adjustment of Maximum Payor Obligations ColumbiaGrid shall promptly reflect the adjustment of the Maximum Payor Obligations pursuant to sections 8.5 and 8.6, and the effective date of any such adjustment, on a table, and shall distribute such table to the Payors and post such table on its Website. 8.8 Invoices 8.8.1 Invoices. For each month during the term of this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall submit an Invoice for services rendered and corporate overhead pursuant to section 8.2 pursuant to this section 8.8 to all Payors for reimbursement of the amount it has expended to implement this Agreement. ColumbiaGrid shall submit each such Invoice by the tenth day of the following month, or the preceding Friday if the tenth falls on a weekend, and shall show in any such Invoice each Payor’s Allocated Share of such Invoice. 8.8.2 Invoices Due to Extraordinary Circumstances. During the term of this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid may submit Invoices in addition to Invoices pursuant to sections 8.8.1 and 8.8.3, in the extraordinary event that additional Payment Amounts are needed. Any Invoice submitted pursuant to this section 8.8.2 shall include an explanation of the reason why the Invoice is needed, including a description of the extraordinary circumstance. 8.8.3 Initial Invoice for New Payors. As of the date a New Payor becomes a Party by executing and delivering this Agreement to ColumbiaGrid and each Planning Party, ColumbiaGrid shall submit an Invoice to the New Payor for $10,000 as a payment of the allocable value of work performed to date that is of benefit to the New Payor. 8.8.4 Cap on Payor’s Obligation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall not at any time submit any Invoice to any Payor for any Payment Amount that, together with Payment Amounts requested by prior Invoices to such Payor, in the aggregate exceeds such Payor’s Maximum Payor Obligation then in effect, as calculated and distributed by ColumbiaGrid (plus, in the case of a New Payor, $10,000). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Payor shall be obligated at any time under this Agreement to provide any Payment Amount under sections 8.8.1 and 8.8.2 that, together with Payment Amounts requested by prior Invoices to such Payor, in the aggregate exceeds such Payor’s Maximum Payor Obligation then in effect, as calculated and distributed by ColumbiaGrid (plus any interest that such Payor incurs pursuant to section 8.8.6.3 as a result of late payments by such Payor and plus, in the case of a New Payor, $10,000 paid pursuant to section 8.8.3). 8.8.5 Allocation of Invoice. Each Invoice to a Payor shall be for such Payor’s Allocated Share of the total amount of such Invoice; provided that the Initial Invoice to a New Payor pursuant to section 8.8.3 shall be made solely to such New Payor without a pro rata call to the other Payors. Planning and Expansion -21- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 26 of 98 8.8.6 Invoice and Payment Details 8.8.6.1 Invoice Details. ColumbiaGrid shall issue each Invoice to all Payors that are Payors as of the date of such call; provided that ColumbiaGrid shall issue an Initial Invoice only to a New Payor pursuant to section 8.8.3 without a pro rata call to the other Payors. ColumbiaGrid shall submit any Invoice in writing and delivered by U.S. mail and by e- mail to the Payors. Each Payor may change the person to receive Invoices at any time by written notice to ColumbiaGrid. ColumbiaGrid shall provide each Payor with instructions for electronic funds transfer or wire transfer of funds in response to an Invoice. 8.8.6.2 Payment Details. Each Payor shall make its payment of its Allocated Share of an Invoice within 20 business days of receiving an Invoice by electronic funds transfer or wire transfer of immediately-available funds. 8.8.6.3 Interest on Late Payment. Any Payment Amount not paid when due by a Payor shall bear interest, compounded daily, from the date such amount was due until the date of payment at an annual interest rate equal to the lesser of (i) a rate equal to 200 basis points above the per annum prime rate reported daily in The Wall Street Journal and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. 8.8.7 Quarterly Reports. By the 15th day of each quarter, ColumbiaGrid shall provide each Payor with a quarterly report that contains (i) a detailed projection of the funds from this Agreement that it projects it will use in the current quarter and the remainder of the Payment Cycle and (ii) an accounting of ColumbiaGrid’s expenditures of funds received under this Agreement (a) in the previous quarter and (b) since the commencement of the Payment Cycle. 8.8.8 Voluntary Advanced Payment Amount. Any Payor may pay to ColumbiaGrid all or a portion of its Allocated Share of any Payment Amount prior to ColumbiaGrid submitting an Invoice for such Payment Amount. At the time of any such advance payment, such Payor shall notify ColumbiaGrid that it is paying funds in advance of the Invoice. ColumbiaGrid shall apply such advance payment as a credit against such Payor’s obligation to pay its Allocated Share in response to each subsequent Invoice until such advance payment is exhausted. ColumbiaGrid shall report the remaining balance of any such advance payment in its quarterly report. ColumbiaGrid shall not use any such advance payment as an offset to any other Payor’s Allocated Share of any Invoice. ColumbiaGrid may, but shall have no obligation to, pay interest with respect to any such advance payment. 8.8.9 Over-Payment. If, in error or as a result of an update of a Payor’s Maximum Payor Obligation pursuant to section 8.5, a Payor provides funds in excess of those it is obligated to provide under this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall refund to such Payor its excess contribution within five business days of ColumbiaGrid’s learning that the funds provided were excess. ColumbiaGrid shall provide each Payor with written notice that it has issued a refund to a Payor pursuant to this section 8.8.9. Planning and Expansion -22- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 27 of 98 8.9 Use of Funds 8.9.1 General. ColumbiaGrid agrees that funds provided under this Agreement shall be used only for purposes consistent with this Agreement and ColumbiaGrid’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The payments received under this Agreement are intended to be the primary source of payment for ColumbiaGrid’s planning activities. Expenditure of funds available to ColumbiaGrid under this Agreement shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors of ColumbiaGrid in furtherance of the purposes of ColumbiaGrid consistent with its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and consistent with the provisions of this Agreement. Any funds made available under this Agreement shall not be used to reimburse internal costs of the Planning Parties or Interested Persons or costs of Third Persons hired individually by one or more of the Planning Parties or Interested Persons. 8.10 Other Terms 8.10.1 Waiver of Defense to Payment. Each Payor waives as a defense to any untimely payment of its Allocated Share of each Invoice any defense that one or more of the other Payors has failed to timely pay its Allocated Share of such Invoice or any other Invoice. 9. Budgets 9.1 Rolling Annual Budget Annually before the commencement of each fiscal year, ColumbiaGrid shall prepare and adopt a budget for the upcoming two fiscal years for its performance of its obligation under this Agreement. At least 90 days before the adoption of each such rolling annual budget, ColumbiaGrid shall provide the proposed rolling annual budget to the Planning Parties for comment. ColumbiaGrid shall consider any comments on the proposed budget that are provided by any Planning Party. 9.2 ColumbiaGrid General Record-Keeping ColumbiaGrid shall keep such financial, operational, and other records for its performance and obligations under this Agreement as may be necessary for the efficient operation of ColumbiaGrid and, except as necessary to protect Confidential Information and CEII, shall make such records available upon request for inspection by the Planning Parties. ColumbiaGrid shall comply with the then current record-retention policy of the Commission. 9.3 Documentation of Costs Attributable to Specific Project At the request of a TOPP, ColumbiaGrid shall provide documentation of its costs relating to its activities in the definition and analysis of a specific Project; provided that any collection of such costs by such TOPP from its transmission or interconnection customer(s) shall be the sole responsibility of the TOPP. Planning and Expansion -23- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 28 of 98 9.4 Annual Financial Reporting As soon as reasonably practicable after the close of each fiscal year, ColumbiaGrid shall prepare (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and regulations of the Commission) and make available to the Planning Parties annual financial statements relating to its activities under this Agreement. 9.5 Audit of ColumbiaGrid Records Each Planning Party shall have the right to conduct an audit of ColumbiaGrid’s performance of its obligations to the Planning Parties under this Agreement; provided that the Planning Party requesting the audit shall pay for such audit and provide the result to the other Planning Parties. ColumbiaGrid shall make its records, facilities, and personnel available to the Planning Parties during the conduct of any such audit. Any Planning Party requesting an audit shall pay ColumbiaGrid’s reasonable costs of complying with such audit request. 10. Standards of ColumbiaGrid Performance ColumbiaGrid shall carry out its obligations under this Agreement in an efficient, expeditious, professional, and skillful manner. In providing transmission planning services to Planning Parties under this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, licenses, permits, and other governmental requirements (including, but not limited to, any such requirements imposed upon Planning Parties with respect to ColumbiaGrid’s provision of transmission planning services); provided that regulatory requirements imposed on any single Planning Party shall not be deemed applicable to other Planning Parties as a result of this Agreement, nor shall ColumbiaGrid apply in its process any such regulatory requirements to other Planning Parties that are not otherwise applicable to such other Planning Parties. 11. Authorization for ColumbiaGrid to Perform Obligations Under This Agreement Planning Parties agree that, unless specifically otherwise provided in this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid is authorized, pursuant to Bylaws Section 6.1, to engage on its own behalf, and not as agent for Planning Parties, in any activity reasonably necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the hiring of contractors or consultants. 12. Limitation of Liability Among Planning Parties Each Planning Party at any time that is both eligible to be a party to the WIS Agreement and operates electrical facilities for generation, transmission, or distribution shall become and remain at all such times a party to the WIS Agreement as a condition of participation in this Agreement. 13. Insurance, Indemnification, and Limitations of Liability To promote cooperation among the Parties, to avoid duplication of costs, and to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the Parties agree to the following provisions for insurance, indemnification, and limited liability. Planning and Expansion -24- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 29 of 98 13.1 Insurance; Waiver of Subrogation Rights 13.1.1 ColumbiaGrid Insurance Coverage Requirements. Throughout the term of this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall maintain insurance coverage that at a minimum: (i) provides general liability and errors and omissions insurance with respect to ColumbiaGrid’s performance under this Agreement; (ii) provides for maximum per-occurrence self-insured retention in an amount approved in writing by each Party that is a Party as of the Effective Date; (iii) provides general liability coverage limits (with each Planning Party that so opts in writing named as an additional insured) in an amount approved in writing by each Party that is a Party as of the Effective Date and separate errors and omission coverage limits in an amount approved in writing by each Party that is a Party as of the Effective Date; (iv) provides an agreement or endorsement under which the insurance cannot be terminated, canceled, allowed to expire, or materially altered without 90 days’ prior written notice to ColumbiaGrid and provides that such policy is primary over any other insurance; and (v) provides that ColumbiaGrid’s insurer shall be bound by any waivers of the insurer’s rights of subrogation granted by ColumbiaGrid. 13.1.2 Waiver of Subrogation Rights. ColumbiaGrid hereby waives all rights of subrogation its insurer(s) may have against the Planning Parties and any former Planning Parties. 13.2 ColumbiaGrid’s Obligation to Notify Planning Parties with Respect to Insurance ColumbiaGrid shall not consent or allow that the insurance required under section 13.1.1 above be terminated, canceled, allowed to expire, or materially altered without providing at least 60 days’ advance notice to the Planning Parties. ColumbiaGrid shall notify the Planning Parties with the name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail of all insurance brokers used by ColumbiaGrid. 13.3 First Party Claims ColumbiaGrid shall not be liable to any other Party for any loss or damage to the equipment or Electric System of such other Party, or any loss or damages for bodily injury (including death) that such other Party or its employees may incur arising out of this Agreement or its performance. Planning and Expansion -25- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 30 of 98 13.4 Third Person Claims 13.4.1 In the event Third Person claims are made against any Party arising out of this Agreement or its performance, the Parties agree that: 13.4.2 In the event of any such claim, the Party against which the Third Person claim is made shall provide immediate notice to the other Parties pursuant to section 19.1 below. All Parties shall make such immediate efforts as necessary to preserve evidence or protect against default judgment, and shall provide notice to the Claims Committee by giving notice to each Party and to the broker identified pursuant to section 13.2 above with respect to the insurance policy described in section 13.1.1 above. 13.4.3 ColumbiaGrid shall provide notice to each Planning Party and as necessary to its insurance carrier, and refer such matter to the Claims Committee. The Parties anticipate that the Claims Committee shall have responsibility to (i) review any such claims, (ii) take action as necessary to properly investigate, evaluate, and defend such claims, and (iii) make recommendations regarding payment, rejection, or compromise of such claims. 13.4.4 In the event of legal action resulting from the denial of any such claim, the Parties anticipate that the Claims Committee shall recommend suitably qualified legal counsel to defend such claims. Subject to this section and to the extent permitted by law, the Parties agree, except where there is an irreconcilable conflict of interest, (i) to consent to joint representation in defense of such legal action and (ii) to make good faith efforts to enter into a mutually acceptable joint representation agreement to facilitate cooperation, information sharing, and protection of attorney-client privilege and work product in connection with the joint defense. If joint representation is precluded by an irreconcilable conflict of interest or for any other reason, the Party unable to participate in joint representation shall obtain legal counsel of its own choice, at its own expense, to defend itself in such legal action. Bonneville, as a Planning Party, may but shall not be obligated to comply with sections 13.4.3 and 13.4.4 with respect to any claim against and presented to Bonneville. 13.4.5 Where the claim or legal action arises in whole or in part from allegedly negligent actions or inactions of ColumbiaGrid in performance of obligations of this Agreement, the self-insured retention and the policy coverage described in section 13.1.1 above shall be regarded as primary with respect to payments or judgments resulting from any such claim or legal action. Payments shall include reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation and defense. To the extent of insurance coverage and the extent permitted by applicable law, ColumbiaGrid shall indemnify, defend, and hold each Planning Party harmless from and against all Damages based upon or arising out of bodily injuries or damages to Third Person(s) or parties, including without limitation death resulting there from, or physical damages to or losses of property caused by, arising out of or sustained in connection with performance of this Agreement to the extent attributable to the negligence of ColumbiaGrid or its employees, agents, suppliers, and subcontractors (including suppliers and subcontractors of subcontractors; hereinafter “Subcontractors”). As used in this section 13.4.5, “Damages” means any claims, losses, costs, expenses, damages (including without limitation direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, and punitive damages), payments made in settlement, arbitration awards, and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. Planning and Expansion -26- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 31 of 98 13.5 Inaccurate or Incomplete Data or Information Liability as between the Parties for incomplete or inaccurate data or information shall be subject to the limitations set forth in section 13.6 below, and shall be limited as follows. Each Party shall make good faith efforts to cause data and information provided under this Agreement to be accurate; provided however that ColumbiaGrid shall not be liable for damages resulting from the provision of inaccurate or incomplete data or information, except to the extent that such inaccuracy or incompleteness results from ColumbiaGrid’s Willful Action. 13.6 Limitation of Damages As between ColumbiaGrid and any Planning Party and as between Planning Parties, each of those Parties waives as against the other of those Parties (including its directors, commissioners, officers, and employees) all claims, and otherwise covenants not to sue or otherwise pursue any claim or remedy, arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or its performance (whether based on contract, tort, or any other legal theory), except for: (i) claims arising under section 13.4.5 of this Agreement with respect to Third Person actions; and (ii) claims for actual, direct damages only, which shall under no circumstances include any lost profits, lost data, or any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages; provided nothing in this Agreement shall apply to claims for loss or damage between Planning Parties that are within the scope of the WIS Agreement. 14. Uncontrollable Force A Party shall not be in breach of this Agreement as a result of such Party’s failure or delay to perform its obligations under this Agreement when such failure is caused by an Uncontrollable Force that such Party, despite the exercise of due diligence, is unable to remove with reasonable dispatch; provided however that such Party shall have the right to suspend performance of such obligations only to the extent and for the duration that the Uncontrollable Force actually and reasonably prevents the performance of such obligations by such Party. In the event of the occurrence of an Uncontrollable Force that delays or prevents a Party’s performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement, such Party shall (i) immediately notify the other Parties of such Uncontrollable Force with such notice to be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, (ii) use due diligence to mitigate the effects of such Uncontrollable Force, remedy its inability to perform, and resume full performance of its obligations under this Agreement, (iii) keep the other Parties apprised of such efforts on an ongoing basis, and (iv) provide written notice of the resumption of performance under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the settlement of any strike, lockout, or labor dispute constituting an Uncontrollable Force shall be within the sole discretion of the Party to this Agreement involved in such strike, lockout, or labor dispute; and the requirement that a Party must use due diligence to remedy the cause of the Uncontrollable Force or mitigate its effects and resume full performance hereunder shall not apply to strikes, lockouts, or labor disputes. Planning and Expansion -27- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 32 of 98 15. Assignments and Conveyances 15.1 Successors and Assigns This Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns, and legal representatives. 15.2 Assignment of ColumbiaGrid’s Rights and Obligations ColumbiaGrid shall not, without the prior written consent of each of the Planning Parties, assign, pledge or transfer all or any part of, or any right or obligation under, this Agreement, whether voluntarily or by operation of law; provided nothing in this section 15.2 shall prohibit ColumbiaGrid from contracting with Third Persons for the provision of services to assist ColumbiaGrid in performing its obligations under this Agreement. 15.3 Assignment of a Planning Party’s Rights and Obligations Except as otherwise provided in section 15.4, a Planning Party shall not, without the prior written consent of ColumbiaGrid, assign, pledge, or transfer all or any part of, or any right or obligation under, this Agreement, whether voluntarily or by operation of law; provided however that a Planning Party may, without the consent of ColumbiaGrid, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Person (i) into which the Planning Party is merged or consolidated or (ii) to which the Planning Party sells, transfers, or assigns all or substantially all of its Electric System, so long as the survivor in any such merger or consolidation, or the purchaser, transferee, or assignee of such Electric System provides to ColumbiaGrid a valid and binding written agreement expressly assuming and agreeing to be bound by all obligations of the Planning Party under this Agreement. 15.4 Assignment of Facilities Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a TOPP may pledge or assign all or any portion of its Transmission System without any other Party’s consent. 15.5 Effect of Permitted Assignment In the event of any permitted sale, transfer or assignment under this Agreement, the transferor or assignor shall to the extent of the transferred or assigned obligations, and only to such extent, be relieved of obligations accruing from and after the effective date of such transfer or assignment; provided however that under no circumstances shall any sale, transfer, or assignment relieve the transferor or assignor of any liability for any breach of this Agreement occurring prior to the effective date of such transfer or assignment. 15.6 Consent Not Unreasonably Denied or Delayed Consents to assignment, pledge, or transfer requested pursuant to this section 15 shall not be unreasonably denied or delayed. Planning and Expansion -28- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 33 of 98 16. Confidentiality Obligations 16.1 Protection of Confidential Information Parties seeking designation of Confidential Information shall act in good faith when asserting the confidentiality of material. Each Party shall use reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of all Confidential Information provided to it by another Party pursuant to this Agreement. In the event a dispute arises related to the designation of Confidential Information under this Agreement, representatives of the Parties with authority to settle the dispute shall meet and confer in good faith in an effort to resolve the dispute. If the dispute is not so resolved, the dispute may, if the disputing Parties so elect, be resolved by arbitration as follows. Any arbitration initiated under this Agreement shall be conducted before a single neutral arbitrator appointed by the Parties. If the Parties fail to agree upon a single arbitrator within ten days of the referral of the dispute to arbitration, each Party shall choose one arbitrator who shall sit on a three member arbitration panel. The two arbitrators so chosen shall within 20 days select a third arbitrator to chair the arbitration panel. In either case, the arbitrators shall be knowledgeable in electric industry matters, including electric transmission issues, and, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties to the dispute, shall not have any current or past substantial business or financial relationships with any Party to the arbitration (except prior arbitration). The arbitrator(s) shall provide each of the Parties an opportunity to be heard and shall generally conduct the arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. 16.2 Protection of Critical Energy Infrastructure Information If a Party designates information as “Critical Energy Infrastructure Information” as of the time of its furnishing, ColumbiaGrid shall not post such information on the public portion of its Website. If any Party, or other Person, seeks information so designated as CEII, ColumbiaGrid shall immediately notify the disclosing Party to seek its consent to release such information. If the disclosing Party does not consent, ColumbiaGrid shall not release the CEII and shall inform the requesting Party of the disclosing Party’s decision. Further, if information designated by a Party as CEII is made part of a filing submitted by ColumbiaGrid with the Commission, ColumbiaGrid shall take reasonable steps to ensure the protection of such information pursuant to the 18 C.F.R. § 388.112(b). 16.3 Disclosure Pursuant to Statute or Administrative or Judicial Order Each Party shall use reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of all Confidential Information provided to it by another Party pursuant to this Agreement; provided however that each Party shall be entitled to disclose such Confidential Information if it is required to make such disclosure by statute or administrative or judicial order or if it makes such disclosure pursuant to a protective order of the administrative or judicial body. Each Party shall, promptly upon receipt of a request for such Confidential Information (or receipt of a notice of a request to an administrative or judicial forum for the public disclosure of such Confidential Information), notify the other Party and other affected Planning Parties of any such request. A Party whose Confidential Information is sought to be released may, in its sole discretion and at its sole cost and expense, undertake any challenge to such disclosure. Planning and Expansion -29- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 34 of 98 16.4 Disclosure of Information Subject to Standards of Conduct If a Party furnishes information marked as “Standards of Conduct Information” at the time of its furnishing, ColumbiaGrid shall not disclose such information to any Party, including the disclosing Party, or any Third Person unless such disclosure would be consistent with the Commission’s regulations in 18 C.F.R. Part 358. 17. Effective Date 17.1 Original Parties Except as provided in section 17.2, this Agreement shall become effective for all Parties on April 4, 2007; provided that, with respect to a Planning Party subject to Commission jurisdiction, if the Commission asserts jurisdiction and does not accept this Agreement for filing or accepts this Agreement for filing but in connection with such acceptance requires a change in, or imposes a new condition on, this Agreement, this Agreement shall be effective thereafter only if all of the Parties agree in writing to such change or condition. 17.2 Subsequent Planning Parties With respect to any Qualified Person who executes this Agreement after the Effective Date established pursuant to section 17.1, this Agreement shall be effective as to such Qualified Person as of the date it executes the Agreement and delivers such Agreement to each of the Parties. 17.3 Regulatory Filings, if Any ColumbiaGrid shall make any necessary regulatory filing of this Agreement (promptly after it is offered) or subsequent amendments with the Commission on behalf of those Planning Parties who would otherwise have to submit this Agreement for filing because they are subject to Commission jurisdiction. 18. Withdrawal A Planning Party may withdraw from this Agreement pursuant to this section 18. 18.1 Notice of Potential Withdrawal Prior to withdrawing, a Planning Party intending to withdraw (“Withdrawing Party”) from this Agreement shall provide written notice to the other Planning Parties and ColumbiaGrid stating that it intends to withdraw from this Agreement and setting out the reasons for its withdrawal. 18.2 Discussion of Concerns The chief executive officer or equivalent executive of the Parties, including the Withdrawing Party, shall promptly discuss the reasons for the Withdrawing Party’s withdrawal Planning and Expansion -30- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 35 of 98 to determine whether this Agreement can be amended in a manner that is acceptable to all of the Parties. 18.3 Notice of Withdrawal If notwithstanding the discussion pursuant to section 18.2, the Withdrawing Party still intends to withdraw, such Party shall provide each of the Parties with a written notice of withdrawal. Such notice (or a deemed notice of withdrawal pursuant to section 18.4) shall commence a withdrawal period of 30 months or one complete biennial Planning Cycle, whichever expires earlier (“Withdrawal Period”). During the Withdrawal Period, the Withdrawing Party shall continue to be obligated as a Payor to pay its Maximum Payor Obligation in effect at the time of such Withdrawing Party’s notice of withdrawal during the Withdrawal Period; provided further that if the Withdrawing Party is withdrawing because of a modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation under section 8.1.3 and such Withdrawing Party voted against the modification, such Withdrawing Party’s obligation to pay its Maximum Payor Obligation shall be capped at the amount in effect immediately prior to such modification. During such Withdrawal Period, a Withdrawing Party shall not be a Voting Payor. At the end of the Withdrawal Period, all rights and obligations under this Agreement of the Withdrawing Party shall terminate; provided that all obligations and liabilities accrued under this Agreement through any such termination are hereby preserved until satisfied. Withdrawal of a Planning Party does not affect obligations assumed by such Party pursuant to Facilities Agreements. 18.4 Effect of Default In the event a Planning Party fails to perform its payment obligations under section 8.3, and such failure is not cured with 30 days of the date payment was due, that Planning Party shall be deemed to have given a notice of withdrawal under section 18.3. 18.5 Rescission of Notice of Withdrawal If a Withdrawing Party rescinds its notice of withdrawal during the Withdrawal Period and such Withdrawing Party has paid ColumbiaGrid its Allocated Share of all Invoices issued by ColumbiaGrid as of the date of such rescission, such Withdrawing Party shall not be considered a New Payor and shall not be required to pay the New Payor fee under section 8.8.3. If such Withdrawing Party withdrew because of a modification of the Maximum Total Payment Obligation under section 8.1.3 and, pursuant to section 18.3, such Withdrawing Party has not been paying a share of the increase in the Maximum Total Payment Obligation, the Withdrawing Party shall also pay ColumbiaGrid an amount equal to such Withdrawing Party’s Allocated Share of the amount such Withdrawing Party did not pay under this Agreement as a result of its withdrawal plus interest on such unpaid amount from the time it would have been paid in the absence of such withdrawal and continuing until such amount is paid. Such interest shall be compounded daily at an annual interest rate equal to the lesser of (i) a rate equal to 200 basis points above the per annum prime rate reported daily in The Wall Street Journal or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. Planning and Expansion -31- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 36 of 98 18.6 Accelerated Withdrawal If, as a result of an initial submittal for filing of this Agreement with the Commission by ColumbiaGrid pursuant to section 17.3, the Commission fails to accept this Agreement for filing without change or condition within 120 days after filing, then any Planning Party may withdraw from this Agreement during the 90 day period following the Commission’s action or the expiration of 240 days after initial submittal for filing of this Agreement, whichever comes first. Such withdrawal shall be upon written notice to all other Planning Parties. Such accelerated withdrawal shall not be subject to the requirements of sections 18.1 through 18.3, and the Planning Party exercising a right of accelerated withdrawal shall have no further obligation under this Agreement to make payments or participate after notice pursuant to this section; provided that those other obligations which, in the ordinary course, would survive termination of this Agreement by all Planning Parties shall survive. A holding by the Commission that it does not require this Agreement to be on file shall not constitute a basis for accelerated withdrawal. 19. Miscellaneous 19.1 Notices 19.1.1 Permitted Methods of Notice. Any notice, demand, or request in accordance with this Agreement, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly served, given, or made to the address of the receiving Party set forth below (i) upon delivery if delivered in person, (ii) upon execution of the return receipt, if sent by registered United States or Canadian mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iii) upon delivery if delivered by prepaid commercial courier service. The address of ColumbiaGrid shall be: P.O. Box 2220 Vancouver, WA 98688 Attn: Jon Kaake The address of the Planning Parties shall be: Avista Corporation: 1411 E. Mission Ave. Spokane, WA 99202-1902 Attn: Manager, Transmission Services Bonneville Power Administration: P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208-3621 Attn: Tara Exe Planning and Expansion -32- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 37 of 98 Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County, Washington: P.O. Box 1231 Wenatchee, WA 98807-1231 Attn: Chad Bowman Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County, Washington: P.O. Box 878 Ephrata, WA 98823 Attn: Kevin Conway Puget Sound Energy, Inc.: P.O. Box 97034 Bellevue, WA 98009 Attn: George Marshall, Manager, Transmission Contracts The City of Seattle, a municipal corporation of the State of Washington, acting by and through its City Light Department: 700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3300 Seattle, WA 98124 Attn: Wayman Robinett Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County, Washington: P.O. Box 1107 Everett, WA 98206-1107 Attn: John D. Martinsen – E4 The City of Tacoma, Department of Public Utilities, Light Division (dba Tacoma Power): P.O. Box 11007 Tacoma, WA 98411-0007 Attn: Cathy Leone-Woods 19.1.2 Change of Notice Address. Any Party may at any time, by notice to ColumbiaGrid, change the designation or address of the person specified to receive notice on its behalf. In such case, ColumbiaGrid shall promptly notify all of the other Planning Parties of such change. 19.1.3 Routine Notices. Any notice of a routine character in connection with this Agreement shall be given in such a manner as the Parties may determine from time to time, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement. Planning and Expansion -33- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 38 of 98 19.2 Amendment or Modification This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by any subsequent mutual written agreement, duly executed by all then current Parties to this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person, entity, or circumstance, is held by a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, or if a modification or condition to this Agreement is imposed by a regulatory authority exercising jurisdiction over this Agreement, the Parties shall endeavor in good faith to negotiate such amendment or amendments to this Agreement as will restore the relative benefits and obligations of the signatories under this Agreement immediately prior to such holding, modification, or condition. If a Party finds such holding, modification, or condition unacceptable and the Parties are unable to renegotiate a mutually acceptable resolution, a Party may by written notice to each other Party withdraw from this Agreement pursuant to section 18; provided that the Withdrawal Period for any such withdrawal shall be 15 days. 19.3 Construction of Agreement Ambiguities or uncertainties in the wording of this Agreement shall not be construed for or against any Party, but shall be construed in a manner that most accurately reflects the purpose of this Agreement and the nature of the rights and obligations of the Parties with respect to the matter being construed. 19.4 Integration This Agreement, including the appendices hereto, constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous representations, statements, negotiations, understandings, and inducements with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. The appendices hereto, as they may be revised from time to time, are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in this Agreement. 19.5 Existing Agreements Preserved Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to supersede the requirements of any existing agreement unless otherwise expressly stated herein. 19.6 Governing Law This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, except to the extent that such laws may be preempted by the laws of the United States or of Canada, as applicable; provided however that notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a dispute involving a Planning Party that is a United States government entity (including, but not limited to, a federal power marketing administration), this Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States. The Parties acknowledge that with respect to a Planning Party that is an agency of the United States federal government, under law in effect as of the effective date of this Agreement, such agency has not by this Agreement waived its sovereign immunity. Planning and Expansion -34- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 39 of 98 19.7 Equitable Relief If the Planning Party seeks injunctive or other equitable judicial relief for the failure of ColumbiaGrid to comply with its obligations to the Planning Party under this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid agrees not to challenge such action on the basis that monetary damages would be a sufficient remedy. 19.8 Singular and Plural; Use of “Or” Any use of the singular in this Agreement also includes the plural and any use of the plural also includes the singular. References to “or” shall be deemed to be disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive. References to “including,” “include,” and “includes” shall be deemed to mean “including but not limited to,” “include but not limited to,” and “includes but not limited to,” respectively. 19.9 Headings for Convenience Only The section headings in this Agreement are intended for convenience and reference only and are not intended to define, limit, or describe the scope or intent of any provisions of this Agreement. 19.10 Relationship of the Parties 19.10.1 No Partnership, Etc. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create an association, joint venture, trust, or partnership or to impose a trust or partnership covenant, obligation, or liability on or with regard to any of the Parties. Each Party shall be individually responsible for its own covenants, obligations, and liabilities under this Agreement. 19.10.2 Rights Several. All rights of the Parties are several, not joint. Except as may be expressly provided in this Agreement, no Party shall have a right or power to bind any other Party without such other Party’s express written consent. 19.11 No Third Person Beneficiaries This Agreement shall not be construed to create rights in, or to grant remedies to, any Third Person as a beneficiary of this Agreement or of any duty, obligation, or undertaking established in this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to restrict the right of any Planning Party or Interested Party to seek an order from the Commission under the Federal Power Act. 19.12 No Dedication of Facilities No undertaking by any Planning Party under or pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a dedication of all or any portion of such Planning Party’s Transmission System, to any other Party or to the public. Planning and Expansion -35- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 40 of 98 19.13 Nonwaiver Any waiver at any time by any Party of its rights with respect to any default under this Agreement, or with respect to any other matter arising in connection with this Agreement, shall not constitute or be deemed a waiver with respect to any other default or other matter arising in connection with this Agreement. Any waiver must be delivered in writing, executed by an authorized representative of the Party granting such waiver. Any delay short of the statutory period of limitations in asserting or enforcing any right shall not constitute or be deemed a waiver. 19.14 Further Actions and Documents Each Party agrees to do all things, including, but not limited to, the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, and recording of any instruments or agreements reasonably requested by any other Party necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. 19.15 Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which may be executed at different times. Each counterpart shall constitute an original but all counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. ColumbiaGrid shall maintain the original signature pages, and shall prepare and distribute a conformed copy of this Agreement to the Planning Parties. 19.16 No Expansion of Commission Authority Nothing in this Agreement, or any undertaking by or with ColumbiaGrid, is intended to (a) create or grant the Commission authority over entities or matters which it would not otherwise have, (b) imply or establish that any Party agrees, or is precluded from contesting, as to whether or the extent to which the Commission has jurisdiction over a Party or matter or has the authority to order particular relief, or (c) create a contractual obligation under this Agreement to comply with any Facilities Order. 19.17 Representation of Qualified Person Status Each Planning Party, upon its execution and delivery of this Agreement, represents that such Planning Party is a Qualified Person. 19.18 Representation of Authority Each Party, upon its execution and delivery of this Agreement, represents that it has authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. Each Party represents that the individual signing this Agreement on its behalf is authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of the Party for which such individual signs. 19.19 Planning Parties Records and Information Sharing Each Planning Party shall maintain and make available for ColumbiaGrid’s inspection at such Planning Party’s facilities, during normal business hours and upon request, data, records Planning and Expansion -36- Functional Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 41 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 42 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 43 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 44 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 45 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 46 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 47 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 48 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 49 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 50 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 51 of 98 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 52 of 98 APPENDIX A PLANNING PROCESS 1. On-Going Planning Activities; Iterative Process; Interim Approval Although the planning process identified in this Appendix is described sequentially, it is anticipated that the planning activities under this Agreement will be performed on a flexible, iterative, and non-sequential basis. Accordingly, for example, ColumbiaGrid may submit Draft Need Statements to the Board as needed for review and comment without waiting until such time as the Draft System Assessment Report is submitted for review and comment. 2. Planning Criteria ColumbiaGrid shall apply the then current versions of the following as Planning Criteria for its system assessment, System Assessment Reports, and Needs Statements: (i) planning standards applicable to TOPPs pursuant to law or regulation (e.g., ERO and RRO); (ii) NERC/WECC planning standards; (iii) recognized regional planning or other reliability or transmission adequacy criteria developed by the consensus of the TOPPs for use on the Transmission Systems (ColumbiaGrid may sponsor a process for development of such criteria); provided that a TOPP may have other planning criteria that are more stringent than the ColumbiaGrid standards for use on its own system; and (iv) with respect to planning criteria applicable to any particular TOPP, such additional criteria then accepted by such TOPP and communicated to ColumbiaGrid by written notice; provided that any such additional criteria shall apply only to such TOPP. 3. System Assessment Report and Need Statements Each year, ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with the Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall prepare a Draft System Assessment Report and Draft Need Statements for the Biennial Plan then being developed; provided that Draft Need Statements need not be prepared for a Draft System Assessment Report for the second year of a Planning Cycle for any Need already identified in the previous system assessment or for any Need that does not require a Near-Term EOP solution. The procedure for the preparation of the Draft System Assessment Report and Draft Need Statements shall be as follows: (i) ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with the Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall perform a system assessment through screening studies Appendix A -1- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 53 of 98 of the RIS using the Planning Criteria to determine the ability of each TOPP to serve, consistent with the Planning Criteria, its network load and native load obligations, if any, and other existing long-term firm transmission obligations that are anticipated to occur during the Planning Horizon. ColumbiaGrid shall base such assessment on the then current and appropriate WECC planning base cases; provided that Planning Parties shall provide updates to the input previously provided to ColumbiaGrid pursuant to section 4.6 of the body of this Agreement that was used by WECC to develop the planning base case. ColumbiaGrid shall update the then current WECC planning base case to reflect such updated information so that the system assessment reflects on-going transmission projects on the RIS and the likely completion dates of such projects to the extent such Projects and completion dates are reasonably forecasted to occur prior to the end of the Planning Horizon. ColumbiaGrid shall post drafts of the system assessment results as they become available during the system assessment process on its Website subject to any appropriate conditions to protect Confidential Information and CEII. (ii) ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall prepare a Draft System Assessment Report. Such Draft Report shall identify Needs that the system assessment has projected to occur during the Planning Horizon. (iii) On an on-going basis, each TOPP shall endeavor to inform Staff of any material change in conditions or any Need with respect to such TOPP (anticipated to occur during the Planning Horizon) that is not reflected in the system assessment. ColumbiaGrid shall include any such Needs in its Draft System Assessment Report. (iv) ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with the Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall develop conceptual transmission solutions to any Need that is not expected to result in a Single System Project. ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with the Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall then identify which of such Needs and related conceptual solutions are likely to result in Near- Term EOPs. (v) ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with the Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall develop a Draft Need Statement for each such Need and its conceptual transmission solution so identified. Each such Draft Need Statement shall include the following information at a minimum: (1) a narrative description of the Need and the assumptions, applicable Planning Criteria, and methodology used to determine the Need; (2) one or more conceptual transmission-based solutions to meet the Need with estimated timelines and estimated costs to implement each such solution; and Appendix A -2- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 54 of 98 (3) an indication of whether a non-transmission solution might be viable to eliminate or delay the necessity for such a transmission-based solution. In the event that the Planning Parties, Affected Persons and ColumbiaGrid do not reach consensus on the content of any such Draft Need Statement, Staff shall determine the content of such Draft Need Statement; provided that in making its determination, Staff shall consider any comments and possible transmission solutions suggested by any Planning Party or Affected Person; provided further that ColumbiaGrid shall note in the Draft Need Statement that it determined the content of such statement and shall report the comments of Planning Parties and Affected Persons. (vi) ColumbiaGrid shall post drafts of the Draft Need Statements, as they become available, on the Website subject to any appropriate conditions to protect Confidential Information and CEII. (vii) ColumbiaGrid, in coordination with the Planning Parties and Affected Persons, will continue to work on Needs not likely to result in Near- Term EOPs as needed and appropriate over time notwithstanding the fact that Draft Need Statements for such Needs need not be prepared and included in the then current Draft System Assessment Report and Draft Need Statements. (viii) ColumbiaGrid shall present the Draft System Assessment Report and Draft Need Statements to the Board for review and comment. 4. Study Teams ColumbiaGrid shall facilitate and participate in Study Teams. Planning Parties shall, and Affected Persons and Interested Persons may, actively participate in ColumbiaGrid planning activities through membership in Study Teams. 4.1.1 Scope of Study Team Activities. The objective of each Study Team for EOPs and Requested Service Projects shall be to collaboratively and timely develop a Project that, with respect to an EOP, addresses a Need Statement and, with respect to a Requested Service Project that affects more than a single Transmission System, serves the request for service in a manner that meets time constraints in developing a Requested Service Project. Study Teams for Capacity Increase Projects shall limit their activities to identifying and addressing Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such Project, if any; provided upon the request of such a Project’s sponsor, Study Teams for such Projects may assist the Project’s sponsor in the development of other elements of such Project. 4.1.2 Participation in Study Teams. Any Planning Party, Affected Person or Interested Person may participate in a Study Team, with the exception that participation in a Requested Service Project Study Team may be limited due to tariffs or applicable law. TOPP(s) that are potentially materially affected by a Need or a Proposed EOP shall participate in the Study Team relating to such Need or Proposed EOP. With respect to an EOP Study Team, the TOPP(s) primarily affected by the Need or a Proposed EOP shall assume primary responsibility Appendix A -3- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 55 of 98 for leading and performing necessary analytical work. With respect to a Requested Service Project Study Team, the TOPP(s) receiving a transmission service or interconnection request shall assume primary responsibility for leading and performing necessary analytical work. With respect to a Capacity Increase Project Study Team for which the Project sponsor has requested that the Study Team assist in the development of some or all of the elements of such Project, the Planning Party proposing the Project shall assume primary responsibility for leading and performing necessary analytical work. At such time that ColumbiaGrid determines that a TOPP that is not involved may be materially affected by the Project being developed, ColumbiaGrid shall so notify such TOPP, and such TOPP shall participate in the Study Team. ColumbiaGrid shall participate in each Study Team and, as needed, manage and facilitate the Study Team process. ColumbiaGrid shall post drafts of summaries of the progress of the Study Teams, including developing Plans of Service. 5. Development of EOPs After Development of Needs Statements 5.1 Formation of Study Teams Staff shall hold a public meeting, with general notice to Planning Parties and Interested Persons and specific notice to those TOPPs that ColumbiaGrid anticipates may be affected, for the purpose of reviewing the Need Statements and soliciting participation in a Study Team to develop an EOP for each Need Statement. Staff shall also consider convening Study Teams that address more than one Need Statement. Staff shall monitor the progress of each Study Team and will, as appropriate, bring Study Teams together in order to resolve differences, gain planning efficiencies, or develop solutions that meet more than one Need Statement. 5.2 Elements of an EOP The Study Team shall collaboratively develop a Proposed EOP. An EOP in a Biennial Plan (or Plan Update) shall include the following: a plan of service describing the modifications to the RIS to be made, list of Persons to make such modifications, estimated costs, schedule, cost allocation, allocation of transmission capacity increased or maintained by an EOP, and appropriate mitigation of Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such EOP; provided an EOP shall not impose unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on the RIS. 5.3 Non-Transmission Alternatives As part of the Study Team process, the Study Team shall evaluate whether a Non- Transmission Alternative sponsored and offered by a TOPP either eliminates or defers the Need(s) being studied by the Study Team. If it does, the Non-Transmission Alternative should be noted in the Plan and included in the assumptions used in future system assessment. In the event that a non-TOPP Study Team participant proposes a Non-Transmission Alternative, ColumbiaGrid shall direct such participant to the TOPP(s) on whose system(s) such alternative may exist for discussion, study, and possible TOPP sponsorship; provided that the TOPP and ColumbiaGrid shall have no responsibility or obligation to develop or analyze a proposed Non- Appendix A -4- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 56 of 98 Transmission Alternative other than to determine, in the event a TOPP subsequently sponsors such an alternative, whether such alternative either eliminates or delays a Need. 5.4 Completion of a Proposed EOP With respect to a Near-Term EOP, a Proposed EOP is ready for inclusion in a Draft Biennial Plan when all of the following that have actively participated in a related Study Team have consented to each element of such EOP: Persons who would be identified as a Designated Person in section 6.1 of the body of this Agreement or any Person who would bear Material Adverse Impacts from such EOP if not for the mitigation included in the EOP. In the event that such Affected Persons do not reach agreement on any element(s) of a Near-Term EOP, the Staff shall make a recommendation for any unresolved element(s) of a Near-Term EOP and may, as the Staff finds appropriate, present fully-developed alternatives for the Board’s consideration. The Staff shall inform the Study Team regarding its recommendation and allow the Study Team the opportunity to comment. In the event there is still not agreement among the Affected Persons, the Staff shall include its recommendation in the Draft Plan. In such event, ColumbiaGrid shall endeavor to make an equitable allocation of the costs of an EOP taking into account (i) the causation of the Need giving rise to such EOP or (ii) the delay or elimination during the Planning Horizon of any Need as a result of the EOP. Where there are two affected TOPPs, and one has a Need and the best way to meet that Need is to upgrade facilities on the other TOPP’s system, ColumbiaGrid shall allocate costs in a form of Facilities Agreement to the TOPP causing the Need. ColumbiaGrid may also allocate costs to a TOPP in a Facilities Agreement whose Need does not give rise to the Staff-Recommended EOP but that has a Need during the Planning Horizon that is met by such EOP; provided that ColumbiaGrid shall not allocate costs to such TOPP in an amount that exceeds the cost that would have been incurred by such TOPP had it met its Need with a separate EOP. The Staff shall not allocate costs based upon other potential future system benefits. When the Staff submits the Draft Plan to the Board for approval, the Staff shall identify such elements and shall include a summary analysis of minority positions on any aspect of such Staff-Recommended EOP. 6. Requested Service Projects 6.1 Receipt of Transmission Service or Interconnection Request Each TOPP shall receive new transmission and interconnection requests in accordance with such TOPP’s procedures; provided that if ColumbiaGrid offers a functional agreement to provide processing services for transmission or interconnection requests in addition to those provided in this Agreement, eligible TOPPs may sign such agreement. With respect to any request for transmission service or interconnection received by any Planning Party, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude any Planning Party from responding if and as such Planning Party determines is appropriate under its OATT. 6.2 Requested Service Assessment; Formation of Study Teams When a TOPP has a completed transmission service application, determines that it does not have sufficient capacity to serve such request and reasonably believes that the requested service may impact a transmission system other than that of such TOPP, and the customer has Appendix A -5- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 57 of 98 indicated to the TOPP that it wants to pursue further study, such TOPP shall notify ColumbiaGrid that it has a request for a study. ColumbiaGrid shall perform a Requested Service Assessment to determine which transmission systems, including those of non-Planning Parties, are affected. When a TOPP has received an interconnection request and reasonably believes that such request or a Project to satisfy the request will affect a transmission system other than that of such TOPP, such TOPP shall notify ColumbiaGrid of such request and such determination. ColumbiaGrid shall perform a Requested Service Assessment to determine which transmission systems, including those of non-Planning Parties, are affected. In each such instance above, ColumbiaGrid shall notify those Persons it determines are potentially Affected Persons and convene a Study Team, which should develop a study agreement in accordance with the TOPP’s policies and procedures; provided that participation in Study Teams convened for an interconnection request may, consistent with such TOPP’s OATT, be limited to the requesting Person and Affected Persons. ColumbiaGrid, in consultation with Planning Parties and Interested Persons, shall cluster requests for purposes of performing studies when practical. The TOPP with the request shall inform its transmission or interconnection requesting Person regarding the needed study and the estimated costs. If the transmission or interconnection requesting Person is willing to assume the costs of such study and instructs the TOPP to proceed, the Study Team shall develop a solution to provide sufficient capacity to serve the request. Upon execution of a study agreement, ColumbiaGrid will (subject to any applicable confidentiality requirements under the OATT under which the transmission or interconnection service request was submitted) post the request, information concerning any clustering of the request, the identity of the parties to the study agreement, and the study schedule, and will from time to time update the posting to provide other pertinent information. 6.3 Elements of a Requested Service Project The Study Team shall collaboratively develop a Proposed Requested Service Project. Each TOPP that receives a transmission service or interconnection request shall retain its obligation under its OATT to perform studies, with participation of the requestor as appropriate in accordance with the TOPP’s procedures. A Requested Service Project in a Biennial Plan (or Plan Update) shall include a Plan of Service, estimated costs, transmission capacity allocation, cost and ownership allocation, and schedule. 6.4 Completion of a Proposed Requested Service Project A Proposed Requested Service Project is ready for inclusion in a Draft Plan when (i) all of the Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team have agreed to each element of such Requested Service Project, and (ii) the Study Team has confirmed that such Project meets the request and has appropriately mitigated Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such Project on any transmission systems, and (iii) the requestor has agreed to pursue the Project. Such Requested Service Project may be memorialized in a project agreement prior to its inclusion in a Draft Plan and, in such instance, is being included in Appendix A -6- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 58 of 98 such Draft Plan for information purposes. In the event that such Affected Persons do not reach agreement on a Requested Service Project in whole or in part within a reasonable time, Staff shall make a recommendation for any unresolved element(s) and may, as the Staff finds appropriate, present fully-developed alternatives for the Board’s consideration. The Staff shall inform the Study Team regarding its recommendation and allow the Study Team the opportunity to comment. In the event there is still not agreement amongst the Affected Persons, the Staff will develop a recommended Plan of Service. If there is an accompanying Need which can be delayed or eliminated by the Requested Service Project within the Planning Horizon, ColumbiaGrid shall endeavor to make an equitable allocation of costs of such Staff- Recommended Requested Service Project based upon the affected TOPP’s OATT requirements and the delay or elimination of the Need. ColumbiaGrid may allocate costs in a Facilities Agreement to a TOPP that has a Need during the Planning Horizon that is met by the Requested Service Project; provided that ColumbiaGrid shall not allocate costs in an amount that exceeds the cost that would have been incurred by such TOPP had it met its Need with a separate EOP. The Staff shall not allocate costs based upon other potential future system benefits. A Staff- Recommended Requested Service Project shall not have any unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such Project on any transmission systems. The Staff may present more than one Recommended Requested Service Project for the Board to select from. When the Staff submits the Staff Recommended Project to the Board for approval, the Staff shall identify any unresolved element(s) and shall include a summary analysis of positions advanced by any Affected Persons on such unresolved element(s). If the Staff-Recommended Requested Service Project is approved by the Board and agreed upon by the requestor and all Affected Persons it will be included in the Draft Plan. 7. Single System Projects 7.1 Notification of Single System Projects Each Planning Party shall advise ColumbiaGrid of any Single System Projects that it is planning on its Transmission System. If the system assessment performed by Staff under section 3 of this Appendix identifies a Need on a single Transmission System, Staff shall inform the subject TOPP of such Need and, if such TOPP concludes that such Need may be resolved on its Transmission System, the TOPP shall inform ColumbiaGrid of such resolution. In such instances, the Staff will include such Need in the Draft System Assessment Report for information purposes. If any Affected Person requests a Study Team to evaluate Material Adverse Impacts resulting from a potential Single System Project at a “section 3 meeting” to discuss the Draft System Assessment Report and Need Statements, ColumbiaGrid shall convene such a Study Team. The TOPP shall submit proposed Single System Projects to ColumbiaGrid. ColumbiaGrid shall inform the Planning Parties regarding any such Single System Project. If any Planning Party is concerned that such Single System Project will result in unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts, ColumbiaGrid shall convene a Study Team to evaluate whether there are unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts. If there are not unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts, ColumbiaGrid shall include such Single System Projects in the Plan for information purposes and include such Single System Project in future system assessments. If there are Appendix A -7- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 59 of 98 unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts, such Project is not a Single System Project and should be further developed through the ColumbiaGrid planning process as an EOP. 8. Capacity Increase Projects 8.1 Notification of Capacity Increase Projects Each Planning Party shall advise ColumbiaGrid of any Capacity Increase Projects that it is planning or anticipates participating in on the RIS. 8.2 Formation of Study Team If the Project’s sponsor requests a Study Team for project development, ColumbiaGrid will determine whether there is sufficient interest and, if so, shall convene such Study Team for such purposes. If any Affected Person requests a Study Team to evaluate Material Adverse Impacts resulting from a Capacity Increase Project, ColumbiaGrid shall convene such a Study Team. 8.3 Elements of Capacity Increase Project A Capacity Increase Project in a Biennial Plan (or Plan Update) shall include the following: plan of service, estimated costs, the expected amount of transmission capacity added for each new or existing path, reasons for the Project, the Persons who are responsible for the costs and construction of the project, the owners and operators of the added facilities, schedule, including estimated completion date, transmission rights allocation, Material Adverse Impacts, if any, and any mitigation of Material Adverse Impacts; provided that any unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts shall be subject to resolution in the WECC regional planning or path rating process. To the extent that any such details are included in a Draft Biennial Plan, Draft Plan Update, or Biennial Plan or a Plan Update, such inclusion shall be for information purposes only, and the Board may only note Material Adverse Impacts in accordance with section 10.4.1.3 of this Appendix. 8.4 Request for Cost Allocation for Capacity Increase Project A Planning Party may request a cost allocation recommendation from ColumbiaGrid on a Capacity Increase Project if the related Study Team is unable to come to voluntary agreement on the cost allocation. This recommendation is non-binding but can be used by the Study Teams to facilitate agreement on cost allocation. 9. Expanded Scope Projects 9.1 Assessing Interest in Expanding the Scope of Project Prior to including any Project in a Draft Biennial Plan or Draft Plan Update, the Staff shall determine, in an open process, whether there is interest in expanding the scope of such Project; provided absent agreement of the TOPP(s) whose Transmission System(s) has a projected Need, consideration of the request to expand the scope of an EOP may not Appendix A -8- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 60 of 98 unreasonably delay project development beyond the point where there is sufficient lead time for the original Project to be completed to meet the Need or as otherwise required. 9.2 Formation of Study Team If there is interest, Staff shall establish a Study Team to evaluate and develop the expansion. Those Planning Parties or Interested Persons who are interested in becoming project sponsors shall assume primary responsibility for leading and performing necessary analytical work, and shall be responsible for the study costs of evaluating the expansion. 9.3 Completion of a Proposed Expanded Scope Project The Staff shall assist the Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team in resolving transmission capacity rights issues if such Persons are unable to reach agreement. An Expanded Scope Project shall be included in a Plan (or Draft Biennial Plan or Draft Plan Update) in lieu of the Project without expansion only when (i) the sponsors of the expansion have agreed to fund the incremental cost of such Expanded Scope Projects, (ii) each sponsor of the Project as originally configured would receive equivalent or better service (including meeting the Need) at no greater cost than it would have paid for the original Project, and (iii) such Project would not have unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts. 10. Process for Adoption of Plans 10.1 Draft Plan 10.1.1 Contents of Draft Plan. The Staff shall prepare a Draft Plan based upon the ColumbiaGrid planning process that contains: (i) Recommended Projects a. EOPs i. Recommended Near-Term EOPs A. Recommended Near-Term EOPs, including an analysis of how such Projects meet their respective Needs and a verification that each EOP does not result in unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system; B. Staff-Recommended Near-Term EOPs, including an analysis of how such Projects meet their respective Needs, a verification that each such EOP does not result in unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system, and an analysis supporting any other Staff-recommended elements, such as cost or capacity allocation; provided that Staff may only submit recommendations for Near-Term EOPs for which the Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team have been unable to reach agreement in Appendix A -9- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 61 of 98 whole or in part; provided further that the Staff shall also provide for informational purposes the alternative opinions developed during the study process; ii. Recommended EOPs that the Affected Parties agree are ready for implementation, including an analysis of how such Projects meet their underlying Needs and a verification that each such Project does not result in Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system; iii. A list of alternative plans of service for EOPs that were identified and considered in the ColumbiaGrid planning process for possible inclusion in the Draft Plan; and iv. A list of Non-Transmission Alternatives that have been sponsored by TOPPs and that resulted in a delay or elimination of a Need. b. Recommended Requested Service Projects i. Recommended Requested Service Projects, including an analysis of how such Projects meet the underlying transmission service and interconnection requests and a verification that each such Project does not result in any unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system; ii. Staff-Recommended Requested Transmission Projects, including an analysis of how such Projects meet the underlying transmission service or interconnection requests and a verification that each such Project does not result in any unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system, and an analysis supporting any other Staff-recommended elements; and iii. A list of alternative plans of service that were identified and considered in the ColumbiaGrid planning process for possible inclusion in the Draft Plan; c. Capacity Increase Projects, including an identification of unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system, if any; d. Single System Projects; e. Expanded Scope Projects; including a verification that each such Project does not result in any unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system; f. System Assessment Report and Need Statements; g. A list of Study Teams and their participants; and Appendix A -10- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 62 of 98 h. Other information that the Board may find helpful in making its decision. In preparing the Draft Plan, the Staff shall solicit and consider the comments of Interested Persons, Affected Persons, and Planning Parties. The Staff shall post a preliminary Draft Plan on the Website and obtain stakeholder comment prior to finalizing the Draft Plan and may include a summary of the comments received; provided that the Staff shall redact Confidential Information and CEII from the Draft Plan that is made public. The Staff shall include such redacted information in the Draft Plan submitted to the Board. The Staff shall include the documentation as the Staff finds appropriate for purposes of Board review and action; provided the documentation should be sufficient for subsequent review in an appropriate forum. The Draft Plan shall clearly identify which Projects (i) must be commenced in the upcoming Planning Cycle in order to have sufficient lead time for implementation or are ready for implementation, (ii) have planning underway but do not require commencement in the upcoming yet critical or ready for implementation, and (iii) have planning at a conceptual or preliminary stage. 10.1.2 Timing. The Staff shall submit the Draft Plan for Board adoption at a time interval no greater than every two years. 10.2 Review Process The Board shall review the Draft Plan in an open, public process. In doing so, the Board shall make available the draft Plan, study reports and electronic data files, subject to appropriate protection of Confidential Information and CEII to all Planning Parties and Interested Persons and provide the public an opportunity to supply information and provide written or oral comments to the Board. The Board may adopt additional procedures to carry out its review process. 10.3 Basis for Plan Adoption The Board shall base its review and adoption of the Plan on the technical merits of the Draft Plan, the consistency of the Projects listed in the Draft Plan with the Functional Agreement, and considering comments and information provided during the review process. 10.4 Plan Adoption The Board shall review and take action regarding the Draft Plan as follows: 10.4.1 Recommended Projects 10.4.1.1 EOPs 10.4.1.1.1 Recommended Near-Term EOPs and Recommended EOPs. The Board shall review and may approve the following with respect to each Recommended EOP: the Study Team’s determination that (i) it meets its underlying Need Statement(s) and (ii) does not impose unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts. Those elements that are not approved by the Board shall be remanded to the Staff and Affected Persons identified Appendix A -11- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 63 of 98 by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team for further consideration and analysis and development. 10.4.1.1.2 Staff-Recommended EOPs. The Board shall review and may approve the following with respect to each Staff-Recommended EOP: the Staff determination that it meets its underlying Need Statement(s), its Plan of Service, sponsorship, schedule, cost allocation, transmission rights allocation, and mitigation of Material Adverse Impacts. Those elements that are not approved by the Board shall be remanded to the Staff which may, in cooperation with the Study Team, revise the recommendation and resubmit it to the Board; provided that the Board may modify a recommended cost allocation or transmission capacity allocation to the extent such modification is supported by the record. 10.4.1.2 Requested Service Projects 10.4.1.2.1 Recommended Requested Service Projects. The Board shall review and may approve the Study Team’s determination that each Recommended Requested Service Project (i) serves its underlying transmission service or interconnection request and (ii) does not result in any unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts on any transmission system; provided that no Recommended Requested Service Project shall be included in any Plan unless the requestor and all Affected Persons agree upon such Requested Service Project. If the Board determines that there are unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts, such Project shall be remanded to the Staff and Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team for further analysis. 10.4.1.2.2 Staff-Recommended Requested Service Projects. The Board shall review and may approve the Staff’s determination that each Staff- Recommended Requested Service Project serves the underlying transmission service or interconnection request, the Plan of Service, transmission capacity allocation, sponsorship, and mitigation of Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such Project on any transmission system; provided that no Staff-Recommended Requested Service Project shall be included in any Plan unless the requestor and all Affected Persons agree upon such Requested Service Project. Those elements that are not approved by the Board shall be remanded to the Staff which may, in cooperation with the Study Team, revise the recommendation and resubmit it to the Board; provided that the Board may modify a recommended cost allocation or transmission capacity allocation to the extent such modification is supported by the record. 10.4.1.3 Capacity Increase Projects. The Board shall review the Study Team’s evaluation of Material Adverse Impacts resulting from each such Project on any transmission system. The Board shall not disapprove or modify project elements (developed by the Project sponsor(s) or a Study Team) as such information is only included in the Draft Plan for informational purposes. If the Board determines that there are unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such a Project on any transmission system, the Board shall note such Material Adverse Impacts in the Plan and defer to the resolution of such Material Adverse Impacts in the WECC regional planning or path rating process. 10.4.1.4 Expanded Scope Projects. The Board shall review and may approve the Study Team’s determination that there are no unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts Appendix A -12- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 64 of 98 resulting from each such Expanded Scope Project on any transmission system and, for Expanded Scope Projects that have an underlying EOP or Requested Service Project, the underlying Need or request is still met with an equivalent or better service at no greater cost than it would have paid for the underlying project. The Board shall not disapprove or modify project elements associated with the project expansion (developed by the Project sponsor(s) or a Study Team) as such information is only included in the Draft Plan for informational purposes. If the Board determines that there are unmitigated Material Adverse Impacts resulting from such a Project on any transmission system or that the underlying Need or request is not met with an equivalent or better service at no greater cost than it would have paid for the underlying project, the Board shall remand such Project to the Staff and Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team for further analysis. 10.4.2 Other Information Included in the Draft Plan. The Board shall include in the Biennial Plan for informational purposes all of the other content in the Draft Biennial Plan that was provided for informational purposes unless the Board determines it has good cause not to include such content. 10.4.3 Remands. In the event that the Board remands an item to the Staff and the Study Teams for further analysis and discussion, the Board shall identify specific questions or concerns to be answered or further researched by the Staff and Affected Persons identified by ColumbiaGrid that have actively participated in a related Study Team before the Board approves or confirms the matter that has been remanded. If the Board determines that a transmission alternative submitted in the public review process or that a transmission alternative to a Staff- Recommended Project is potentially preferable to the proposed Staff-Recommended Project, the Board may remand such alternative to the Staff, Planning Parties, and Interested Persons for further analysis and discussion. The Board and Staff shall attempt to minimize the total number of times a Project is remanded. 10.4.4 Reconsideration Process. The Board shall develop and make available a reconsideration process that provides Persons who are materially impacted by such decision and did participate in any underlying Study Team to request within ten days that the Board reconsider a specific decision within the Board’s approval. If reconsideration of a Board decision is sought by any such Person, ColumbiaGrid shall promptly convene a meeting, chaired by the ColumbiaGrid President, to which it invites the chief executive officer or equivalent executive of all Affected Persons to determine whether they can reach agreement on the disputed decision. If agreement is not reached, the Board shall pursue the reconsideration process. The reconsideration process will provide for input from all involved Persons (including Planning Parties) and Staff, and the Board will make its reconsidered decision known within 90 days from the date of the request. If, upon reconsideration, the Board modifies its decision, the modification shall also be subject to a petition for reconsideration. 10.4.5 Post-Board Approval Project Modifications. In the event that Project sponsor(s) discover during siting and environmental review processes that modifications are needed to an EOP in order for such EOP to receive needed regulatory approval or in order to implement such EOP, the Staff shall review the proposed modification(s) in a public process to determine whether the proposed modified Project continues to satisfy the Need and whether Appendix A -13- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 65 of 98 Material Adverse Impacts to transmission systems, if any, are mitigated. The Staff shall communicate the results of its findings to the Board as follows. 10.4.5.1 Summary Change Statement. Staff will provide a summary change statement to the Board when such changes are found by Staff to resolve the problem, mitigate Material Adverse Impacts, if any, and have the support of Affected Persons. In these situations the Board will not be required to take action for the revised plan to be included in the next Plan. 10.4.5.2 Staff Recommendation. Staff, when it finds any of the following, (i) the Plan of Service being implemented does not resolve the Need, (ii) there is disagreement between or among the sponsors and participants as to the Plan of Service, sponsorship, schedule, cost allocation, or transmission rights allocation, or (iii) mitigation of Material Adverse Impacts is lacking, will provide a recommendation to the Board on what actions if any the Board should take. For example, the Staff recommendation could be one or a combination of the following: (i) withdraw Board approval or acceptance of the Project, (ii) address the situation in a subsequent system assessment, (iii) start a Study Team to look at alternatives, or (iv) bring the Affected Persons together to see if there is interest in having ColumbiaGrid mediate differences. 10.4.5.3 Board Consideration. In these situations, the Board shall consider the Staff recommendation and shall accept the recommendation or ask the Staff to reconsider its recommendation in light of additional factors that the Board may want included in the recommendation. No Project modification pursuant to this section 10.4.5 shall be deemed to amend any Facilities Agreement, and any amendment to any Facilities Agreement shall be subject to and pursuant to the provisions of such Facilities Agreement for its amendment (and subject to the provisions of section 6.2 of the body of this Agreement). 11. Initial Steps; Compilation of Existing Planning Documents Within six months after the execution of this Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall request from the Planning Parties that each provide its then current transmission expansion plan to ColumbiaGrid. Using the material provided by the Planning Parties, ColumbiaGrid shall compile the plans of service and post such compilation on its Website. Appendix A -14- Planning Process Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 66 of 98 APPENDIX B PRO FORMA FACILITIES AGREEMENT FOR [Insert name of EOP] EOP AMONG COLUMBIAGRID AND [Insert name(s) of Designated Person(s)] Appendix B Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 67 of 98 CONTENTS 1. Definitions.......................................................................................................................... 2 2. Term................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Exhibits.............................................................................................................................. 5 4. Responsibility for Performance of Work........................................................................... 7 5. Ownership.......................................................................................................................... 7 6. Cost Responsibility............................................................................................................ 7 7. Transfer Capability .......................................................................................................... 10 8. Revisions in Work by Constructing Party ....................................................................... 10 9. Rights When Cost of Work Exceeds Allocated Cost Maximums ................................... 11 10. Default of Paying Party.................................................................................................... 12 11. Failure of Performance by Constructing Party ................................................................ 14 12. Election by Paying Party to Meet Need in Alternative Manner ...................................... 14 13. Uncontrollable Force and Other Excused Non-Performance .......................................... 15 14. Interconnected Operation................................................................................................. 16 15. Liability and Damages..................................................................................................... 16 16. Assignments and Conveyances........................................................................................ 17 16.1 Successors and Assigns........................................................................................ 17 16.2 Assignment of ColumbiaGrid’s Rights and Obligations..................................... 17 16.3 Assignment of a Party’s Rights and Obligations................................................. 17 16.4 Assignment of Facilities ...................................................................................... 17 16.5 Effect of Permitted Assignment........................................................................... 18 16.6 Consent Not Unreasonably Denied or Delayed................................................... 18 17. Informal Dispute Resolution and Arbitration of Factual Disputes.................................. 18 17.1 Informal Dispute Resolution................................................................................ 18 17.2 Arbitration of Factual Dispute Procedures .......................................................... 18 17.3 Arbitration Decisions........................................................................................... 19 17.4 Costs..................................................................................................................... 19 17.5 Rights Under The Federal Power Act.................................................................. 19 17.6 List of Potential Arbitrators................................................................................. 19 18. Notices ............................................................................................................................. 19 18.1 Permitted Methods of Notice............................................................................... 19 Appendix B -i- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 68 of 98 18.2 Change of Notice Address................................................................................... 20 18.3 Routine Notices.................................................................................................... 20 19. Amendment or Modification............................................................................................ 20 19.1 Amendment by Mutual Agreement ..................................................................... 20 19.2 Invalidity.............................................................................................................. 20 19.3 Conformance to Pro Forma.................................................................................. 20 20. Construction of Agreement.............................................................................................. 21 21. Integration........................................................................................................................ 21 22. Existing Agreements Preserved....................................................................................... 21 23. Governing Law ................................................................................................................ 21 24. Singular and Plural; Use of “Or” ..................................................................................... 21 25. Headings for Convenience Only...................................................................................... 22 26. Relationship of the Parties............................................................................................... 22 26.1 No Partnership, Etc.............................................................................................. 22 26.2 Rights Several...................................................................................................... 22 27. No Third Person Beneficiaries......................................................................................... 22 28. No Dedication of Facilities.............................................................................................. 22 29. Nonwaiver........................................................................................................................ 22 30. Further Actions and Documents ...................................................................................... 22 31. Counterparts..................................................................................................................... 23 32. Representation of Authority............................................................................................. 23 EXHIBITS Exhibit A – Plan of Service Exhibit B – Responsibility Chart Exhibit C – Performance Milestones Exhibit D – Cost of Allocation Exhibit E – Estimated Payment Schedule Exhibit F – Additional or Maintained Transmission Capacity Appendix B -ii- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 69 of 98 FACILITIES AGREEMENT This FACILITIES AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of [insert date of Facilities Agreement], by and among ColumbiaGrid, a Washington non-profit corporation, [insert each Designated Person] (individually referred to as “Party” and in the plural referred to as “Parties”). RECITALS A. The Board of Directors of ColumbiaGrid, a Washington state non-profit corporation, on [insert date of Plan approving underlying EOP] approved an Existing Obligation Project (the “[insert name of EOP] EOP”) pursuant to the ColumbiaGrid Planning and Expansion Functional Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time, “Planning Agreement”). B. The [insert name of EOP] EOP is generally comprised of the following on the transmission system(s) of the following and is more particularly described in Exhibit A (Plan of Service): [Insert general description of each involved transmission system and facilities to be installed]. C. The [insert name of EOP] EOP was approved by the Board to address the following Need(s) as identified by ColumbiaGrid pursuant to the Planning Agreement: [Insert brief description of Need(s) and reference the Biennial Plan or Plan Update that includes the Needs Statement that resulted in the underlying EOP]. D. The Parties are ColumbiaGrid and the Designated Persons, as determined by ColumbiaGrid pursuant to the Planning Agreement, for the [insert name of EOP] EOP. E. The Parties are entering into this Agreement to address: (1) the coordination of pre-construction activities, including environmental, budgetary, and regulatory processes, (2) the responsibility for planning, designing, siting, construction, payment and ownership for the [insert name of EOP] EOP facilities, and (3) allocation of any incremental transmission capacity resulting from the [insert name of EOP] EOP. F. Pursuant to the foregoing, ColumbiaGrid has tendered this Agreement to the other Parties, and all Parties agree as follows: Appendix B -1- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 70 of 98 AGREEMENT 1. Definitions All capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Planning Agreement. 1.1 “Agreement Limiting Liability Among Western Interconnected Systems” or “WIS Agreement” means at any time the Agreement Limiting Liability Among Western Interconnected Systems as it may have then been amended. 1.2 “Allocated Cost Maximum” means for each Paying Party with respect to the Cost of any Work an amount equal to (i) its Allocated Share of the Cost Maximum for such Work, as set forth in Exhibit D plus (ii) any additional amount of Cost for such Work for which such Paying Party agrees to assume responsibility pursuant to sections 9.1.2, 10.2, or 12. 1.3 “Allocated Share” means for each Paying Party with respect to the Cost of any Work an amount equal to its share or portion of the Cost of such Work, as set forth in Exhibit D. 1.4 “Arbitrating Party” has the meaning given such term in section 17.2. 1.5 “Assuming Party” has the meaning given such term in section 10.2. 1.6 “Board” means the Board of Directors of ColumbiaGrid. 1.7 “Breaching Party” has the meaning given such term in section 15.1. 1.8 “Constructing Party” means, with respect to each facility comprising the Plan of Service, each Party responsible for performance of Work with respect to such facility as specified in Exhibit B. 1.9 “Cost” means, with respect to Work by each Constructing Party: (i) the direct costs reasonably and necessarily incurred and paid by such Constructing Party in the performance of such Work, (ii) overhead reasonably allocable to such Work, and (iii) Interest on such direct costs from the later to occur of the date of this Agreement and the date of payment by the Constructing Party of such direct costs and continuing until the date of invoicing of the Paying Party(ies) for such direct costs. 1.10 “Cost Maximum” means, with respect to the performance of Work on each of the facilities in the Plan of Service by a Constructing Party, the estimated cost of such Work plus a reasonable contingency, all as set forth in Exhibit B. [Insert in Exhibit B the amount of the estimate by each Constructing Party of the Cost of the Work it is to perform plus a reasonable contingency; provided that such amount in Exhibit B may differ from Constructing Party’s estimate of the Cost of such Work (plus a reasonable contingency) and instead equal ColumbiaGrid’s estimate of the Cost of such Work (plus a reasonable contingency) if (i) ColumbiaGrid determines for good cause at the time it offers and enters into this Agreement to adopt for this Agreement its estimate rather than the Constructing Party’s or the Constructing Party has not then provided an estimate of Cost (plus a reasonable contingency) for use by Appendix B -2- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 71 of 98 ColumbiaGrid as the Cost Maximum in Exhibit B and (ii) ColumbiaGrid provides a written explanation to all Parties of such good cause, the basis for any such determination and the basis for ColumbiaGrid’s estimate of the Cost of such Work.] 1.11 “Cure” has the meaning given such term in section 10.1. 1.12 “Defaulting Paying Party” has the meaning given such term in section 10.1. 1.13 “Good Utility Practice” means any of the practices, methods, and acts engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric utility industry during the relevant time period, or any of the practices, methods, and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment in light of the facts known at the time the decision was made, could have been expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with good business practices, reliability, safety, and expedition. Good Utility Practice is not intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method, or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather to be acceptable practices, methods, or acts generally accepted in the Pacific Northwest. 1.14 “Interest” means interest compounded daily at an annual interest rate equal to the lesser of (i) a rate equal to 200 basis points above the per annum prime rate reported daily in The Wall Street Journal or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. 1.15 “Liquidated Damages” means compensation as specified in section 15 for expenses ColumbiaGrid would not have incurred but for a Party’s breach and which is not a penalty. 1.16 “Milestones” mean, with respect to Work by each Constructing Party, the schedule for specific major milestone events that must occur in order for each facility in the Plan of Service with respect to such Work to be completed and placed in commercial operation, which Milestones are set forth in Exhibit C. [Insert in Exhibit C each Constructing Party’s estimated dates for its achievement of the Milestones for its Work consistent with the completion and commencement of commercial operation of the [insert name of EOP] EOP by the Target Date; provided that such dates in Exhibit C for such achievement may differ from the Constructing Party’s estimated dates and instead equal ColumbiaGrid’s estimated dates for such achievement if (i) ColumbiaGrid determines for good cause at the time it offers and enters into this Agreement to adopt for this Agreement its estimated dates rather than the Constructing Party’s or the Constructing Party has not then provided estimated dates for such achievement for Exhibit C and (ii) ColumbiaGrid provides a written explanation to all Parties of such good cause, the basis for any such determination and the basis for ColumbiaGrid’s estimated dates for such achievement.] 1.17 “Need” means, for purposes of this Agreement, each Need identified by ColumbiaGrid pursuant to the Planning Agreement that the Board determined would be addressed by the [insert name of EOP] EOP. 1.18 “Notice of Default” has the meaning given such term in section 10.1. 1.19 “Notice of Election” has the meaning given such term in section 10.3. Appendix B -3- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 72 of 98 1.20 “Notice of Rejection” has the meaning given such term in section 9.2. 1.21 “Notice Regarding Assumption” has the meaning given such term in section 10.1. 1.22 “Paying Party” means, with respect to Work on each facility comprising the Plan of Service, each Party specified in Exhibit D as responsible for (i) paying to the Constructing Party such Paying Party’s Allocated Share of such Constructing Party’s Cost of such Work or (ii) bearing such Paying Party’s Allocated Share of such Cost, if the Paying Party with respect to such Work is also the Constructing Party for such Work. Paying Party with respect to Work also includes any Party that elects to be a Paying Party pursuant to sections 9.2, 10.2, or 12 with respect to such Work. 1.23 “Payment Schedule” means, with respect to Work by each Constructing Party, the estimated schedule set forth in Exhibit E for payment of the Cost of such Work. [Insert in Exhibit E each Constructing Party’s estimated payment schedule; provided that any such estimated schedule in Exhibit E may differ from the Constructing Party’s estimated payment schedule and instead equal ColumbiaGrid’s estimate of the payment schedule if (i) ColumbiaGrid determines for good cause at the time it offers and enters into this Agreement to adopt for this Agreement its estimate of the payment schedule rather than the Constructing Party’s or the Constructing Party has not then provided an estimated payment schedule and (ii) ColumbiaGrid provides a written explanation to all Parties of such good cause, the basis for any such determination and the basis for ColumbiaGrid’s estimate of the payment schedule.] 1.24 “Plan of Service” means the technical modifications to the Regional Interconnected Systems to be effected by the [insert name of EOP] EOP and is set forth in Exhibit A. 1.25 “Target Date” means the date scheduled for completion and commercial operation of the [insert name of EOP] EOP. 1.26 “Termination Cost” means, with respect to termination and wind-up of Work pursuant to this Agreement by the Constructing Party for such Work, (i) the direct costs (net of salvage) reasonably and necessarily incurred and paid by such Constructing Party in the termination and wind-up of such Work, (ii) overhead reasonably allocable to the termination and wind-up of such Work, and (iii) Interest on such direct costs from the later to occur of the date of this Agreement and the date of payment by the Constructing Party of such direct costs and continuing until the date of invoicing of the Paying Party(ies) for such direct costs. 1.27 “Uncontrollable Force” means any act or event that delays or prevents a Party from timely performing obligations under this Agreement, including an act of God, strike, lock- out, labor dispute, labor disturbance, act of the public enemy, act of terrorism, war, insurrection, riot, fire, storm or flood, earthquake, explosion, accident to or breakage, failure or malfunction of machinery or equipment, any curtailment, order, regulation or restriction of any governmental, military or lawfully established civilian authorities (other than, as to its own performance, by such Party that is a federal power marketing administration, municipal corporation or other federal, tribal or state governmental entity or subdivision thereof), or any other cause beyond Appendix B -4- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 73 of 98 such Party’s reasonable control and to the extent without such Party’s fault or negligence. Economic hardship shall not constitute an Uncontrollable Force under this Agreement. 1.28 “WECC Path Rating Process” means the process described by the document published by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, or its successor, titled Overview of Policies and Procedures for Regional Planning Project Review, Project Rating Review, and Progress Reports, as it may be amended or replaced. 1.29 “Withdrawal Fee” has the meaning given such term in section 12. 1.30 “Work” means the work necessary and appropriate to design, permit, site, procure, construct, and place into commercial operation each facility comprising the Plan of Service; provided that Work may be limited to environmental review pursuant to section 3.2.1. 2. Term This Agreement shall become effective on the date when all Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement and shall continue in effect until such time as the Work on the facilities comprising the [insert name of EOP] EOP and listed in Exhibit B is completed and placed in commercial operation or terminated pursuant to this Agreement. All obligations and liabilities accrued under this Agreement through such completion and placement in commercial operation or through such termination are hereby preserved until satisfied. 3. Exhibits 3.1 The following Exhibits are attached and made a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth in this Agreement: (i) Exhibit A, which is the Plan of Service; (ii) Exhibit B, which lists each of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service and the Work to be performed with respect to each such facility, identifies each Party responsible for performance of such Work with respect to each such facility, the Cost Maximum with respect to such Work on each such facility, and the ownership share of any Party in each such facility; (iii) Exhibit C, which sets forth the Milestones for the performance of the Work with respect to each facility comprising the Plan of Service and the scheduled dates for the achievement of such Milestones; (iv) Exhibit D, which sets forth each Paying Party’s (i) Allocated Share of the Cost of Work (subject to such Paying Party’s Allocated Cost Maximum for such Work) and (ii) Allocated Cost Maximum with respect to such Work; [insert in Exhibit D each Paying Party(ies)’s respective Allocated Share and Allocated Cost Maximum for Work and either (i) each Paying Party(ies)’s respective Allocated Share percentage(s) responsibility for paying (or bearing) the Cost of such Work (subject to the Cost Maximum) with respect to Work to be performed with respect to each of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service or (ii) such Appendix B -5- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 74 of 98 other methodology specified in such exhibit for determining each Paying Party(ies)’s respective Allocated Share responsibility for paying (or bearing) the Cost (subject to its Allocated Cost Maximum) with respect to Work to be performed with respect to each of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service]; (v) Exhibit E, which sets forth the estimated Payment Schedule, if any, for performance of Work and identifies the payor Paying Party, the payee Constructing Party, and the estimated amounts and dates of payment; and (vi) Exhibit F, which sets forth the amount, location, and owner of transmission capacity, if any, added or maintained by the [insert name of EOP] EOP, which transmission capacity is allocated as shown in Exhibit F. Unless otherwise set forth in Exhibit F, the Party that is the owner of the Transmission System that is expanded by any of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service will be the owner of additional transmission capacity, if any, which is added or maintained as a result of such facilities. 3.2 Sequencing of Work for Environmental Review 3.2.1. If any Constructing Party(ies) or Paying Party(ies) has determined that it is obligated to conduct an environmental review before deciding to construct or pay for any portion of [insert name of EOP] EOP, such Constructing Party or Paying Party, as applicable, may provide to ColumbiaGrid a Cost estimate under section 1.10, Milestones under section 1.16, and a Payment Schedule under section 1.23, that describes Work, schedules for performance of, and payments for Work only through such environmental review. In such case, ColumbiaGrid shall include a Cost estimate, Milestones, and Payment Schedule in initial Exhibits B, C, and E to this Agreement that cover only environmental review Work. The Paying Party(ies) or Constructing Party(ies ) that are not doing such environmental review phase of the Work shall not be obligated to (i) perform any Work, or (ii) pay any Cost for procurement of equipment or any Work other than environmental review phase of the Work, unless and until the environmental review Work has been successfully completed by all Constructing or Paying Parties performing such environmental review phase of the Work, and this Agreement has been amended pursuant to section 3.2.2. 3.2.2 Upon completion by any Constructing Party(ies) or Paying Party(ies) of any necessary environmental review phase of the Work in connection with the [insert name of EOP] EOP pursuant to section 3.2.1, such Constructing Party(ies) or Paying Party(ies) shall submit to ColumbiaGrid pursuant to section 10.4.5 of the Planning Agreement any proposed modifications to the [insert name of EOP] EOP that such Party determines are necessary based on such environmental review and shall provide ColumbiaGrid a Cost estimate, Milestones, and Payment Schedule for the remainder of the Work on the [insert name of EOP] EOP consistent with the proposed modifications. ColumbiaGrid shall consider such proposed modifications pursuant to section 10.4.5 of the Planning Agreement, and the further Cost estimate, Milestones, and Payment Schedule pursuant to sections 1.10, 1.16, and 1.23 of this Agreement, and shall offer any revised Exhibits as amendments to this Agreement that ColumbiaGrid determines are appropriate in light of such consideration and that are completed Appendix B -6- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 75 of 98 consistent with the instructions in the pro forma Facilities Agreement for completion of such Exhibits. 4. Responsibility for Performance of Work 4.1 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each Constructing Party shall perform the Work identified in Exhibit B as to be performed by such Constructing Party consistent with Good Utility Practice, making reasonable efforts to perform such Work in accordance with the Milestone scheduled dates therefor in Exhibit C and to complete and place into commercial operation such Work by the Target Date. Unless otherwise set forth in Exhibit B, the Party specified as the owner of each facility comprising the Plan of Service shall be responsible for performing the Work with respect to such facility. Each Constructing Party shall make reasonable efforts to coordinate performance of its respective obligations under this Agreement so as to facilitate completion of the Work and commencement of the commercial operation of the [insert name of EOP] EOP by the Target Date. Each Constructing Party shall report in writing quarterly (or monthly if requested by a Party) during the performance of its Work to each of the other Parties progress in the performance of such Work and the anticipated Cost and anticipated time to complete and place into commercial operation such Work. 4.2 Any Constructing Party may enter into contract(s) with contractor(s) or vendor(s) for performance of Work required by this Agreement to be performed by such Constructing Party, but no such contract(s) shall relieve such Constructing Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement. ColumbiaGrid shall not be a party to any such contract(s), nor shall ColumbiaGrid accept any third-party rights of any kind from or under any such contract(s). 5. Ownership The Party that is the owner of the transmission system upon which any of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service are being added or upgraded will be the owner of such facilities unless otherwise set forth in Exhibit B. 6. Cost Responsibility 6.1 Unless otherwise set forth in Exhibit D, (i) any Paying Party with respect to any Work for which such Paying Party is not also the Constructing Party for such Work shall reimburse such Constructing Party for such Paying Party’s Allocated Share of the Cost incurred by such Constructing Party in the performance of such Work within thirty (30) days after the Constructing Party has incurred such Cost and has submitted an invoice therefor to such Paying Party and (ii) any Paying Party with respect to any Work for which such Paying Party is also the Constructing Party for such Work shall bear its Allocated Share of the Cost incurred by such Constructing Party in the performance of such Work. The due date for the payment of any such invoice shall not be earlier than the date the Constructing Party is obligated to pay such Cost. A Paying Party’s obligation to make payments of (or bear) Cost with respect to any Work shall in the aggregate not exceed (i) its Allocated Cost Maximum for such Work plus (ii) in the event the Constructing Party terminates such Work pursuant to section 9.4, 10.3, or 12, such Paying Party’s share, if any, as specified in such section, of the Termination Cost for such Work. Appendix B -7- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 76 of 98 6.2 Any Constructing Party that, as part of its Work, is to procure equipment that has a purchase price greater than $500,000 and that either is specially engineered or has a long lead time, shall have the right to require the Paying Party(ies) with respect to payment for such equipment as Cost to make an assurance of payment of its Allocated Share of the purchase price to the vendor of such engineered equipment (including but not limited to posting a letter of credit with such vendor) sufficient to permit the vendor to rely solely on the credit of such Paying Party(ies) in lieu of the credit of the Constructing Party for payment of such purchase price. 6.3 If a Paying Party questions or disputes an invoice or any items on an invoice, it shall nevertheless pay such invoice within the thirty (30) day time period stated in section 6.1 and shall notify the Constructing Party in writing of the basis of the question or dispute. The Constructing Party shall respond to the Paying Party in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than in the accounting provided for in section 6.4. 6.4 Within a reasonable time after completion of the Work specified in Exhibit B to be performed by a Constructing Party, such Constructing Party shall make a full accounting in regard to such Work to each Paying Party for such Work. Such accounting shall show expenditures, adjustments for salvage, and any difference between (i) Cost reasonably and necessarily incurred and paid in the performance of such Work and (ii) payments made (or Cost borne) by each Paying Party with respect to such Work. The Constructing Party shall provide a copy of the accounting to all other Parties. Promptly after such accounting, the Constructing Party shall remit to the Paying Party any credit balance, and the Paying Party shall promptly after such accounting pay to the Constructing Party any debit balance. 6.5 If a Paying Party questions or disputes any item in the accounting, it shall nevertheless pay any debit balance and notify the Constructing Party in writing of its question or dispute within ten (10) days of its receipt of the accounting. The Constructing Party and the Paying Party shall promptly commence good faith negotiations to resolve the question or dispute within twenty (20) days following such notification. If the Parties are unable to negotiate a resolution, the Paying Party may request an audit as provided in section 6.6. 6.6 Within thirty (30) days after receipt of the accounting provided pursuant to section 6.3, any Paying Party shall have the right, at its expense, to request a review or audit of the Constructing Party’s books, records, and documents that directly pertain to the Cost and invoices for Cost of Work for which such Paying Party has an Allocated Share pursuant to Exhibit D. Any review or audit shall be undertaken upon reasonable notice and in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Paying Party shall notify the Constructing Party promptly of any exception taken as a result of the review or audit and the disputing Parties shall promptly commence good faith negotiations to resolve the dispute. If the Paying Party and Constructing Party agree on any exception, the Constructing Party shall refund to the Paying Party any credit amount of due to Paying Party resulting from such exception within thirty (30) days of such agreement (and Paying Party shall pay to the Constructing Party any debit amount due to Constructing Party resulting from such exception within thirty (30) days of such agreement). 6.7 If the Paying Party and Constructing Party fail to agree on an exception taken as a result of the review or audit, either of such Parties may initiate informal dispute resolution Appendix B -8- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 77 of 98 pursuant to section 17 and, if the dispute over the exception is not resolved by such informal dispute resolution process, may initiate arbitration with respect to any factual issues by arbitration pursuant to section 17 or other appropriate proceedings with respect to any other issues; provided that any such informal dispute resolution and arbitration must be commenced within sixty (60) days of receipt of the report from the auditor. 6.8 Any Paying Party with respect to any Work requesting a review or audit pursuant to section 6.6 shall provide all other Paying Parties with respect to such Work, if any, the opportunity to participate in and share (in proportion to their respective Allocated Shares of the Cost of such Work) the expense of the review or audit and informal dispute resolution and arbitration of any exceptions taken individually or jointly with other Paying Parties with respect to such Work in order to reduce duplication of effort and to endeavor to avoid inconsistent determinations between or among various Parties with respect to the Cost of such Work. Any Paying Party with respect to any Work that declines to participate in and share the costs of the review or audit or informal dispute resolution and arbitration with respect to the Cost of such Work may not request a separate review or audit or informal dispute resolution and arbitration with respect to such Cost. 6.9 Interest on Late Payment Any invoice not paid when due by a Paying Party shall bear Interest from the date such amount was due until the date of payment. 6.10 Termination and Wind-up 6.10.1 In the event that a Constructing Party terminates Work pursuant to section 9.4, each Paying Party shall reimburse the Constructing Party for such Paying Party’s Allocated Share of any Termination Cost of such Work within thirty (30) days after the Constructing Party has incurred such Termination Cost and has submitted an invoice therefor to such Paying Party (or, if the Paying Party is also the Constructing Party with respect to such Work, shall bear its Allocated Share of any Termination Cost of such Work).In the event that a Constructing Party terminates Work pursuant to section 10.3 or 12 (as a result of a Paying Party defaulting under section 10 or a Withdrawing Paying Party withdrawing under section 12), the Defaulting Paying Party or Withdrawing Paying Party as the case may be shall reimburse the Constructing Party for 100% of any Termination Cost of such Work within thirty (30) days after the Constructing Party has incurred such Termination Cost and has submitted an invoice therefor to such Paying Party (or, if the defaulting Paying Party or Withdrawing Paying Party as the case may be is also the Constructing Party with respect to such Work, shall bear 100% of any Termination Cost of such Work). 6.10.2 If any Paying Party disputes any Termination Cost as invoiced by the Constructing Party, any such Paying Party or such Constructing Party may initiate informal dispute resolution pursuant to section 17 and, if the dispute over the Termination Cost is not resolved by such informal dispute resolution process, may initiate arbitration with respect to any factual issues by arbitration pursuant to section 17 or other appropriate proceedings with respect to any other issues; provided that any such informal dispute resolution and arbitration must be commenced within sixty (60) days of receipt of an invoice for such Termination Cost. Appendix B -9- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 78 of 98 6.10.3 In the event a termination of Work pursuant to this Agreement results in a dispute between the Constructing Party and a contractor or vendor, the Constructing Party shall not settle such contractor’s or vendor’s claim (if and to the extent the cost of such settlement would constitute Termination Cost) without the written consent of any Paying Party(ies) with respect to such Termination Cost, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. 7. Transfer Capability 7.1 Ownership and use of any transmission capacity that is (i) added or maintained as a result of the [insert name of EOP] EOP, and (ii) added or maintained on the transmission system of a Party as a result of any of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service, but (iii) specified in Exhibit F as to be owned by another Party, shall only be pursuant to and shall be governed by a written separate capacity agreement between such Parties to be mutually agreed upon between such Parties and entered into contemporaneously with this Agreement; provided that in the absence of such a capacity agreement, the use of any additional capacity that is (i) added or maintained as a result of the [insert name of EOP] EOP, and (ii) added or maintained on the transmission system of a Party as a result of any of the facilities comprising the Plan of Service, but (iii) specified in Exhibit F as to be owned by another Party, shall be governed by a transmission agreement between such Parties. 7.2 It is anticipated that [insert name of EOP] EOP may have gone through the WECC Path Rating process during its development under the Planning Agreement. If it has not, the Parties shall cooperate in a review, if appropriate, of the [insert name of EOP] EOP under the WECC Path Rating Process and a determination, if appropriate, under such process of additional transmission capacity, if any, that is created as a result of the [insert name of EOP] EOP. Unless otherwise set forth in Exhibit F, the Parties agree that the amount of additional transmission capacity, if any, which is created as a result of the [insert name of EOP] EOP and that is allocated in Exhibit F shall be consistent with any such determination under such process of the amount of such additional transmission capacity. 8. Revisions in Work by Constructing Party 8.1 Each Constructing Party shall promptly provide each of the other Parties an opportunity to comment on proposed revisions to plans and designs, estimated Cost and proposed construction schedules stated in the Exhibits to this Agreement whenever the Appendix B -10- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 79 of 98 Constructing Party determines that it may deviate from such plans and designs, estimated Cost, or construction schedules; provided that no such proposed revisions for such Work shall modify any Party’s obligations under this Agreement if and to the extent specifically provided in section 8.2. No Party that receives any such proposed revisions to plans and designs, estimated Cost, or proposed construction schedules shall have any obligation under this Agreement to review or comment thereon. Any such review or comment (or delay or failure to review or comment) thereon by any of such receiving Party shall not relieve such Constructing Party of any obligation under this Agreement or otherwise. 8.2 No revisions (or proposed revisions) pursuant to section 8.1 by a Constructing Party to plans and designs, estimated Cost or proposed construction schedules shall amend any Exhibit or any other provision of this Agreement or the respective obligations of the Parties under this Agreement: provided that the Allocated Cost Maximum of a Party may be increased as provided in and pursuant to section 9. 9. Rights When Cost of Work Exceeds Allocated Cost Maximums 9.1 A Constructing Party with respect to Work may by written notice to each other Party propose to increase the Allocated Cost Maximum of each Paying Party with respect to such Work in proportion to the respective Allocated Shares of each Paying Party with respect to such Work. Each such notice shall include an explanation of the basis for the proposed increase. By written notice (within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice from the Constructing Party), each such Paying Party may, but shall not be obligated to, accept the proposed increase to its Allocated Cost Maximum. 9.1.1 If each Paying Party so accepts its increased Allocated Cost Maximum with respect to Work, ColumbiaGrid shall issue to each Party a revised Exhibit D reflecting such increased Allocated Cost Maximums with respect to such Work, and such revised Exhibit D shall thereupon be substituted for the previous Exhibit D in this Agreement. 9.1.2 If any Paying Party does not so accept its proposed increased Allocated Cost, the Constructing Party may invoice such Paying Party under section 6.1 only up to its Allocated Cost Maximum as stated in Exhibit D prior to such proposed revision, subject to the provisions of section 9.2. 9.2 ColumbiaGrid shall provide written notification to all Parties whenever any Paying Party rejects a proposed increase of its Allocated Cost Maximum with respect to Work pursuant to section 9.1.2 (“Notice of Rejection”). Within ten (10) days of such Notice of Rejection, any non-rejecting Party may elect to assume the amount of the proposed increase in the rejecting Paying Party’s Allocated Cost Maximum with respect to such Work by providing written notification of such assumption to all Parties. If more than one Party including the Constructing Party with respect to such Work so elects to assume such amount, such Constructing Party shall assume such amount. If the Constructing Party does not elect to assume such amount, the electing Paying Party with the largest Allocated Share shall assume the rejecting Paying Party’s amount. If neither such Constructing Party nor a non-rejecting Paying Party elects to assume the rejecting Paying Party’s amount, the first other non-Paying Party with respect to such Work to provide notice, if any, shall assume such amount. If pursuant to Appendix B -11- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 80 of 98 section 9.1 and 9.2, the amounts of all proposed increases in Allocated Cost Maximum for such Work are accepted or assumed, ColumbiaGrid shall issue to each Party a revised Exhibit D reflecting such increased Allocated Cost Maximums with respect to such Work, and such revised Exhibit D shall thereupon be substituted for the previous Exhibit D in this Agreement. 9.3 In the event that a Paying Party rejects an increase to its Allocated Cost Maximum proposed pursuant to this section 9 with respect to Work, the transmission capacity, if any, provided by such Work shall be equitably reallocated among the Parties by agreement of the Parties (and ColumbiaGrid shall issue a revised Exhibit F reflecting such re-allocation, and such revised Exhibit F shall thereupon be substituted for the previous Exhibit F in this Agreement); provided that the reallocation shall not reduce the capacity rights of any Party that has not rejected the proposed increase to its Allocated Cost Maximum with respect to such Work if the Work is completed; provided further that if the Parties do not reach agreement on such reallocation, the matter shall be referred to informal dispute resolution pursuant to section 17 and, if the dispute over the reallocation is not resolved by such informal dispute resolution process, such reallocation shall be resolved with respect to any factual issues by arbitration pursuant to section 17 or other appropriate proceedings with respect to other issues; provided that any such informal dispute resolution and arbitration must be commenced within sixty (60) days of receipt of any Notice of Rejection with respect to such proposed increase in the Allocated Cost Maximums. 9.4 If a Constructing Party proposes an increase to the Allocated Cost Maximum with respect to any Work and any portion of such increase is not accepted or assumed pursuant to section 9.1 or 9.2, the Constructing Party shall terminate and wind-up such Work. 9.5 ColumbiaGrid shall not accept or assume any Allocated Cost Maximum (or transmission capacity) pursuant to this section 9. 10. Default of Paying Party 10.1 If any Paying Party fails to make when due any payment to a Constructing Party with respect to any Cost of Work performed by such Constructing Party, such Constructing Party shall promptly give a written notice of default (“Notice of Default”) to each other Party and may, upon providing notification in the Notice of Default, stop such Work until it receives the delinquent payment. Any such Notice of Default shall identify the defaulting Paying Party (“Defaulting Paying Party”), the date such payment was to be made, and the amount of the delinquent payment. If the Defaulting Paying Party does not, within ten (10) days of its receipt of such Notice of Default, make such payment and give written notice of such payment to each other Party (“Cure”), then the Constructing Party may elect, by written of election (“Notice Regarding Assumption”) to each other Party within ten (10) days after the due date for Cure, to either (i) continue with the Work with respect to which the Defaulting Paying Party is in default and pursue any available remedy for breach by the Defaulting Paying Party of its obligation to pay its Allocated Share of the Cost of Work, and reasonable costs of collection, including attorneys’ fees, (the Defaulting Paying Party shall retain its capacity rights, if any, specified in Exhibit Appendix B -12- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 81 of 98 F after it has paid its Allocated Share of the Cost of Work and any costs of collection); or (ii) assume all rights and all current outstanding and future obligations under this Agreement (and in any related capacity agreements entered into to effectuate the [insert the name of the EOP] EOP) of the Defaulting Paying Party, including the Defaulting Paying Party’s capacity rights, if any, specified in Exhibit F (upon such assumption by such Constructing Party, the Defaulting Paying Party shall lose all such rights and be excused from performance of all such current outstanding and future obligations). 10.2 If the Constructing Party fails to elect either item (i) or (ii) of section 10.1, then any other Party (“Assuming Party”) may assume such rights and current outstanding and future obligations by tendering Cure of the default and giving written Notice Regarding Assumption to each other Party within twenty (20) days of the original due date for Cure by the Defaulting Paying Party. Any Notice Regarding Assumption shall specify the Notice of Default giving rise to such Notice Regarding Assumption. If the Constructing Party does not so assume such rights and current outstanding and future obligations of the Defaulting Paying Party, and more than one Party gives Notice Regarding Assumption and tenders Cure with respect to a particular Notice of Default, the Assuming Party shall be the Party otherwise paying or bearing the larger Allocated Share of the Cost with respect to such Work that gives Notice Regarding Assumption and tenders Cure. If only non-Paying Parties with respect to such Work give a Notice Regarding Assumption and tender of Cure, the first such Party to do so shall be the Assuming Party. Neither ColumbiaGrid, the Defaulting Paying Party with respect to such Work, nor the Constructing Party with respect to such Work may give Notice Regarding Assumption pursuant to this section 10.2. Upon any such assumption by an Assuming Party, the Defaulting Paying Party shall lose all such rights and be excused from performance of all such current outstanding and future obligations. 10.3 If neither the Constructing Party giving a Notice of Default nor any Assuming Party assumes pursuant to sections 10.1 or 10.2 the Defaulting Paying Party’s rights and current outstanding and future obligations, such Constructing Party shall promptly by written notice to all other Parties (“Notice of Termination”) terminate and wind up such Work. In such case, the Constructing Party shall be entitled to collect (i) from each Paying Party (including the Defaulting Paying Party) for such Work such Party’s Allocated Share of the Cost of such Work performed prior to its termination and wind-up (not to exceed such Party’s Maximum Allocated Share for such Work) and (ii) from the Defaulting Paying Party 100% of the Termination Cost for such Work. In addition, the Constructing Party shall be entitled to also collect from such Defaulting Paying Party pre-judgment interest, and reasonable costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. 10.4 The remedies under this section 10 shall be the exclusive remedies for a Paying Party’s default of its obligation under this Agreement to make a payment to a Constructing Party with respect to any Cost of Work performed by such Constructing Party. The Defaulting Paying Party shall not recover from any other Party amounts it paid with respect to the Cost of Work prior to its default. Appendix B -13- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 82 of 98 11. Failure of Performance by Constructing Party 11.1 If a Constructing Party breaches its obligations under this Agreement to: (i) complete its Work on the [insert name of EOP] EOP in accordance with this Agreement or (ii) perform its Work on the [insert name of EOP] EOP consistent with Good Utility Practice, the Constructing Party shall be subject to liquidated damages in accordance with section 15.1 below; provided that, for any willful breach by such Constructing Party of such obligations that result in a failure of performance in whole or in part (other than for breaches described in item (i) or (ii)) of this section 11.1 and that are not excused pursuant to section 13, such Constructing Party shall be subject to making restitution of any amounts paid by any Paying Party. 11.2 Except as stated in this section 11, no Constructing Party shall be liable for any breach of this Agreement. 12. Election by Paying Party to Meet Need in Alternative Manner In the event that a Paying Party that is not a Constructing Party determines either that its Need(s) intended to be met by the [insert name of EOP] EOP no longer exists or can be met by such Paying Party in another manner to be implemented by such Paying Party (whether or not any other Party also has a Need intended to met by the [insert name of EOP] EOP), such Paying Party (“Withdrawing Paying Party”) may elect to terminate (by giving written notice of termination (“Notice of Termination”) to each other Party) its obligation to make payments under this Agreement of (or bear) its Allocated Share of any Cost and incurred by the Constructing Party with respect to Work after its receipt of such Notice of Termination. Upon giving such Notice of Termination, the Withdrawing Paying Party shall (i) lose all its rights and all current outstanding and future obligations under this Agreement (and in any related capacity agreements entered into to effectuate the [insert the name of the EOP] EOP), including such Withdrawing Paying Party’s capacity rights, if any, specified in Exhibit F and (ii) be excused from performance of all such current outstanding and future obligations. Such rights and current outstanding and future obligations of the Withdrawing Paying Party may be assumed as though such Withdrawing Paying Party were a Defaulting Paying Party with respect to Work under section 10; provided that in lieu of the amounts which a Defaulting Paying Party would be required to pay pursuant to section 10, the Withdrawing Paying Party (i) shall pay to the Constructing Party (or bear) such Withdrawing Paying Party’s Allocated Share of any Cost of Work incurred by Constructing Party prior to its receipt of such Notice of Withdrawal, and (ii) shall pay to ColumbiaGrid an amount (“Withdrawal Fee”) equal to ten (10) percent of such Paying Party’s Allocated Cost Maximum for Work, and (iii) shall, if the Withdrawing Paying Party’s rights and current outstanding and future obligations are not assumed by any Party(ies) and the Constructing Party terminates the Work, pay to the Constructing Party(ies) for the Work, the Termination Cost of the Work. In the event that any Paying Party(ies) elects to assume the Withdrawing Paying Party’s rights and current outstanding and future obligations with respect to the Work and the Work is Appendix B -14- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 83 of 98 completed and placed in commercial operation, ColumbiaGrid shall pay the Withdrawal Fee it receives to the Constructing Party(ies) for the Work, which shall credit such payment against the Cost of the Work. 13. Uncontrollable Force and Other Excused Non-Performance 13.1 Uncontrollable Force A Party shall not be in breach of this Agreement as a result of such Party’s failure or delay to perform its obligations under this Agreement when such failure is caused by an Uncontrollable Force that such Party, despite the exercise of due diligence, is unable to remove with reasonable dispatch; provided however that such Party shall have the right to suspend performance of such obligations only to the extent and for the duration that the Uncontrollable Force actually and reasonably prevents the performance of such obligations by such Party. In the event of the occurrence of an Uncontrollable Force that delays or prevents a Party’s performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement, such Party shall (i) immediately notify the other Parties of such Uncontrollable Force with such notice to be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, (ii) use due diligence to mitigate the effects of such Uncontrollable Force, remedy its inability to perform, and resume full performance of its obligations under this Agreement, (iii) keep the other Parties apprised of such efforts on an ongoing basis, and (iv) provide written notice of the resumption of performance under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the settlement of any strike, lockout, or labor dispute constituting an Uncontrollable Force shall be within the sole discretion of the Party to this Agreement involved in such strike, lockout, or labor dispute; and the requirement that a Party must use due diligence to remedy the cause of the Uncontrollable Force or mitigate its effects and resume full performance hereunder shall not apply to strikes, lockouts, or labor disputes. 13.2 The Constructing Party, after consultation with the other Parties, may defer its Work if and to the extent delay or failure to upgrade facilities on another transmission system would prevent such Work from resolving the Need. The Constructing Party shall promptly notify each of the other Parties in writing of any such deferral and the reasons for such deferral. 13.3 Other Excused Non-Performance If any Party determines in good faith that the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement would cause such Party to (i) act contrary to a policy of such Party over which it has discretion relating to siting, budgeting, funding, or construction of transmission projects or (ii) improperly implement any law, regulation, rule, order, or FERC license provision applicable to such siting, budgeting, funding, or construction of transmission projects, such Party shall notify the other Parties of such determination, and all Parties shall enter into good faith negotiations to reasonably resolve the matter to the extent practicable in a manner that will restore the Parties’ respective relative benefits and obligations under this Agreement that existed immediately prior to such notification. Each Party to this Agreement is excused from performance of any obligation under this Agreement that the Party determines in good faith would cause the Party to Appendix B -15- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 84 of 98 (i) act contrary to a policy of such Party over which it has discretion relating to siting, budgeting, funding, or construction of transmission projects, or (ii) to violate or improperly implement an applicable law, regulation, rule, order, FERC license provision; provided that any obligations and liabilities accrued under this Agreement prior to notification of such determination are hereby preserved until satisfied. 14. Interconnected Operation No contractual obligation of any Party with respect to operation, maintenance, or interconnection of any facilities comprising the Plan of Service shall be created by this Agreement, and any such obligation shall only be pursuant to a separate (existing or new) operating, maintenance, interconnection, or similar agreement. 15. Liability and Damages 15.1 The Parties agree that the failure of any Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement (exclusive of a Party’s breach of its obligation under this Agreement to make in a timely manner a payment to a Constructing Party with respect to any Cost of Work performed by such Constructing Party or to bear such Cost) may result in damages to other Parties, but that such damages are indefinite and difficult to quantify. Therefore, in lieu of any other remedy for monetary damages, the Parties agree that in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by any Party (“Breaching Party”) that is not cured within a period of sixty (60) days following such Breaching Party’s receipt of written notice from any other Party of such breach, the Breaching Party shall pay to ColumbiaGrid the following amounts as liquidated damages and not as a penalty: 15.1.1 For each day that a Party, by breaching its obligation to use reasonable efforts to perform Work for which it is responsible pursuant to Appendix B, causes the [insert name of EOP] EOP not to be completed and placed in commercial operation by the Target Date (or causes the [insert name of EOP] EOP to be placed in commercial operation after the Target Date), the sum of $500 per day up to a maximum aggregate total for all such breaches by such Breaching Party of $50,000. 15.1.2 For each material breach of this Agreement other than a breach described in section 15.1.1, the sum of $10,000, up to a maximum aggregate total for all such breaches by such Breaching Party of $50,000; 15.2 Except as provided in section 15.1.1 or in section 15.1.2 and except as provided with respect to restitution in section 11.1, no Party shall be liable under this Agreement to any other Party for monetary damages for breach of this Agreement, and each Party hereby waives all remedies for monetary damages except as provided in such sections. All other equitable remedies (other than for the payment of money) for breach of this Agreement that may be available as between ColumbiaGrid and a Breaching Party are preserved, subject to the requirements of law and any regulatory authority having jurisdiction. Appendix B -16- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 85 of 98 15.3 Notwithstanding this section 15 or any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall amend or modify the WIS Agreement as it relates to parties thereto, including any Parties. 15.4 The following provision of this section 15.4 shall apply if a Party is a United States government entity (including, but not limited to, a federal power marketing administration): the United States, including Bonneville Power Administration, is liable for torts of its officers, agents, and employees arising out of or with respect to this Agreement only as permitted by the Federal Tort Claims Act, as amended. 15.5 In no event shall any Party have any right against any other Party to specific performance of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit any Party’s right to declaratory judgment with respect to declaration of any rights or obligations of any Party under this Agreement. 16. Assignments and Conveyances 16.1 Successors and Assigns This Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns, and legal representatives. 16.2 Assignment of ColumbiaGrid’s Rights and Obligations ColumbiaGrid shall not, without the prior written consent of each of the other Parties, assign, pledge or transfer all or any part of, or any right or obligation under, this Agreement, whether voluntarily or by operation of law; provided nothing in this section 16.2 shall prohibit ColumbiaGrid from contracting with Third Persons for the provision of services to assist ColumbiaGrid in performing its obligations under this Agreement. 16.3 Assignment of a Party’s Rights and Obligations Except as otherwise provided in section 16.4, a Party shall not, without the prior written consent of ColumbiaGrid, assign, pledge, or transfer all or any part of, or any right or obligation under, this Agreement, whether voluntarily or by operation of law; provided however that a Party may, without the consent of ColumbiaGrid, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Person (i) into which such Party is merged or consolidated or (ii) to which such Party sells, transfers, or assigns all or substantially all of its Electric System, so long as the survivor in any such merger or consolidation, or the purchaser, transferee, or assignee of such Electric System provides to each of the other Parties a valid and binding written agreement expressly assuming and agreeing to be bound by all obligations of such Party under this Agreement. 16.4 Assignment of Facilities Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Party may pledge or assign all or any portion of its transmission system without any other Party’s consent. Appendix B -17- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 86 of 98 16.5 Effect of Permitted Assignment In the event of any permitted sale, transfer or assignment under this Agreement, the transferor or assignor shall to the extent of the transferred or assigned obligations, and only to such extent, be relieved of obligations accruing from and after the effective date of such transfer or assignment; provided however that under no circumstances shall any sale, transfer, or assignment relieve the transferor or assignor of any liability for any breach of this Agreement occurring prior to the effective date of such transfer or assignment. 16.6 Consent Not Unreasonably Denied or Delayed Consents to assignment, pledge, or transfer requested pursuant to this section 16 shall not be unreasonably denied or delayed. 17. Informal Dispute Resolution and Arbitration of Factual Disputes 17.1 Informal Dispute Resolution Any dispute under this Agreement between or among Parties shall be referred to designated senior representatives of such Parties for resolution on an informal basis as promptly as practicable. In the event the designated representatives are unable to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days or such other period of not more than forty-five (45) days as the Parties may agree upon by mutual agreement, any factual dispute may be submitted to arbitration and resolved in accordance with the arbitration procedures set forth below in sections17.2 through 17.6 and any other dispute shall be subject to resolution in the appropriate forum unless otherwise agreed by such Parties. 17.2 Arbitration of Factual Dispute Procedures Any factual dispute under this Agreement not resolved pursuant to section 17.1 between or among Parties (“Arbitrating Parties”) shall be resolved pursuant to sections 17.2 through 17.6 below, unless otherwise agreed in writing among such Arbitrating Parties. Any arbitration initiated under this section 17 shall be conducted before a single neutral Arbitrator appointed by the Arbitrating Parties. If the Arbitrating Parties fail to agree upon a single Arbitrator within ten (10) days of the referral of the dispute to arbitration, the Arbitrating Parties shall take turns striking names from the list of potential arbitrators maintained and supplied by ColumbiaGrid pursuant to section 17.6, with an Arbitrating Party chosen by lot first striking a name. The last- remaining name not stricken shall be designated as the Arbitrator for such dispute. If that individual is unable or unwilling to serve, the individual last stricken from the list shall be designated as the Arbitrator (and the process repeated until an individual is selected who is able and willing to serve). Absent the express written consent of all Arbitrating Parties as to any particular individual, a person shall not be eligible for selection as an Arbitrator if such person (i) is a past or present officer, member of the governing body, employee of or consultant to any of the Arbitrating Parties, or of an entity related to or affiliated with any of the Arbitrating Parties or (ii) has any current or past substantial business or financial relationships with any of the Arbitrating Parties (except as an arbitrator in any prior arbitration). The Arbitrator shall provide each of the Arbitrating Parties an opportunity to be heard and, except as otherwise provided in Appendix B -18- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 87 of 98 this section 17, shall generally conduct the arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. 17.3 Arbitration Decisions Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Arbitrating Parties, the Arbitrator shall render a decision within ninety (90) days of appointment and shall notify the Parties in writing of such decision and the reasons therefor. The Arbitrator shall be authorized only to interpret and apply the provisions of this Agreement and shall have no power to modify or change any of the provisions of this Agreement in any manner. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the Arbitrating Parties, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The decision of the Arbitrator may be appealed solely on the grounds that the conduct of the Arbitrator, or the decision itself, violated the standards set forth in the Federal Arbitration Act and/or the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act. The final decision of the Arbitrator must also be filed with the Commission if it affects jurisdictional rates, terms and conditions of service or facilities. 17.4 Costs Each Arbitrating Party shall be responsible for its own costs incurred during the arbitration process and for an equal share of the cost of the single Arbitrator. 17.5 Rights Under The Federal Power Act Nothing in this section shall restrict the rights of any Party to file a complaint with the Commission or seek any other relief under relevant provisions of the Federal Power Act. 17.6 List of Potential Arbitrators ColumbiaGrid shall establish, and from time to time update, a list of not less than 5 potential arbitrators. Potential arbitrators on such list shall be generally knowledgeable about electric utility matters and policies, criteria, and regulatory requirements applicable to the Regional Interconnected Systems. ColumbiaGrid shall furnish such list for use pursuant to section 17.2. 18. Notices 18.1 Permitted Methods of Notice Any notice, demand, or request in accordance with this Agreement, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly served, given, or made to the address of the receiving Party set forth below (i) upon delivery if delivered in person, (ii) upon execution of the return receipt, if sent by registered United States or Canadian mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iii) upon delivery if delivered by prepaid commercial courier service. Appendix B -19- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 88 of 98 The address of ColumbiaGrid shall be: [Insert address and representative for ColumbiaGrid] ______________________________ ______________________________ Attn:__________________________ [Insert names, addresses, and representatives for other Parties] The address of ____________________ shall be: ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ Attn:__________________________ 18.2 Change of Notice Address Any Party may at any time, by notice to the other Parties, change the designation or address of the person specified to receive notice on its behalf. 18.3 Routine Notices Any notice of a routine character in connection with this Agreement shall be given in such a manner as the Parties may determine from time to time, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement. 19. Amendment or Modification 19.1 Amendment by Mutual Agreement This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by any subsequent mutual written agreement, duly executed by all Parties. 19.2 Invalidity If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person, entity, or circumstance, is held by a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, or if a modification or condition to this Agreement is imposed by a regulatory authority exercising jurisdiction over this Agreement, the Parties shall endeavor in good faith to negotiate such amendment or amendments to this Agreement as will restore the relative benefits and obligations of the signatories under this Agreement immediately prior to such holding, modification, or condition. 19.3 Conformance to Pro Forma The Parties shall not, without the prior written consent of all parties to the Planning Agreement, which consent is not to be unreasonably withheld, amend this Agreement to be Appendix B -20- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 89 of 98 inconsistent with the pro forma Facilities Agreement set forth in the Planning Agreement. If the Planning Agreement is amended by the parties thereto so as to amend the pro forma Facilities Agreement set forth in the Planning Agreement, ColumbiaGrid shall offer an amendment to this Agreement to conform this Agreement to such amended pro forma Facilities Agreement. 20. Construction of Agreement Ambiguities or uncertainties in the wording of this Agreement shall not be construed for or against any Party, but shall be construed in a manner that most accurately reflects the purpose of this Agreement and the nature of the rights and obligations of the Parties with respect to the matter being construed. 21. Integration This Agreement, including the Exhibits hereto, constitutes the complete agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous representations, statements, negotiations, understandings, and inducements with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Exhibits hereto, as they may be revised from time to time, are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in this Agreement. 22. Existing Agreements Preserved Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to supersede the requirements of any existing agreement unless otherwise expressly stated in this Agreement. 23. Governing Law This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of [insert the state where facility/ies are to be located], except to the extent that such laws may be preempted by the laws of the United States or of Canada, as applicable; provided however that notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a dispute involving a Party that is a United States government entity (including, but not limited to, a federal power marketing administration), this Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States. The Parties acknowledge that with respect to a Party that is an agency of the United States federal government, under law in effect as of the effective date of this Agreement, such agency has not by this Agreement waived its sovereign immunity. 24. Singular and Plural; Use of “Or” Any use of the singular in this Agreement also includes the plural and any use of the plural also includes the singular. References to “or” shall be deemed to be disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive. References to “including,” “include,” and “includes” shall be deemed to mean “including but not limited to,” “include but not limited to,” and “includes but not limited to,” respectively. Appendix B -21- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 90 of 98 25. Headings for Convenience Only The section headings in this Agreement are intended for convenience and reference only and are not intended to define, limit, or describe the scope or intent of any provisions of this Agreement. 26. Relationship of the Parties 26.1 No Partnership, Etc. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create an association, joint venture, trust, or partnership or to impose a trust or partnership covenant, obligation, or liability on or with regard to any of the Parties. Each Party shall be individually responsible for its own covenants, obligations, and liabilities under this Agreement. 26.2 Rights Several All rights of the Parties are several, not joint. Except as may be expressly provided in this Agreement, no Party shall have a right or power to bind any other Party without such Party’s express written consent. 27. No Third Person Beneficiaries This Agreement shall not be construed to create rights in, or to grant remedies to, any third Person as a beneficiary of this Agreement or of any duty, obligation, or undertaking established in this Agreement. 28. No Dedication of Facilities No undertaking by any Party to another Party under or pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a dedication of all or any portion of any Party’s transmission system, to any other Party or to the public. 29. Nonwaiver Any waiver at any time by any Party of its rights with respect to any default under this Agreement, or with respect to any other matter arising in connection with this Agreement, shall not constitute or be deemed a waiver with respect to any other default or other matter arising in connection with this Agreement. Any waiver must be delivered in writing, executed by an authorized representative of the Party granting such waiver. Any delay short of the statutory period of limitations in asserting or enforcing any right shall not constitute or be deemed a waiver. 30. Further Actions and Documents Each Party agrees to do all things, including, but not limited to, the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, and recording of any instruments or agreements reasonably requested by any other Party necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. Appendix B -22- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 91 of 98 31. Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, which may be executed at different times. Each counterpart shall constitute an original but all counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. ColumbiaGrid shall maintain the original signature pages, and shall prepare and distribute a conformed copy of this Agreement to the Parties. 32. Representation of Authority Each Party, upon its execution and delivery of this Agreement, represents that it has authority to enter into and perform this Agreement. Each Party represents that the individual signing this Agreement on its behalf is authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of the Party for which such individual signs. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their respective names. Columbia Grid By: Its: [Insert names of Parties] [Name] By: Its: [Name] By: Its: Appendix B -23- Facilities Agreement Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 92 of 98 A-1 Exhibit A PLAN OF SERVICE Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 93 of 98 Exhibit B Facility and Work Description Design Responsibility Siting Responsibility Equipment Procurement and Construction Responsibility Allocated Share Among Parties A/B/C, etc. Facility Ownership Share Percentage Among Parties A/B/C, etc. Comments B-1 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 94 of 98 Exhibit C PERFORMANCE MILESTONES C-1 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 95 of 98 Exhibit D COST ALLOCATION D-1 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 96 of 98 Exhibit E ESTIMATED PAYMENT SCHEDULE E-1 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 97 of 98 Exhibit F ADDITIONAL OR MAINTAINED TRANSMISSION CAPACITY F-1 Staff_PR_040 Attachment A Page 98 of 98